Communications & Advocacy Director

Old Colony YMCA • Brockton, MA

3d

About The Position

At Old Colony YMCA, the Communications & Advocacy Director helps tell the organization’s story and build strong relationships throughout its communities. Under the direction of the Vice President of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs, the Director develops clear, consistent communications that strengthen the Old Colony YMCA brand, advance its mission, and build understanding. As a member of the Marketing & Communications team, the role leads day-to-day public relations and organizational storytelling and coordinates advocacy activities across the association.

The Director works with executive staff and teams across the association to create communications for internal and external audiences. The role leads media relations, monitors news and public issues, prepares materials for organizational representatives, and collaborates with Marketing and program teams on mission-centered content. It also builds a library of impact stories, coordinates advocacy and government relations, maintains nonpartisan relationships with public officials, and supports crisis communications.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and at least 1–3 years of relevant experience. The role involves travel within southeastern Massachusetts and occasional meetings or events outside regular business hours. Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter to the Vice President of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs in addition to completing the online application.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required, or equivalent combination of education and at least 1–3 years of relevant experience.
• Exceptional writing, proofreading, and editing skills, with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to synthesize complex ideas into coherent, compelling communications materials.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a diverse environment.
• Highly developed time-management skills and ability to plan, control, and lead projects and meet deadlines.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders.
• Ability to articulate the unique points of difference of the organization’s services.
• Thorough understanding of social media outlets.
• Sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism when handling sensitive, emerging, or high-visibility matters.
• Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Enterprise tools and emerging technology.
• Ability to travel within southeastern Massachusetts and attend occasional meetings or events outside regular business hours.

Responsibilities

• Develop consistent written materials for internal and external constituents in collaboration with executive staff and departments across the association.
• Lead media relations, including preparing press releases, press kits, media alerts, public service announcements, op-eds, interview preparation, and press events; build relationships with reporters, media outlets, and online communities.
• Develop and place content that can be accessed by large language models (LLMs), and monitor the frequency and accuracy of responses across major AI platforms.
• Monitor news, public issues, and emerging developments that may affect Old Colony YMCA; provide timely summaries, analysis, and recommended communications responses.
• Develop speeches, talking points, briefing materials, testimony, presentations, and correspondence for executive staff and other organizational representatives.
• Work with Marketing and program teams to develop mission-centered content for the website, social media, newsletters, annual reports, campaigns, and other channels.
• Build and maintain a storytelling library featuring participant impact, community partnerships, staff expertise, and the Y’s role as a charitable organization.
• Coordinate advocacy and government relations, including legislative priorities, public funding requests, site visits, meetings, events, and follow-up with elected officials and government staff.
• Maintain productive, nonpartisan relationships with municipal, state, and federal officials, and connect policymakers with Old Colony YMCA programs, leaders, and community impact.
• Support crisis communications by gathering facts, preparing draft messages, coordinating review, monitoring coverage, and maintaining consistency across channels.

Benefits

• Free membership.
• Old Colony YMCA pays 70% of medical and dental fees; multiple plans are available.
• Employer-paid retirement plan with a 10% employer contribution and no match required.
• Subsidized child care.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director