Director of Communications & Public Affairs

HAMBURGER HOME INC•Los Angeles, CA

1d•$125,000 - $140,000•Onsite

About The Position

Aviva creates safe, supportive spaces where children, youth and families can heal, build resilience, and experience belonging. The Director of Communications & Public Affairs is a leadership position responsible for building and leading Aviva’s communications and public affairs function. Reporting to the President/CEO, this role develops and executes a comprehensive, organization-wide communications strategy; establishes Aviva’s public voice across media, policy, and community audiences; and launches a coordinated public affairs program. The Director operates with significant autonomy and serves as a strategic advisor to the executive team, ensuring that Aviva’s mission, programs, and impact are communicated clearly, consistently, and to the right audiences.

Requirements

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write compelling narratives, talking points, op-eds, policy briefs, and internal communications across diverse audiences.
Strong strategic thinking and planning skills; ability to translate organizational priorities into actionable communications plans with measurable outcomes.
Demonstrated ability to build and manage relationships with journalists, elected officials, government agencies, and community stakeholders.
High degree of emotional intelligence; ability to build trust and credibility with stakeholders at all levels, from frontline staff to board members to public officials.
Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities, deadlines, and cross-departmental workstreams.
Comfortable using data and analytics to measure communications effectiveness, refine strategy, and report on outcomes to leadership.
Comfort operating as both a strategist and a hands-on producer, particularly in the function’s early stages.
Tech-savvy; proficient with communications tools including social media management platforms (e.g., Hootsuite, Sprout Social), email marketing and audience segmentation tools (e.g., Mailchimp, Constant Contact), content management systems (e.g., WordPress), and design tools such as Canva or Adobe Creative Suite.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Strong judgment and discretion in handling sensitive organizational information.
Sensitive and responsive to the cultural differences among the agency’s staff and client population.
Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, public affairs, journalism, or a related field required; master’s degree preferred.
Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations, public affairs, or a closely related field, with at least 3 years in a senior or leadership role.
Demonstrated experience developing and executing multi-channel communications strategies for a complex organization; nonprofit, government, or mission-driven sector strongly preferred.
Valid CA driver’s license
Tuberculosis clearance
Department of Justice/Fingerprint clearance
Satisfactory completion of health screening
Proof of legal eligibility to work in the United States
Satisfactory driving record

Nice To Haves

Experience in social services, behavioral health, child welfare, housing, or a related human services field preferred.
Familiarity with the Los Angeles policy landscape—county and city government, DCFS, DMH, LAHSA, and related agencies—preferred.
Ability to speak Spanish preferred, but not required.

Responsibilities

Design and execute Aviva's first comprehensive, multi-year communications strategy — aligned with the Strategic Plan and built on a cross-departmental planning rhythm — including a detailed annual plan and editorial calendar that reflects the priorities of Programs, Development, Human Resources, and Finance.
Conduct a comprehensive communications audit across all channels, assets, and messaging to identify gaps, opportunities, and strengths — using findings to inform strategy development, resourcing, and sequencing of priorities, and to establish baselines and success metrics for tracking progress and demonstrating impact.
Establish and manage the communications budget, making strategic investment recommendations for tools, platforms, and production support.
Establish a messaging framework that articulates Aviva’s value proposition at the organizational and program level, with distinct, audience-specific voices for funders, policymakers, partners, media, and staff — tailored and relevant to each, while consistently reinforcing a cohesive organizational narrative and mission.
Lead the rollout of Aviva’s mission, vision, and values — designing an internal launch that builds genuine staff understanding and connection, followed by a sequenced external reintroduction to key audiences.
Lead the development of a cohesive narrative across Aviva's program areas — including mental health services, Wallis House, the Lifting Youth Up Drop-In Center, and the emerging perinatal substance use program — ensuring storytelling clearly articulates who Aviva serves and consistently connects population, need, and impact.
Build the infrastructure to systematically capture and deploy client stories, staff perspectives, and program milestones in service of funding and advocacy priorities.
Establish and enforce brand standards across all departments and satellite locations, including Canva template training and a clear protocol for when and how branded materials are produced.
Integrate mission, brand, and program messaging into new employee orientation and ongoing staff development so that all team members can confidently represent Aviva's mission, populations served, and programs.
Equip board members with a communications toolkit providing talking points, program summaries, and guidance for donor and community conversations.
Lead the strategy for environmental branding and visitor experience at Aviva's Franklin headquarters — including public-facing spaces, the development of Aviva's history wall, donor recognition elements, and program-area signage and wayfinding — in partnership with Development and executive leadership.
Build a proactive media relations program that positions Aviva as a credible, go-to voice on issues including behavioral health, homelessness, foster care, and child welfare in Los Angeles.
Develop an executive visibility plan for the CEO, identifying priority thought leadership topics and securing op-ed placements, speaking engagements, and panel participation.
Produce at least two to four external-facing thought leadership pieces per year—op-eds, policy briefs, or contributed articles—as called for in the strategic plan.
Set the strategic direction for Aviva's digital communications — including audience segmentation, content strategy, and cadence across social media, email, and web — ensuring channels are driving measurable engagement in support of fundraising, advocacy, and program visibility.
Oversee consistent execution through the Communications & Outreach Coordinator.
Lead Aviva's public relations strategy, shaping and protecting the organization's reputation across media, community, and policy audiences.
Ensure alignment between communications, development, and program priorities, and serve as the organizational lead for messaging around sensitive, high-visibility, or crisis situations.
Lead the strategy and production of Aviva’s annual impact report in partnership with Development, ensuring it compellingly communicates organizational impact, program value, and outcomes to donors, partners, and key external audiences.
Partner with Development on communications strategy and collateral for fundraising campaigns and signature events, ensuring messaging is aligned with organizational priorities and donor engagement goals.
Lead a full website redesign organized around the needs of distinct audiences—donors, referral partners, clients, policymakers—rather than internal departmental structure.
Integrate the refreshed mission, vision, values, and messaging throughout the site; ensure ADA accessibility, search optimization, and a content management platform staff can maintain independently.
Manage vendor relationships for web development, photography, videography, and design production.
Establish a sustainable website maintenance plan — including a content refresh calendar, regular performance and accessibility audits, and clear workflows for staff-driven updates — ensuring the site remains current, accurate, and aligned with organizational priorities beyond the initial redesign.
Develop and implement an internal communications strategy for a dispersed, primarily field-based workforce of approximately 160+ employees.
Establish a consistent staff newsletter cadence and a protocol for cascading major announcements from leadership to frontline staff in a deliberate, timely sequence.
Partner with Human Resources to align internal communications with staff engagement, onboarding, and retention goals.
Build and maintain a systematic program for cultivating relationships with elected officials and government agency leaders at the local, county, and state levels.
Monitor relevant legislation and policy developments; prepare organizational responses, briefings, and position materials as needed.
Represent Aviva at community meetings, government hearings, and coalition convenings; coordinate policy-focused forums or roundtables as called for in the strategic plan.
Build and maintain relationships with local community stakeholders — including neighborhood groups, residents, and business associations — particularly in Hollywood.
Lead proactive, transparent communication about Aviva's presence, programs, and impact in the community, and support executive leadership in navigating sensitive community dynamics with clarity and consistency.
Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and executive team on public affairs positioning, ensuring communications and advocacy efforts are mutually reinforcing.
Directly supervise the Communications & Outreach Coordinator, providing mentorship, professional development, and clear direction on priorities, deadlines, and deliverables.
Manage external vendors and consultants — including designers, web developers, photographers, and videographers — ensuring quality deliverables, adherence to timelines, and alignment with communications strategy.
This role requires flexibility to support organizational communications needs, which may include occasional evenings or weekends for events, public meetings, or media opportunities.
The Director of Communications & Public Affairs may independently manage special projects and/or additional responsibilities as assigned by the President/CEO.