Director of Communications

About the Company

Oakland Promise is a place-based organization located in Oakland, California. Oakland Promise requires that employees work in person at various engagements. It is a requirement that all staff reside within commuting distance to the main office, located at 484 9th Street, Oakland, CA 94607.

About the Role

The Director of Communications is a strategic and creative leader responsible for shaping and advancing Oakland Promise’s public narrative, brand, and visibility during a pivotal period of organizational growth. As a member of the six-person Development & Communications team, this role will lead organization-wide communications efforts that support fundraising, storytelling, and community engagement.

Responsibilities

Strategic Communications & Brand Leadership

• Lead Oakland Promise’s overarching communications strategy, brand positioning, and public narrative across all channels.
• Develop and execute integrated communications plans aligned with organizational priorities, including policy initiatives, organizational changes, programmatic impact, and evaluation findings.
• Ensure consistency, clarity, and strength of voice across internal and external communications (e.g. internal and external newsletters, thought leadership, social media channels, etc).
• Serve as the organization’s marketing lead, overseeing brand standards, messaging frameworks, editorial direction, and campaign prioritization.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to program teams in developing communications strategies that advance programmatic goals, community engagement, and participant recruitment - including citywide awareness campaigns, mentor recruitment initiatives, and place-based outreach efforts.
• Partner closely with executive leadership to identify strategic storytelling and visibility opportunities.

Communications, Content & Storytelling

• Lead communications strategy and execution for major organizational initiatives, including:
• 10-Year Anniversary Campaign
• Place-based initiatives
• Annual / Anniversary Report
• Scholar, family, and community storytelling campaigns
• Video production and multimedia content

Additional responsibilities include

• Translate complex programmatic and evaluation data into compelling, accessible narratives.
• Write and edit high-quality copy for campaigns, speeches, reports, landing pages, brochures, donor communications, and promotional materials.
• Provide creative direction and oversight for visual assets and collateral in partnership with designers and external vendors.
• Oversee Oakland Promise’s digital presence, including website content, social media strategy, and email communications.

Media Relations & Thought Leadership

• Lead media relations strategy, including press outreach, media partnerships, and earned media opportunities.
• Position Oakland Promise as a leading voice in education, economic mobility, and wealth-building.
• Prepare executive leadership for media appearances, speaking engagements, interviews, and public-facing opportunities.
• Draft press releases, talking points, op-eds, and external messaging materials.

External Engagement & Visibility

• Serve as a primary communications liaison to local, statewide, and national coalitions and partners.
• In collaboration with the Executive Team, represent Oakland Promise at convenings, advocacy events, conferences, and cross-sector partnerships as appropriate.
• Contribute to policy and field-building communications aligned with organizational priorities.
• Provide strategic communications oversight for high-profile organizational events, including the Annual Awards Ceremony and anniversary-related activations.
• Ensure events are leveraged as opportunities for storytelling, fundraising, community engagement, and brand visibility.
• Help drive the organization’s visibility through strategic participation in community events, panels, and public forums.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of experience in communications, public relations, marketing, or related fields, including at least 2 years in a leadership role.
• Proven track record of leading organization-wide communications strategies and high-impact campaigns.
• Strong experience in media relations and earned media placement.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex ideas, data, and programmatic impact into compelling narratives.
• Experience supporting fundraising communications and donor engagement strongly preferred.
• Background in education, nonprofit, philanthropy, public sector, or mission-driven organizations preferred.
• Exceptional writing, editing, messaging, and storytelling skills.
• Strong project management, cross-functional leadership, and stakeholder management abilities.

Required Skills

• Strategic thinker with strong execution skills
• Excellent project and campaign management capabilities
• Skilled storyteller and narrative architect
• Strong editorial judgment and communications instincts
• Calm, adaptable, and effective in high-stakes or fast-paced environments
• Collaborative leader with a community-centered approach

Pay range and compensation package

Full-time, exempt position (12-month contract) with benefits and possibility for extension or conversion.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Oakland Promise is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Oakland Promise is committed to providing a work environment free of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and disrespectful or other unprofessional conduct based on sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), sex stereotype, race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), color, gender (including gender identity, gender expression, and transgender), national origin (including language use restrictions and possession of a driver's license issued under Vehicle Code section 12801.9), ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, sexual orientation, military, and veteran status or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law or ordinance or regulation. It also prohibits discrimination, harassment, disrespectful or unprofessional conduct based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.

To Apply:

Send a single PDF of a resume and thoughtful cover letter to apply@oaklandpromise.org with “Job Name” in the subject line. Please use your last name and first initial (ex: Doe_J) as the filename of your PDF containing your resume and cover letter.