Communications Manager

California Competes•Oakland, CA

2d•$88,570 - $104,200•Hybrid

About The Position

California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy is a nonpartisan policy and research organization focused on identifying solutions to the state’s most critical challenges at the intersection of higher education, equity, and the economy. Established in 2011, our mission is to help transform the state's higher education system into an engine of economic opportunity that empowers all Californians, particularly those from underserved communities, to achieve their full potential. California Competes benefits from the expertise of our highly respected, bipartisan Board of Directors, which comprises current and former public officials, business executives, and community leaders from across the state. Our diverse staff brings decades of experience in higher education and public policy. We work statewide and travel across the country to research and advocate for a higher education system that provides opportunities for all Californians. For more information, please visit californiacompetes.org. Reporting to the Senior Communications Director, the Communications Manager will support the development and execution of California Competes’s communication and outreach activities to advance the organization’s objectives and policy priorities. This role will also serve as the primary communications contact for The California Alliance for Student Parent Success, a statewide coalition co-led by California Competes. Major specific duties are described below.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent in education and experience
A minimum of 4-7 years of experience in communications or relevant field
Storyteller with strong verbal and written communication skills, including editing and presentation skills, particularly being able to thread narratives and research
Passion for advancing equity and improving life outcomes for marginalized Californians
Excellent organization and prioritization skills
Keen attention to detail and ability to ensure accuracy and rigor to the highest standards
Creative and strategic thinker
Recognizes ways that race and ethnicity, gender, and other identities intersect in postsecondary access and success
Understands the historical context for racial inequity and its present-day implications, and is driven to make creative and concrete changes through advancing systemic change through strategic communications
Growth mindset and commitment to demonstrating results and gathering feedback to inform experimentation, iteration, and improvement
Flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to anticipate needs, prioritize, and juggle multiple projects at once

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience or interest in policy communications
Graphic design experience
Master’s degree in a relevant field

Responsibilities

Manage communications planning and execution for initiatives, resource and research releases, and events, partnering with project leads to align messaging, provide editing support, coordinate deliverables, and increase organization's visibility with key audiences.
Develop high-impact communications, including blogs, op eds, event collateral/swag, presentations, graphics, talking points, social media toolkits, executive and board communications, and other content as requested.
Maintain consistency with the organization's brand identity and voice across all platforms and materials.
Prepare staff and CEO to represent the organization publicly.
Coordinate with graphic design, copyediting, and other communications contractors, managing timelines and consolidating stakeholder feedback to ensure high-quality final products.
Stay updated on higher education policy, communications trends, and media opportunities, sharing insights that strengthen organizational communications.
Manage California Competes's digital presence across the website, email marketing, and social media (primarily LinkedIn) channels, ensuring content is timely, engaging, and aligned with organizational priorities.
Coordinate with the contractor hosting the organization’s website for page development, support, or fixes, as needed.
Monitor analytics to identify trends, high-performing pages or posts, and referral sources and recommend and implement strategies to strengthen the organization's digital presence
Draft pitch emails, press releases, and other outreach materials to promote California Competes research, resources, and expertise to the media.
Support and maintain relationships with journalists and media outlets, assisting with media outreach and responding to media inquiries.
Maintain media lists and monitor and track media coverage.
Help prepare staff for media interviews by curating background information and talking points.
Provide overall project management support for staff’s communications needs.
Perform other communications-related duties, as assigned.