Senior Director of Marketing & Communications

Youth Eastside Services (YES) seeks an experienced, creative, strategic and entrepreneurial Senior Director of Communications & Marketing. This position will lead an expanded and comprehensive marketing and communications strategy that positions YES as the go-to organization for youth behavioral health services in East King County and helps drive philanthropic and institutional support. YES is a 60-year, $11M mission-driven nonprofit behavioral health organization that provides life-saving mental health treatment to all children and youth in East King County regardless of their ability to pay.

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Marketing & Communications serves as the "Chief Narrator" and lead architect of the organization's strategic voice. This role is responsible for leading the strategy, development and execution of all marketing and communications efforts to drive client growth and philanthropic revenue, strengthening brand recognition, and fostering a cohesive internal culture. This role advances community awareness, donor engagement, and organizational growth through integrated messaging, story-telling, and multi-channel communications. By translating sophisticated behavioral health approaches and outcomes into compelling human narratives, the Senior Director will ensure YES remains a primary resource for families in crisis and prioritized for regional philanthropic investment in youth behavioral health. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will join a diverse staff and strong Board of Trustees committed to building the next chapter for YES, strengthening and expanding our brand impact and marketing reach.

Core Responsibilities

Strategic Marketing & Brand Management

• Integrated Strategy: Develop and execute an annual multi-channel marketing and communications plan to reach potential clients, families, philanthropic donors and community partners, ensuring clinical service awareness is at the forefront. Lead awareness campaigns to support destigmatization of mental health needs, build community engagement, and strengthen donor communications grounded in appreciation and opportunity. Works cross-functionally with development, clinical and executive teams to support fundraising goals, program visibility and community impact.
• Strategic Leadership Communications: Drive strategic executive communications, including cohesive leadership team messaging, and organizational updates. Support Board of Trustee communications as needed.
• Partner Relationship Development and Messaging. Elevate and support strategic relationships with community partners, school districts, and organizations to expand awareness, engagement and access to services. Develop, manage, and implement marketing strategies for specific YES programs and strategic initiatives.
• Digital Excellence: Lead digital strategy across all platforms to drive engagement and conversions. Oversee redevelopment of the YES website, ensuring it serves as a high-performing resource hub with a focus on accessibility, plain language, and real-time updates. Generate regular and consistent content for social media channels.
• Brand Stewardship: Lead and maintain YES’ brand identity, ensuring consistency across all internal and external communications, platforms, and materials. Own the organization’s brand guide, ensuring visual identity and voice are consistent and professional across all social media, print, and digital platforms.
• Data-Driven Leadership: Utilize analytics and specific KPIs—including website accessibility scores, SEO, donor conversion rates, and narrative penetration—to measure the ROI of marketing campaigns and inform future strategy.

Philanthropy & Development Support

The Senior Director will drive three key activities to support philanthropy, in collaboration with the VP of Development:

• Signature Events & Campaigns: "YES Invest in Youth Breakfast” and Other Donor Stewardship Event Messaging and Collateral. Crafting high-impact narratives, storylines, talking points, and event collateral for YES’s signature $1M+ annual event, endowment campaign, and other stewardship events.
• Impact Reporting: Developing comprehensive and aligned strategies for donor newsletters, campaign collateral, and annual reports that translate clinical data into emotionally resonant messages to enhance donor retention and new donor acquisition through gratitude-focused and action-oriented messaging. Engaging community partners and corporate sponsors in YES work.
• Donor Engagement: Creating tailored community engagement content for annual fund appeals and strategic audience segmentation strategies helping to build a sustainable "Culture of Philanthropy" to grow YES community and individual philanthropic support.

Media Relations & Public-Facing Messaging

The Senior Director serves as the primary on-the-record spokesperson and strategic counselor for all media interactions and will:

• Cultivate media relationships with local and regional media outlets to ensure accurate and inclusive coverage of youth behavioral health issues and solutions, keeping them front and centered in our community.
• Develop rapid-response statements and mission-aligned talking points for the Board of Trustees and Executive Leadership.
• Generate and manage proactive earned media opportunities, including op-eds and feature stories that position YES leadership as experts in the field.

Leadership & Supervision

• Talent Development: Supervise and mentor a new Communications Associate, facilitating a culture of high performance and professional growth.
• Vendor Management: Lead relationships with external partners, including web developers, graphic designers, and PR consultants, to ensure high-quality, cost-effective deliverables.
• Fiscal Responsibility: Oversee the communications budget in collaboration with the Executive administration and Development teams to ensure strategic resource allocation.

Internal Communications

• Internal Alignment: Lead internal communications strategy in coordination with the CEO and executive leadership team to bolster employee morale and ensure organizational alignment with the YES mission, and support building a “Culture of Philanthropy.” Strategic crisis communications as needed.

Trauma-Informed Content & Storytelling Strategy

This role demands a sophisticated, trauma-informed approach to content creation. The Senior Director must collaborate with clinicians to generate "Success Stories" (such as Jenna's Story) with extreme sensitivity to complex behavioral health issues. This leader must navigate the narrative challenges ensuring that every story upholds the dignity, equity, and self-determination of the youth and families involved. All stories must reflect the core principle of ensuring confidentiality and centralizing youth voice in client stories.

Qualifications & Requirements

Required:

• 10+ years of progressive leadership in marketing, communications, or public relations in a non-profit community-focused organization.
• Extensive experience with digital marketing, content strategy, and multi-channel communications.
• Experience conceptualizing and building a comprehensive marketing and communication strategy, editorial calendar, and thematic framework.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse constituencies including clients, high-net worth individuals, Board of Trustees, executive level managers, elected officials, partner agencies, media, etc.
• Knowledge of asset framing and equity-based storytelling.
• Technical proficiency in CRM systems (e.g., DonorPerfect), design tools (Canva/Adobe), and digital collaboration platforms. Extensive knowledge of/experience with MS Teams, Constant Contact, Word Press, Buffer.
• Demonstrated team management and cross-functional team leadership and ability to engage program and clinical staff in advancing communications outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data and translate insights into actionable strategies.
• Excellent oral, written, and presentation skills.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or related field.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Communications leadership experience within a youth behavioral health, mental health, or similar nonprofit organization.
• Experience with zero suicide or similar clinical frameworks. Demonstrated experience applying trauma-informed messaging principles in a clinical or advocacy setting.
• Spanish language fluency a plus.

How to Apply: Please submit a PDF of your cover letter and resume to dirmarcomm@youtheastsideservices.org.

Requirement: Must provide a professional portfolio of writing, campaign strategy, and design samples with demonstrated metrics of success, if you advance to final interview.

Youth Eastside Services is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Health & Wellness: Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage; Employee Assistance Plan (EAP);

Financial Security: 401(k) Retirement Plan and Tax-Deferred Annuity (TDA) options; Life, AD&D, and Short/Long-Term Disability insurance;

Time Off: Generous PTO package including separate pools for vacation, personal days, sick leave, and paid holidays;

Professional Perks: Free parking at our Bellevue location.

Our clients speak many languages, and in this role being multi-lingual is a plus.