Vice President, External Communications & Brand Strategy

Easterseals Southern California transforms lives every day. For over a century, Easterseals has championed inclusion and independence—delivering essential services like early childhood programs, autism services, employment and independent living support to more than 29,000 people each year. Through advocacy and education, we break barriers and create opportunities for the one-in-four Americans with disabilities.

The Vice President, External Communications & Brand Strategy leads the execution of Easterseals Southern California’s external brand strategy, ensuring a clear, differentiated narrative that builds awareness, trust, and engagement across priority audiences. This role manages the Director of Digital Marketing and the Director of Communications (and their teams), setting strategic direction while ensuring strong day-to-day execution across digital platforms, earned media, and brand storytelling. The Vice President is responsible for translating strategy into action—overseeing the coordination and execution of multichannel brand and awareness campaigns that consistently elevate the Easterseals Southern California brand. Working in close partnership with the Chief Marketing Communications Officer, this role collaborates on the creative development of integrated advertising, awareness, and visibility campaigns and is accountable for turning creative vision into effective, measurable campaign execution. The Vice President also plays a key role in building and strengthening the in-house public relations function and fostering a culture of storytelling that reflects the organization’s impact, values, and leadership in disability services and inclusion.

Hiring Range: $190k - $240k

The Vice President, External Communications & Brand leads the execution of Easterseals Southern California’s external brand strategy, ensuring a clear, differentiated narrative that builds awareness, trust, and engagement across priority audiences. This role manages the Director of Digital Marketing and the Director of Communications (and their teams), setting strategic direction while ensuring strong day-to-day execution across digital platforms, earned media, and brand storytelling. The Vice President is responsible for translating strategy into action—overseeing the coordination and execution of multichannel brand and awareness campaigns that consistently elevate the Easterseals Southern California brand. Working in close partnership with the Chief Marketing Communications Officer, this role collaborates on the creative development of integrated advertising, awareness, and visibility campaigns and is accountable for turning creative vision into effective, measurable campaign execution. The Vice President also plays a key role in building and strengthening the in-house public relations function and fostering a culture of storytelling that reflects the organization’s impact, values, and leadership in disability services and inclusion.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Leads the activation of a clear, differentiated brand narrative for Easterseals Southern California that reflects mission, impact, and strategic priorities.
• Ensures consistent brand expression, messaging, and voice across digital, earned media, advertising, and campaign channels.
• Operationalizes brand positioning so it is understood, applied, and executed consistently by internal teams and partners.
• Manages the execution of brand, awareness, and visibility campaigns through launch, optimization, and performance reporting.
• Partners with the Chief Marketing Communications Officer on the creative development of multichannel advertising and brand campaigns, ensuring alignment between creative direction and execution.
• Translates organizational priorities into integrated, multichannel campaigns that drive awareness, engagement, and brand recognition.
• Oversees campaign timelines, messaging, channel strategy, and performance management.
• Defines priority thought leadership platforms and themes aligned to organizational strategy.
• Determines which leaders are positioned externally and in what contexts.
• Aligns thought leadership to brand narrative and campaign priorities.
• Leads the Digital Marketing team, setting clear priorities, expectations, and performance standards with the Director of Digital Marketing.
• Leads and supports the Director of Communications, strengthening earned media strategy, media relationships, and proactive storytelling.
• Builds and supports a strong in-house PR function, reducing reliance on external partners while expanding internal capability and strategic influence.
• Ensures digital and PR efforts are tightly aligned with overall brand strategy and campaign objectives.
• Helps establish and nurture a storytelling culture across the organization, ensuring teams consistently surface meaningful stories of impact.
• Guides teams in translating programs, outcomes, and lived experiences into compelling, audience-centered narratives.
• Collaborates with creative, digital, and PR leaders to identify, develop, and amplify stories that reinforce brand differentiation and trust.
• Establishes clear KPIs for brand health, campaign performance, digital engagement, and earned media impact.
• Uses data and insights to refine campaign strategy, optimize execution, and improve ROI.
• Promotes accountability, continuous learning, and performance discipline across brand, digital, and PR functions.
• Builds, develops, and inspires high-performing digital, PR, and campaign teams through coaching, feedback, and clear strategic direction.
• Collaborates cross-functionally with development, operations, affiliates, and executive leadership to ensure alignment and shared progress.
• Serves as a strategic thought partner to senior leadership on external brand positioning and campaign priorities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communication, Business, or related field or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

EXPERIENCE:

• 15+ years of experience in external communications, marketing, or brand leadership roles.
• Experience leading integrated digital, PR, and campaign functions.
• Proven ability to build and execute brand and campaign strategies in complex organizations.
• Experience in nonprofit, healthcare, or mission-driven environments preferred.

EXECEPTED NUMBER OF DIRECT REPORTS: KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• Brand strategy and positioning.
• Integrated campaign leadership.
• Executive influence and storytelling.
• Data-driven decision-making.
• Organizational and systems thinking.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; Smartsheet experience preferred.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and maintain compliance with privacy requirements.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Highly proactive and autonomous, with experience meeting deadlines and balancing competing priorities, developing and managing strategic plans and administering budgets.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a criminal record/fingerprint clearance from the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation, per ESSC and/or program requirements.

WORK STRUCTURE:

Work is performed in a hybrid environment, both remotely and on-site as needed. Associate must maintain a professional, safe, and secure workspace with reliable internet access to support virtual meetings and daily work. Must pass all required drug testing by ESSC.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ADA:

• Carrying/Lifting: Occasional/ Up to 30 lbs.
• Standing: Occasional / Up to 3 hours per day.
• Sitting: Frequent / Up to 8 hours per day.
• Walking: Occasional / Up to 3 hours per day.
• Travel: Travel to Easterseals So Cal locations and events as needed.
• Repetitive Motion/Activity: Frequent keyboarding and writing.
• Visual Acuity: Ability to view a computer monitor or handheld electronic device and read printed materials.
• Environmental Exposure: Work is performed in a hybrid environment, on-site and in a virtual setting as needed.