Vice President, Communications

Mission

To represent the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean diaspora living in America in a survivor-led movement for gender-justice and to honor the collective and inherent power of all survivors of violence.

Organization Overview:

Founded in 1989, Sakhi for South Asian Survivors (Sakhi) is a nonprofit that works to eradicate gender-based violence in the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean diaspora. Led by and centering survivors, we provide trauma-informed direct services, actively push for change, and stand as a go-to resource for allies and advocates. Sakhi is a trailblazer – agile, and inclusive of all South Asians and Indo-Caribbeans regardless of how they identify. With the collective strength of survivor voices united for justice, we are shaping a world where gender-based violence has no place. Learn more about our historic ringing of the Nasdaq Closing Bell, Iftar with NYC Mayor Mamdani, 2026 Gala and more here and here.

What distinguishes Sakhi is not only what we do, but how we do it. Cultural responsiveness and trauma-informed practice are not programmatic add-ons—they are embedded in everyday interactions, internal decision-making, language access, and community relationships.

Sakhi recently underwent a values-informed rebrand, broadening our articulation of inclusion and reaffirming our commitment to all survivors of gender-based violence. Our work is relational, values-driven, and deeply trusted within community networks.

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Sakhi is at a pivotal point in its history, shifting from being a hyper-local organization with a strong direct-service footprint to building a national platform. That national platform has two primary dimensions: advocacy and narrative change that sit within an interconnected ecosystem that includes development.

What makes this moment particularly unusual is the level of investment behind that transition. It is the first time in the history of the GBV movement that a hyper-local organization has received a significant infusion of capital specifically to take components of its work to national scale. Other organizations have grown from local to national, but this kind of one-time investment expressly intended to enable that scaling has not existed before and sets Sakhi and this VP of Communications role apart.

Position Overview:

As Sakhi contemplates team expansion and broader service delivery, the organization must ensure that its internal systems evolve alongside its external ambitions. Scaling a trauma-informed, culturally grounded organization requires more than adding headcount.

GBV and survivor justice are the leading public health issues of the South Asian and Indo Caribbean communities. The Vice President of Communications (VPoC) is central to Sakhi’s national narrative-change strategy, and will possess the opportunity and responsibility to name that truth, develop and evolve Sakhi’s political voice and shape the national conversation about it.

Specifically, the VPoC will oversee Sakhi’s internal and external strategy and implementation for all communications, branding, marketing, and public relations efforts and play a key role in shaping and articulating Sakhi’s vision and voice within a local and national movement against gender-based violence. The person filling this role will be responsible for strategy and decision-making related to the development, execution, and cohesion of messaging related to issue awareness, policy positioning, and donor engagement. As an organizational ambassador, the VPoC will represent Sakhi among media representatives, supporters, constituents, community partners, and other stakeholders.

Key responsibilities

1) Communications Strategy and Implementation

• Leverage a well-developed gender and political analysis as well as considerable organizational assets to strengthen and grow the national movement against gender-based violence
• In partnership with the Executive Director, lead efforts to broaden awareness of Sakhi’s programs and positions by developing and executing an integrated communications, marketing, branding, and PR strategy that advances Sakhi’s impact
• Maintain brand guidelines, ensure consistent voice and visual identity across channels, and approve creative assets designed to strengthen brand identity, and increase visibility across local and national audiences
• Use careful analysis to prioritize media opportunities, and prepare talking points, speeches, presentations and other supporting material as needed in order to cultivate press relationships, pitch stories, coordinate interviews, and manage press responses
• Direct content strategy and production for newsletters, social media, website, podcasts, reports, speeches, and campaign materials
• Oversee internal communications to ensure staff, board, volunteers, and partners are informed, engaged, and aligned with priorities
• Lead crisis communications planning and rapid-response messaging when necessary
• Manage digital strategy and analytics: social media strategy, web/content optimization, SEO, performance tracking, and reporting on KPIs
• Design and implement donor-facing communications and stewardship materials in partnership with development/fundraising teams
• Oversee event communications and promotional plans for branded fundraisers, public events, and other convenings
• Ensure all communications reflect accessibility, cultural competency, equity, confidentiality, and ethical standards

2) Leadership

• Serve on the Sakhi Steering Committee, contributing to organizational strategy, messaging priorities, and inter-departmental alignment
• Collaborate across program, development, and advocacy teams to plan and execute communications campaigns, coalition work, and national initiatives
• Promote and model a culture of excellent performance and continual improvement among the communications team and across the organization
• Exercise excellent judgment in recognizing organization-wide messaging-related challenges and risks, while identifying opportunities and solutions
• Establish measurement frameworks and reporting to evaluate impact, inform strategy, and present results to leadership, board members, and stakeholders
• Function effectively as a self-directed leader who takes initiative, exercises independent judgment, and practices accountability

3) Team Development and Management

• Supervise communications team of two and external consultants/volunteers
• Recruit, hire, mentor, and manage performance and professional development of team members
• Set goals and objectives for team, establish priorities, conduct periodic performance appraisals, and implement accountability measures while contributing to a collaborative and mutually supportive culture

Qualifications

Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, public policy, or related field
• 7+ years of progressive communications/marketing experience; 3+ years in a senior or director-level role success leading integrated communications that combine brand, digital, earned media, and fundraising communications
• Strong media relations track record, including crisis communications and serving as a spokesperson for complex or sensitive issues
• Demonstrable experience developing advocacy or public policy communications and working in collaboration with coalitions, policymakers, or national campaigns
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills; ability to craft clear, persuasive narratives for diverse audiences
• Budget oversight experience
• Successful track record of working with teams and communities of color, immigrant populations

Preferred Experience

• Advanced degree
• Communications/marketing experience working in the social justice sector with immigrant, South Asian and/or Indo-Caribbean populations and/or trauma survivors
• Experience scaling an organization’s national profile
• Experience working with and/or supporting survivors of violence

Personal Characteristics

• Commitment to diversity, equity, equity, inclusion, trauma-informed practice and the mission to end gender-based violence through systems-level change
• An orientation to listen well, with empathy and curiosity that permits authentic, trusting relationship building; ability to handle sensitive content with care and respect
• A self-starter who thrives in an environment that requires creativity, initiative, adaptability, and the ability to set direction without extensive top-down guidance on communications and messaging matters
• Successful track-record working cross functionally, creating opportunities for and managing diverse groups through collaboration, constructive problem-solving, and respectful compromise
• Self-awareness, humility, and the ability to lead effectively in the fore-or background, as well as the inclination to share credit
• Practice of kindness and care-centered leadership
• Willingness to travel as needed and to represent Sakhi at events, meetings and media opportunities
• Demonstrated history of working with communities of color, immigrant populations, and/or survivors of violence strongly preferred

Skills

• Proficiency with digital platforms (including social media, email platforms, analytics tools) and familiarity with SEO/UX best practices
• Data-driven approach with proficiency in using analytics, KPIs, and audience insights to shape strategy and demonstrate impact

Reporting Relationships:

The Vice President of Communications will report to the Executive Director and will have two Coordinator-level direct reports.

Location

Sakhi’s hybrid officing policy requires eight days/month in the organization’s Brooklyn office, with the option to work remotely for the remainder of the time when in-person collaboration is not required. Staff members have the flexibility to organize their 35 hours over a four-day work week. Some evenings and weekends will be required and, therefore, the Vice President of Communications is expected to live in the NYC/NJ region, with easy access to the Sakhi office.

Compensation and Benefits:

This is a full-time role (35+ hours a week), with a salary range between $160k-$165k per year based on experience. Sakhi offers a generous benefits package, including unlimited PTO, paid parental leave, health and dental insurance. Additionally, all full-time staff have access to clinical supervision.

At Sakhi we offer a unique work environment that is collaborative, fun, and committed to social justice. Members of the LGBTQIA+ community, persons of color and bilingual/bicultural applicants and applicants with marginalized caste identities are strongly encouraged to apply. At Sakhi, we have a clear vision: to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, to stay and do their best work. Sakhi is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Sakhi offers a generous benefits package, including unlimited PTO, paid parental leave, health and dental insurance.