Position: Communications Director (Los Angeles)
Salary: Based on Experience
Type: Full-Time
Reports to: Executive Director and Managing Director
Start: As soon as possible
Closing date of this position: Open until filled
Organizational Background:
Equality California (EQCA) is the nation’s largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization with over 800,000 members. Equality California brings the voices of LGBTQ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating, and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. Through its legislative work, EQCA has successfully sponsored 127 pieces of pro-equality legislation cementing California as the state with strongest LGBT-civil rights protections in the country.
Equality California Institute (EQCAI) is a 501(c)3 organization that has a parallel mission statement to EQCAI, its 501(c)4 counterpart. EQCAI educates the broader community on important LGBT issues such as transgender equality, violence and hate crimes, healthcare, health disparities, the needs of LGBT seniors and youth, homelessness and immigration. Over the last five years, EQCAI has spearheaded successful programs to tackle these issues, including multiple public education campaigns, such as Transform California, Equality4All, #Take It, I’m PrEPed, Let California Ring, Fair Share for Equality, the Breakthrough Conversations Project, and Health Happens with Equality.
Tentative Start Date: ASAP
Position Overview:
The successful candidate will have a unique opportunity to play a senior, strategic role of the organization to meet and achieve new mission objectives.
The Communications Director will manage and coordinate the overall communications strategy and program for Equality California, Equality California Institute, and the Equality California Political Action Committee with the goal of meeting EQCA’s new mission objectives. Reporting to the Executive Director and the Managing Director, the Communications Director will work collaboratively with senior leadership to develop, implement and oversee all aspects of the organization’s communications strategies.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as a member of Equality California’s senior management team and collaborate with the Executive Director and senior leadership to develop communications strategies to broaden and deepen EQCA’s programmatic reach and impact.
- Initiate, develop and execute strategic communications campaigns to raise the visibility and profile of Equality California and to increase organizational effectiveness.
- Manage media and public relations strategies, including preparing press materials and responding to media requests (print, television, radio, online).
- Increase EQCA’s profile and impact in the mainstream press, Spanish language media and media sources for other diverse communities.
- Represent the organization in public venues and serve as a media representative and organization spokesperson as required.
- Oversee all communications content creation for the organization.
- Ensure that the content of all media, publicity, and promotional materials adhere to the highest standards of quality and professionalism.
- Develop and ensure consistency in EQCA’s publicity, marketing, branding, fundraising and training materials.
- Develop communication programs to support Equality California’s development and fundraising activities, including the development of web and social media support, and fund-raising event collateral.
- Develop and oversee production of video and graphic art assets necessary for successful campaigns and fundraising.
- Oversee, manage and create content for EQCA’s website and social media platforms and online giving activities.
- Assist with the development of special events, symposiums, regional meetings, town halls and panels throughout the state to promote the mission of the organization.
- Work in partnership with Equality California coalition partners to engage diverse communities to secure full equality and acceptance and social justice for LGBT people and for all communities.
- Oversee an organizational rebranding program that includes an update of the web and social media platform.
- Supervise other communications staff, interns and consultants.
- Evaluate the progress of program initiatives and generate reports, develop and monitor annual work plan and budget, and submit annual summary reports.
Qualifications:
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- At least 3-5 years experience managing broad-based communications and media relations programs.
- Strong, demonstrated experience writing press statements and external communications with respect to political, legislative and civil rights issues.
- Significant communications experience that includes media relations and web and social media communications.
- Experience working in a multicultural environment and with diverse communities.
- Demonstrated commitment to LGBT civil rights, diversity, social justice, and social change.
- Excellent relationships with relevant mainstream and LGBT media.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with people inside and outside the organization.
- Strong administrative skills, including the ability to manage many projects simultaneously and to set priorities.
- Successful experience managing, motivating, supervising, evaluating, and hiring staff, interns, and consultants.
- Strong understanding of graphic design concepts and experience managing graphic design personnel
- Ability to work effectively both independently and as a member of a team.
- Ability to coach and support senior leaders as spokespersons.
- Experience with online, social media and direct-mail fundraising.
- Technically proficient or some knowledge of HTML, basic design programs preferred.
- Experience with content management systems and bulk email software, including (but not limited to): WordPress, Blue State Digital, NGP VAN, Salsa, Convio, etc.
- Ability and willingness to travel.
- Understanding of LGBT, social justice and civil rights policy issues preferred.
- Experience with political and governmental media and reporting preferred.
- Fluency in Spanish preferred.
- Bachelor’s or graduate degree in communications or related areas strongly preferred.
Full benefits include paid vacation and sick time, health, dental, vision, short and long-term disability and a retirement plan among others. Compensation is commensurate with experience.
The position will be based in Los Angeles.
We strongly encourage people of color, people of diverse gender identities, women, and non-LGBTQ persons to apply.
To apply:
Email resume, cover letter, references and a two writing samples to Tony Hoang at jobs@eqca.org. Please be sure to put “Communications Director” in the subject line of your email.