Senior Communications Manager for California Native Vote Project

Position: Senior Communications Manager

Location: Hybrid remote/Los Angeles office

ABOUT CNVP

The California Native Vote Project’s (CNVP) mission is justice and self-determination for Native American communities through multigenerational power building, organizing, and civic engagement. CNVP is the first-of-its-kind effort to engage Native American communities across the state to build political power through an integrated voter engagement strategy, which centers community organizing, and braids on top of that other strategies to achieve people-powered movements — including political education, leadership development; voter education, registration, protections and mobilization; policy advocacy; research; and Native candidate preparation.

Position Overview

The Senior Communications Manager will report to the Director of Communications to oversee and direct the flow of information between CNVP, our base, partners, media, funders, and the public. The Senior Communications Manager role will develop and lead communications strategies, direct public relations campaigns and may serve as the face of the organization at media events. This role will also serve as a key support to CNVP’s local and statewide organizing and campaigns through creating and implementing internal and external communications strategies for digital organizing campaigns, events, coalition and alliance work, electoral organizing, and may represent CNVP in local and/or statewide coalitions. The position is full‐time and exempt. This role will have direct reports.

Essential Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and lead an integrated, organization wide strategic communications plan to broaden awareness of CNVP and community issues and strengthen CNVP’s identity and positive image across key stakeholder audiences and the AIAN community base.
• Adapt to changes in the social justice landscape through timely communications.
• Lead content development across work areas, including graphics, reports, website, and other communication vehicles.
• Identify challenges and emerging issues faced by the sector and organization. Work with senior leadership and the Director of Communications to recognize internal and external communications opportunities and solutions and define and execute appropriate strategies to support them.
• Uphold and further establish graphic identity standards.
• Manage media relations, including training base on media interviews, writing press releases, gaining earned media, serving as a spokesperson for the organization, managing press contacts.
• Serve as lead point person on media interactions that help promote and/or impact the organization and actively cultivate and manage press relationships to ensure coverage of issues of strategic importance to the organization, as well as CNVP’s programs, special events, public announcements, and other projects.
• Manage, monitor, and analyze all communications channels including email campaigns, websites, social media platforms, text messaging, and other tools.
• Curate content and increase audience engagement across CNVP’s priority social media channels.
• Develop and implement digital media campaigns, including ad buys and other outreach and communications tactics.
• Innovate to enhance CNVP’s community work through narrative change strategies.
• Manage a communications budget.
• Recruit and manage a communications support team, associates, and/or interns to support the development and execution of the communications strategy.
• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality control of all information released.
• Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach on a consistent basis.
• Coordinate communications schedules across work areas.
• Monitor field trends.
• Other duties as assigned.

Essential Requirements

We recognize that no one person will embody every quality and attribute that defines success for this position. Examples of professional and personal abilities a successful incumbent has, or can demonstrate the ability to obtain, include:

• Experience working with Native American communities and Tribal organizations is highly preferred, and a demonstrated commitment to and passion for the mission, vision, and values of CNVP.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience as a full-time communications, marketing, or public relations professional with demonstrated success and strong supervisory experience.
• Education in communications, marketing, journalism, public affairs, English, or related field preferred, with a graduate degree desirable or commensurate experience.
• Proven track record developing and executing successful content and PR strategies that drive brand awareness and amplify organizational narratives.
• Strong commitment to sovereignty, social justice, racial justice, and youth empowerment.
• Experience creating graphic design content i.e., infographics and social media posts.
• Ability to manage media contacts.
• Effective collaborator with excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate diplomatically and professionally with stakeholders, the community, team members, and senior management.
• Awareness of and proficiency with communications technologies, such as Canva, Hootsuite, Action Network, Strive, Slack, Monday.com and other comparable applications.
• Ability to recognize, quickly adapt, and respond to shifting communication needs. Ability to recognize areas of opportunity and provide risk awareness for the organization.
• Excellent problem-solving and organizational skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and follow‐through.
• Strong ability to juggle competing, time-sensitive priorities and delegate as needed.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills (framing, grammar/spelling, editing, and storytelling).
• Strong computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office and a variety of office applications.
• California driver’s license, insurance, and regular access to a car.
• Available to work flexible hours, including afternoons and occasional evening and weekend events.
• Ability to travel throughout the state as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Communications, Marketing, or related field.
• Experience with one or more of the following areas: community organizing, action research, campaign strategy, curriculum development, alliance building, media outreach, grassroots fundraising, campaign development and/or policy.
• Proficiency with Apple computers.

Work Environment

Hybrid in-person (two days a week or potentially more based on need) and virtual, with some evening and weekends. Some travel is required.

Physical Demands

• Able to work on a computer, including sitting at a desk, for extended periods of time. Manual dexterity to operate a keyboard.
• Able to stand and walk for extended periods of time.
• Able to occasionally lift objects weighing up to twenty pounds.

$85,000-$100,000 annually

Please submit your cover letter and resume on the application form at https://canativevote.org/careers/ and indicate ‘Sr. Communications Manager’ under Position You’re Applying for.