Director of Communications - Los Angeles, CA
Downtown Los Angeles
Administration – External Affairs /
Full-Time Regular /
Hybrid
Planned Parenthood Los Angeles is seeking an experienced Director of Communications to work in our Downtown Los Angeles Headquarters The Director, Communications is responsible for directing internal and external communications strategies in order to achieve the agency’s communications goals through pro-active and reactive media relations, oversight and development of web-based communications efforts, including social media platforms, creation and management of agency publications, and collaboration on and implementation of best practices to protect and elevate the agency. The Director of Communications is also responsible for generating positive media coverage, manage crisis communication, cultivate relationships with key media contacts, train and practice message delivery with key staff and spokespeople and brief Board, staff, and opinion leaders on relevant media and policy issues.
Over one hundred years ago, Planned Parenthood was founded on the idea that everyone should have the information and care they need to live strong, healthy lives and fulfill their dreams. Founded 57+ years ago, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles is one of the largest providers of reproductive health care services in Los Angeles County. The Planned Parenthood Los Angeles (PPLA) team works together to provide high-quality, affordable reproductive health care to women, men, and young people across Los Angeles County. At PPLA, you will discover a culture of like-minded individuals who are eager to make positive contributions to their community and to the Planned Parenthood mission.
All employees of PPLA are defined as Healthcare Workers by current Public Health Orders and are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination or an approved exemption must be submitted in order to be eligible for employment consideration.
Our Ideal Candidate will have the following qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree, preferably in a field related to communications, journalism or policy required.
- Five (5) to Seven (7) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in media communications, public relations.
- Minimum three (3) years’ experience and demonstrated success in working with Senior Leaders, Board Members, and contributors.
- One (1) to three (3) years’ experience and demonstrated success in management of staff and volunteers.
- Demonstrated success in working with the media, including Spanish language outlets.
- Ability to balance and prioritize competing deadlines.
- Proficiency in message and media training.
- Strong knowledge of reproductive health care issues and policies preferred.
About the position:
- Create and manage implementation of strategic communications plan.
- Lead Agency communications goals and objectives in collaboration with Senior Staff.
- Monitor and direct Agency response to relevant local news reports, issues and media stories.
- Direct President/CEO, members of the Board of Directors, Senior Staff and designated spokespeople in crisis communications.
- Direct press strategy, including: staging of press conferences, rallies, and other earned media events; coordinating and conducting interviews; pitching stories and responding to media inquiries
- Oversee development of Speakers Bureau, including identification and training of staff, volunteers, donors, and former patients; train and prepare Senior Staff and others for media interviews and public speaking engagements.
- Write speeches and Talking Points for CEO, donors, elected officials, and key agency partners.
- Monitors and makes available to President/CEO and Senior Staff newspaper, radio, online and television accounts of newsworthy items of specific interest relating to reproductive healthcare.
- Direct internal communications for agency, including regular staff emails, board emails and crisis communications.
- Support communications needs from across the agency, including: fundraising materials, CEO reports, Patient Services updates, and Board communications.
- Develop and disseminate content which promotes Planned Parenthood Los Angeles in a positive light and keeps the agency’s messages in the forefront of public awareness.
- In collaboration with Director of Marketing, oversee strategy for all social media platforms, websites, and online communications for PPLA; coordinate with Community Education and Development to meet agency’s need and ensure best-practices are followed.
- Strategize and lead implementation of best practices and trends in on-line data management.
- Write and edit content for Agency publications – including printed and e-newsletters, Annual Report, brochures, etc.
- Develop and maintain relationships with key media contacts and outlets.
- Speak and make presentations to groups, as appropriate.
- Manage contracts and performance of communications vendors and subcontractors.
- Manage Communications budget.
- Co-Manage with the Director of Marketing the Communication and Marketing Specialist.
- Manage story concepts, pitch reporters, write articles, and columns for publication, press release, media advisories, letter-to-the-editor, and opinion editorials.
- Ensure successful rollout of new centers, services, projects or special initiatives.
- Collaborate as needed with national (PPFA), state (PPAC) and local Planned Parenthoods.
Generous salary and benefits package includes:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage options for you and eligible dependents
- Free basic life/AD&D policy with additional voluntary coverage options
- Short Term Disability, Critical Illness and Accident policies
- 403(b) Retirement plan with up to 3% employer match
- Medical and Dependent Flexible Spending Account plans
- Public Transportation and Commuter Pre-Tax Reimbursements
- Generous vacation, sick, and holiday benefits
- Hiring Range: $104,000 - $125,000 annually (Exempt)
Compensation Philosophy and Position Hiring Range:
At Planned Parenthood Los Angeles we continuously work towards our values of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion including with our compensation philosophy. PPLA recognizes that decisions about pay and benefits have significant impact on staff, so we are committed to ensuring all positions are rooted in a description that identifies competencies, duties, responsibilities and qualifications, and that they are compensated equitably which takes into account both internal organizational equity and market compensation data for similar roles.
Equal Employment Opportunity will be afforded to all applicants and other covered persons without regard to protected characteristics, including their perceived protected characteristic. Protected categories include: race (including traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and protective hair styles such as, braids, locs, and twists as examples but not exhaustive list), color, religion or religious creed (including religious belief, observation, practice, dress, and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding/chestfeeding, or related medical conditions), reproductive health decision-making, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status (including past, current or prospective service in the uniformed service), and any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law. PPLA will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with the requirements of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.
