Communications Director

McKinley Children's Center•San Dimas, CA

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Communications Director is a high-level strategic leader responsible for designing, directing, and executing McKinley’s overarching communications, media relations, and public relations framework. This role, serving as the organization's chief storyteller and primary editor, elevates McKinley’s public profile by securing impactful media placements, producing elite-tier written content, and protecting brand integrity across all regional and national touchpoints. The Director will leverage deep, established journalism networks to position McKinley as a premier thought leader in the sector and collaborate closely with senior leadership, the Board of Directors, and community partners.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Journalism, Communications, or a closely related field required; Master's degree preferred.
6–8+ years of progressive professional experience in public relations, journalism, or media management, with a proven track record of leadership within a mission-driven nonprofit environment.
Exceptional, versatile writing portfolio across multiple genres (op-eds, thought leadership, press releases, investigative narratives, and donor impact stories) with impeccable editing and proofreading skills.
Deep, active, and verifiable relationships with local news outlets, Southern California regional media, and major national journalism networks.
Proven history of successfully building and executing aggressive PR campaigns, securing high-impact earned media placements, and handling sensitive crisis communications.
Deep familiarity with community-centered narrative practices, ensuring storytelling preserves the dignity, privacy, and agency of the populations served.
Experience managing, coaching, and elevating high-performing communications, marketing, or creative teams.
Proficient in Google Suite and project management platforms (e.g., Monday.com).
Strategic mastery of Content Management Systems (CMS), email marketing software, and advanced social media analytics tools.
Working familiarity with creative software suites (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro) or Canva to direct creative asset workflows.
Must pass pre-employment physical exam, TB, and drug screening
Ability to lift at least 15 pounds for filing, boxes, and packages
Ability to sit for several hours performing clerical functions
DOJ, FBI, Child Abuse Index Insurability under Corporate Automobile Insurance

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Architect and champion of comprehensive, public relations, and earned-media strategies to promote McKinley’s mission, programs, and community achievements.
Cultivate, maintain, and activate robust relationships with local reporters, regional editors, and major national news outlets to secure ongoing coverage.
Act as the primary media contact and official spokesperson for the organization.
Write and pitch compelling press releases, orchestrate press conferences, and pitch targeted stories to key journalists.
Design, maintain, and execute McKinley’s crisis communication protocols to protect the organization’s reputation during sensitive developments.
Serve as the chief writer and principal editor for all major external and high-level communications, including executive speeches, op-ed pieces, annual reports, key donor appeals, and high-stakes organizational statements.
Ensure all external communications align with a standard for grammar, tone, and strategic positioning, while strictly embedding community-centered, trauma-informed storytelling principles.
Establish and maintain organizational brand and message guidelines, reviewing and approving critical communication assets to guarantee impeccable quality control across all internal and external channels.
Oversee the evolution of McKinley’s online ecosystem, ensuring the website, social platforms, and digital campaigns achieve high engagement and convert public interest into donor action.
Design and oversee targeted multi-channel digital marketing campaigns specifically engineered to boost registration numbers, ticket sales, and peer-to-peer fundraising metrics for major organizational events.
Establish rigorous metrics to track communications campaigns, media placements, and PR value, and interpret data to adjust strategies in real time.
Design and implement a multi-year, integrated communications and marketing roadmap that aligns perfectly with McKinley’s overarching strategic vision and development initiatives.
Partner closely with the SVP of Development & Communications, CEO, and Department Directors to advise on public messaging, brand positioning, and public affairs alignment.
Architect and lead the comprehensive PR and media outreach campaigns for McKinley's premier fundraising and community milestones, including the Miles that Matter 5k, the annual Golf Tournament, and our Fall Fundraiser.
Leverage established journalism and media networks to pitch, negotiate, and secure local and regional media sponsorships (TV, radio, print, and digital) to maximize event visibility, drive registrations, and elevate corporate partner profiles.
Formulate and manage the annual communications department budget, maximizing strategic ROI and identifying cost-effective vendors, tech stacks, and PR partnerships.
Execute other related executive duties as assigned.
Assume responsibility for assigned aspects of special events.