Director of Communications

Director of Communications

JOB DESCRIPTION

Location: Remote, US (job must be performed within the United States)

Reports to: Executive Director

About the Praxis Project

The Praxis Project is a values-driven, national nonprofit organization that seeks to improve health justice through partnerships to build community power and increase authentic collaboration and engagement. Praxis believes strongly that organized communities are critical partners in the struggle to create healthy communities. Praxis works with over 200 diverse grassroots groups across the United States that influence local policy, mobilize communities, and strengthen programs and organizations to improve health, equity, and racial justice. Praxis works to enable local efforts to build community power through training, technical assistance, capacity-building, hosting spaces for building relationships and learning, as well as comprehensive fiscal sponsorship. Our capacity-building programming is focused on partnerships that actively advance Praxis’ mission to build healthy communities by transforming the power relationships and structures that affect our lives. For more information, please visit www.thepraxisproject.org.

About Health Equity Works

Health Equity Works (HEW) seeks to transform how America talks about racial health equity by supporting a powerful network of advocates equipped with strategic communications tools, real-time intelligence, and coordinated messaging that drives lasting narrative change.

HEW serves as a central communications hub, providing shared opposition research, collaborative message testing, rapid response coordination, and unified messaging frameworks. Through real-time social listening, audience research and message testing, we help our network communicate in ways that expand support for health equity. We operate as a hub-and-spoke network, amplifying partner organizations' communications, and building capacity where gaps exist. Through strategic communications support and collaborative campaigns, we help advocates move beyond reactive messaging to proactive narrative building.

For more information, please visit www.healthequityworks.org.

Position Summary:

The Director of Communications serves as the strategic communications leader responsible for communications initiatives that contribute to building HEW as the strategic hub and leading resource for health equity partners seeking strategic communications support and capacity building.

This position combines strategic communications planning with hands-on program development, driving HEW's network communications efforts while building organizational capacity through team leadership, consultant management and innovative program implementation. This position will directly supervise the Senior Content Writer & Editorial Lead, and strategic relationships with external consultants and vendors.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director ensures that all communications activities effectively support the organization's mission and programmatic goals. The role requires a seasoned communications professional who can translate organizational priorities into effective communications strategies while building the infrastructure necessary for sustained impact. The Director is responsible for building and maintaining a communications operation that can execute sophisticated, multi-faceted communications strategies while maintaining the flexibility necessary for effective, rapid response and program adaptation.

This is a full-time (40 hours per week), fully benefits-eligible, exempt position with a general work schedule of Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. Overnight travel is required. The salary range for this position is $128,000 - $145,000 per year, and the final salary will be based on experience. Praxis offers average basic salary increases, depending on the organization's financial health, along with comprehensive employee benefits.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• • Set strategic direction, goals and priorities for communication planning and execution with a focus on broad-based, consumer-centric messaging to both HEW member organizations and general public
  • Manage the relationships between internal and external stakeholders and vendors to align organizational needs with communications approaches and projects that are on time and within budget
  • Manage rapid response protocols, communication systems, and decision-making frameworks for time-sensitive situations
  • Research, analyze and utilize data to determine the impact and effectiveness of communication campaigns; adjust strategy and implementation to align with organizational objectives
  • Lead a high-performing communications team by establishing clear performance expectations, conducting regular evaluations, and career development
  • Foster a collaborative team culture that promotes creativity, accountability, and professional growth
  • Identify, evaluate, and manage relationships with external communications consultants and agencies, while providing strategic direction and maintaining accountability for deliverables and outcomes
  • Design and implement a comprehensive speakers bureau program to amplify network partners’ expertise

This is not a 100% comprehensive list of all duties and responsibilities that may be assigned.

Qualifications, Education and Experience

• • Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in communications, public relations, or related field with at least 3-5 years in senior leadership roles
  • Proven track record of building and leading high-performing communications teams
  • Experience managing budgets, consultants, and complex communications programs
  • Demonstrated success in strategic planning and execution of large-scale communications initiatives

Required skills, knowledge, and abilities

• • Deep expertise in all aspects of strategic communications, including but not limited to: message development, narrative frameworks, media relations, content strategy, and crisis communications
  • National-level experience with understanding the media landscape, crisis management and rapid response campaigns
  • Exceptional writing and editing skills with experience producing executive-level communications materials
  • Specific experience in consumer-facing communications, influence campaigns, digital strategies
  • Strong presentation skills and experience as an organizational spokesperson
  • Ability to anticipate trends, identify risks, and develop proactive communications approaches
  • Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and organizational needs

Desired qualifications: Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• • Advanced degree in Communications, Public Policy, Public Health, or related field
  • Experience with speaker’s bureau development and management
  • Track record of building thought leadership programs and securing high-profile media placements

Mental and physical demands

• Fast-paced work environment.
• High level of concentration and attention to detail required.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Time speaking and listening ranges between 25–50%.
• Extended time sitting or standing while at a computer.
• Praxis currently works remotely both as an internal team and with our partners based across the United States. Leading and participating in remote video and telephone conferences is required.
• Multiple video conferences per day with camera settings and video camera on.
• Occasional travel (about 1 trip per quarter), including overnight travel, is required; each trip potentially being 2 or more days per trip.
• In-person team meetings or participation in networking events may be expected approximately 1x per quarter.
• Some exposure to hearing, seeing, or imagining traumatic events or social crises within the communities we serve.
• Extensive interaction and communication with colleagues and strangers, in person and virtual.
• Valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and insurance are required for employees driving on Praxis business; driving record checks may be required as well.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Praxis Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religious creed, disability (mental and physical) including HIV, AIDS, and AIDS-related conditions, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, age, marital status, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Praxis participates in I-9 & E-Verify. You must be able to prove you are legally authorized to work in the United States. This role may require a background check.

The Praxis Project will endeavor to make a reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of qualified employees with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on Praxis operations. Please submit reasonable accommodation requests to people@thepraxisproject.org.

Required Training

Praxis is committed to fostering a safe and welcoming work environment. All Praxis employees are required to complete annual training on preventing harassment and discrimination. Additionally, managers are required to complete training on managing bias and creating an inclusive workplace. Ongoing training may be assigned for professional development purposes.

Benefits

Praxis offers a very competitive full-time benefits package including employer-sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance, paid sick leave, paid vacation (15 days in year one of employment), 15+ paid holidays per year, flexible spending accounts, 401k retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested), reimbursement for cell phone and wireless internet usage as well as wellness costs, regular cost-of-living pay adjustments, and more.

To Apply

Please submit your application for the Senior Director of Communications position at The Praxis Project using the link on Idealist. Screenings will begin the week of January 12. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applications will only be accepted with a resume & cover letter. The ideal start date is before or by March 16th.

Praxis offers a very competitive full-time benefits package including employer-sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance, paid sick leave, paid vacation (15 days in year one of employment), 15+ paid holidays per year, flexible spending accounts, 401k retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested), reimbursement for cell phone and wireless internet usage as well as wellness costs, regular cost-of-living pay adjustments, and more.