Internal Communications Manager

Internal Communications Manager

Reports To: Chief of Staff

Status: Full-Time; Non-Exempt

Location: Los Angeles (Little Tokyo Office)

Hours of Operation: Monday–Friday, standard business hours

Hourly or Salary Range: $80,000-$85,0000/annually (based on experience and qualifications)

Who We Are

In 1922, Woodcraft Rangers opened its doors in Los Angeles and began its mission of guiding young people as they explore pathways to purposeful lives. As a progressive organization, Woodcraft has always been responsive to the evolving needs of the communities served, and is notably inclusive, youth-led, and rooted in the Woodcraft Way, a holistic framework that develops body, mind, spirit, and service.

What We Do

Woodcraft Rangers provides TK-12 expanded learning programs, including before and after school, specialty enrichment, and summer learning. In the past few years, Woodcraft has expanded its menu of services beyond traditional afterschool programs and summer camps to include early learning, environmental and social justice, college access, and inclusion services for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Today, Woodcraft Rangers serves more than 30,000 youth ages 4 to 18 each year across 150 plus Title I schools in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate for the Internal Communications Manager role is a seasoned communications professional with a proven track record of building internal communications infrastructure from the ground up. They bring experience designing and implementing the foundational frameworks organizations need to manage information flow: centralized knowledge bases, source-of-truth systems, content governance protocols, and clear staff-facing guidance on where to find what they need, when they need it. This person is as comfortable mapping an information architecture as they are crafting a compelling narrative.

Beyond infrastructure, the ideal candidate is a skilled storyteller who can distill complex ideas into clear, engaging content that resonates across diverse staff audiences. They are strategic, organized, and data-informed, with the ability to assess gaps, design solutions, and embed new communication habits into the organization's daily rhythm.

Why Work for Woodcraft Rangers

• Competitive salary
• Paid vacation & sick time – generous time off to recharge
• Upward mobility – promote-from-within culture
• Health, dental & vision – comprehensive benefits coverage
• 403(b) retirement plan – invest in your future
• Mission-driven work – impact 30,000 young people annually

Role Overview

The Internal Communications Manager is a vital member of the Office of the CEO, working in close collaboration with the Chief of Staff to develop and execute a cohesive internal communications strategy. This role is first and foremost a build role, the primary charge is to establish the infrastructure, systems, and protocols that will define how information moves throughout Woodcraft Rangers: where it lives, how it's maintained, and how staff access it reliably in their day-to-day work.

This means creating and stewarding a single source of truth for organizational information, a centralized, staff-facing system that eliminates confusion about where to go for what, reduces reliance on informal channels, and becomes a natural part of how staff operate. Alongside this infrastructure work, the Internal Communications Manager will translate complex executive messaging into engaging, audience-appropriate content and establish consistent frameworks for delivering timely, relevant information across all staff levels.

Through close partnership with key leaders, including the VP of External Relations, Executive Assistant, Senior Director of Marketing, and others, this role ensures staff remain connected to the agency's vision and have reliable access to the resources needed to sustain it.

Responsibilities

• Assess the current state of internal communications systems and information architecture, identifying critical gaps and priorities for the build-out phase
• Design and implement a centralized knowledge management system that serves as the organization's single source of truth — housing policies, processes, key resources, and organizational updates in one accessible, consistently maintained location
• Develop and enforce clear protocols for how and where information is created, stored, updated, and communicated, so staff at all levels know exactly where to go for what they need
• Build a recurring communications cadence and onboarding touchpoints that normalize use of the information infrastructure and reinforce the "go-here-first" habit across the organization
• Develop and execute a broader internal communications strategy aligned with organizational priorities and leadership's vision
• Translate complex information from leadership into clear, engaging, and audience-appropriate content across channels and formats
• Create presentations, talking points, newsletters, and other materials to support effective communication at all levels
• Monitor and analyze the effectiveness of internal communications systems and content, making data-driven recommendations for continuous improvement

Qualifications/Skills

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in internal communications, preferably in a non-profit setting
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt messaging to diverse audiences
• Strong project management skills with the ability to juggle multiple priorities and deadlines
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly PowerPoint and Word
• Collaborative and adaptable team player with strong interpersonal skills
• Passion for Woodcraft Rangers' mission and a commitment to fostering a culture of transparency and alignment

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or related field
• Experience with graphic design, video editing, and/or digital content creation
• Familiarity with internal communication platforms and tools (e.g., Teams, SharePoint)
• Proficiency in data analysis and reporting, with the ability to derive actionable insights from communication metrics
• Knowledge of best practices in change management and crisis communications

Skills

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt messaging to diverse audiences
• Strong storytelling and narrative development skills
• Proficiency in creating engaging visual content using tools like PowerPoint, Canva, or Adobe Creative Suite
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues at all levels of the organization
• Data analysis and reporting skills, with the ability to derive actionable insights from communication metrics
• Adaptability and flexibility in the face of changing priorities and circumstances
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop creative solutions to complex communication challenges
• Knowledge of best practices in internal communications, change management, and crisis communications
• Emotional intelligence and empathy, with the ability to understand and respond to the needs and concerns of diverse internal stakeholders

Physical Demands

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the following physical demands may be essential for the effective performance of this position. Reasonable accommodation will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions:

• Frequent standing during working hours and regular use of hands for computer operation and handling objects.
• The ability to travel across the greater Los Angeles area and Inland Empire region using a car or public transportation, several times per month.
• Must be able to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Reasonable accommodation is available for individuals with disabilities.

Work Environment

We are committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and will actively consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals to effectively perform their roles. This position operates in environments typical of the following key aspects:

• Primarily based in Downtown Los Angeles (Little Tokyo Office) with a partially remote schedule.
• Regular exposure to computer monitors during work.
• Stable internet access is required for effective work-from-home performance.
• The typical noise level of a standard work environment.

Woodcraft Rangers provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without discrimination with regard to race, religious belief, color, sex, sex stereotype, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including breastfeeding), age, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, transgender status, transitioning status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, family care, marital status, enrollment in any public assistance program, status as military, a veteran or qualified disabled veteran, status as an unpaid intern or volunteer, or any other classification protected by law. We also prohibit discrimination 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. The above declarations are not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job described or of the skills and abilities required to perform the job. Rather, they are intended only to describe the general requirements of the job.