Director - Communications, CA (Recycling Outr
About The Position
The Director of Communications is a senior leader responsible for developing and delivering integrated communications and education and outreach strategies to support implementation of California’s SB 54 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program, the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act. The role leads statewide efforts to drive participation, reduce contamination, and build public understanding of recycling requirements across diverse audiences, while ensuring program execution aligns with national strategy, messaging, and frameworks. In close alignment with national communications leadership, the Director develops proactive and reactive communications strategies to support the program in a complex and evolving regulatory and public policy environment. The role anticipates risks, identifies opportunities to shape narratives, and ensures communications align with program objectives and the external landscape. The Director leads statewide recycling education and outreach, California communications strategy, large-scale program delivery, and interest holder engagement. The role manages an annual budget of up to $100+ million in collaboration with national communications leadership, oversees measurement and evaluation, and leads a multidisciplinary team spanning communications and recycling outreach.
Requirements
- At least 10 years of experience in communications, education and outreach, public engagement, or related fields, including leadership roles.
- Demonstrated experience leading large-scale outreach, communications, or behavior change programs.
- Strong understanding of the recycling and solid waste management system, including the role of education and outreach in municipal service delivery.
- Experience developing proactive communications strategies and managing issues in a complex, highly visible, or regulated environment, with demonstrated ability to anticipate risks and shape narratives.
- Familiarity with public policy, regulatory processes, and interest holder dynamics, with the ability to work effectively at the intersection of communications and public affairs.
- Experience managing teams, complex initiatives, and significant budgets.
- Ability to translate complex policy and technical requirements into clear, actionable public guidance.
- Proven ability to work effectively in a multi-interest-holder environment.
Nice To Haves
- Direct experience in California’s regulatory and program landscape.
Responsibilities
- Lead California’s statewide recycling education and outreach efforts in partnership with national teams, driving strategy, implementation, performance, behavior change, and program outcomes.
- Oversee statewide and locally delivered public education campaigns, coordinating with national teams and agencies to align with CAA’s brand, messaging, and strategic priorities.
- Direct sector-based outreach and technical assistance across commercial, multifamily, education, and priority populations, aligning efforts with statewide priorities and national frameworks.
- Adapt national frameworks and best practices for California while enabling locally relevant, culturally responsive approaches.
- Oversee California communications strategy, planning, and execution, including media engagement and interest holder communications.
- Oversee comprehensive messaging frameworks for all program phases, from early market signaling to issue response, maintaining national consistency while tailoring communications to California’s regulatory and political environment.
- Anticipate emerging issues and oversee proactive and reactive messaging strategies; identify risks and opportunities, shape narratives, and advise leadership responses in coordination with national communications leadership.
- Ensure monitoring of policy developments, regulatory signals, media narratives, and interest holder sentiment to inform communications strategy and prepare for emerging issues.
- Direct large-scale program delivery, including planning, vendor management, and campaign execution.
- Manage an annual budget of up to $100+ million with national communications leadership, allocating resources to maximize impact and efficiency.
- Ensure measurement and evaluation frameworks are used to track program performance, generate actionable insights, and drive continuous improvement.
- Direct synthesis of state-level insights to inform and strengthen national strategy.
- Support direct engagement with local jurisdictions, tribes, service providers, end markets, producers, trade associations, and community organizations in California.
- Support program implementation through clear, consistent, coordinated outreach and communications, aligning messaging with interest holder dynamics and external considerations.
- Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team across communications and recycling outreach functions.
- Set priorities, establish operating rhythms, and ensure effective execution across a complex program.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
