Communications Director

Communications DirectorSince 1988, Housing California (Housing CA) has worked to create a California with homes, health, and prosperity for all in thriving, sustainable communities. We bring together a diverse, cross-sector network to prevent and end homelessness, increase the supply of safe, stable, affordable homes, and reverse the legacy of systemic racial and economic inequities by building power among the people most impacted by housing injustice in partnership with cross-sector partners, shaping the narrative, and advocating for the passage of transformative statewide policy solutions.California's housing and homelessness crisis will not be solved by policy wins alone; it requires a fundamental shift in how the public understands who deserves a home and why. As Communications Director, the incoming leader owns Housing CA's narrative and communications strategy end-to-end: setting the organization's voice, translating policy and legislative work into public narrative that moves people, and running the media and content operation that gets that narrative into the world.This is a senior leadership role. The Director manages a small communications team and consultants, and integrates communications work across legislative and regulatory affairs, power building, and organizational strategy. Externally, they lead media relations, rapid response, and public narrative strategy in service of Housing CA's "big tent" approach, building a shared voice across a broad and diverse constituency and centering the people most affected by housing instability and homelessness.The position is based in Sacramento (hybrid), with regular statewide travel and occasional early-morning, evening, and weekend commitments. The right candidate is energized by the pace of a live legislative and campaign calendar, including a current statewide affordable housing bond campaign and brings the seniority and judgment to lead the function independently.Areas Of Leadership And ExpertiseStrategic Communications Execution & Media Advocacy: Runs Housing CA's public-facing communications operation (media, content calendar, and campaign comms) with the rigor a live legislative and electoral calendar demands.Owns and executes the annual communications plan and calendar, including newsletters, e-blasts, social media, and the op-ed pipeline.Leads media relations and advocacy: writing, editing, and distributing op-eds, press releases, and statements, and identifying earned media opportunities.Leads rapid response communications, positioning Housing CA quickly and credibly as news and political developments unfold.Leads communications strategy for major campaigns, including the current statewide affordable housing bond campaign.Prioritizes competing media requests, speaking engagements, and writing opportunities, and prepares the Executive Director and other key staff for interviews and public appearances.Manages communications consultants, briefing them clearly and holding their work to a high standard.Leads communications planning for major organizational moments, including the annual conference and Advocacy Day.Represents Housing CA at public events, coalition spaces, and media engagements.Narrative & Communications Strategy Leadership: Leads the development and execution of Housing CA's narrative change and communications strategy, translating policy priorities and lived experience into public narrative that shifts how people understand housing and homelessness.Develops and executes Housing CA's narrative change strategy, applying tested frameworks and research to shift the stories, values, and perceptions that shape public understanding.Owns Housing CA's strategic communications plan and style guide, maintaining a consistent, values-forward voice across every channel and audience.Guides the writing, editing, and production of publications, campaigns, and communications materials to a high editorial standard.Partners with the power-building team to elevate resident voice and develop spokespeople, keeping policy work grounded in lived experience.Serves as Housing CA's internal thought partner on narrative, building staff capacity to apply narrative strategy across programs and campaigns.Organizational & Systems Thinking: Connects communications work to Housing CA's long-term mission, integrating narrative, legislative advocacy, and power building into a coherent systems-change approach.Aligns communications strategy with organizational planning, budgeting, and impact tracking.Collaborates with the legislative/regulatory affairs and power-building teams so communications reinforces policy and organizing strategy.Operates with a high degree of autonomy and sound judgment as a senior organizational leader.Brings fresh thinking to a fast-changing coalition and legislative environment, adapting priorities as opportunities shift.Team Leadership & Development: Leads, coaches, and develops a small communications team, contributing to Housing CA's senior leadership as a whole.Manages direct reports, coaching for growth in craft, judgment, and career development.Builds a collaborative, low-ego team culture that supports growth at every level.Contributes to organizational leadership: shaping culture, advancing equity commitments, and participating in strategic planning.Proposes and monitors the communications budget and supports fundraising for the program.Our ideal candidates may have experience that doesn't directly match the qualifications above, and we encourage people with equivalent experience to apply.Compensation, benefits, and location details are provided below.Housing California is committed to creating a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace that fosters a culture of belonging, ongoing learning and collaboration, and supports, stabilizes, and incentivizes people to join the Housing California team and stay for the long game.We value having staff who come from communities that are most impacted by the issues we address. We especially encourage Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and people of color; people from families that have immigrated to the U.S.; people who have been unhoused or experienced housing instability; women; LGBTQIA+ people; system-impacted people; and people with disabilities to apply for these positions.We aim for our work to be both effective and sustainable; we balance required travel during some parts of the year and the fast-paced legislative calendar with a commitment to our team's mental and physical health.To apply, please submit your resume and responses to the application questions via the BambooHr portal. For any questions regarding your qualifications for this position, compensation/benefits, our process or internal timeline for hiring, or suggestions for how to improve this announcement or the opportunity itself, please email Jenny Welch.