Position Title: Communications Director
Reports To: Co-Executive Director
About Us
The Movement Innovation Collaborative (MIC) is a new entity that deepens and expands the capacity, impact, and sustainability of California grassroots movements for racial justice and social transformation.
As a movement lab, we bolster changemakers and organizations to unlock new approaches and catalyze innovations in building durable people power. We provide space and support for organizations to experiment and learn together and help spread what works across communities -- turning experiments into new playbooks that help all our communities achieve bolder change.
Position Overview
The Communications Director is responsible for owning and executing MIC’s communications and brand strategy across all channels, audiences, and organizational touchpoints. This role sets and translates strategy into practice, ensuring MIC shows up clearly, consistently, and compellingly to movement partners, funders, leaders, and the broader field.
What You’ll Be Doing
Brand and Narrative Execution
- Operationalize MIC’s brand strategy, messaging platform, and narrative positioning across all communications channels, initiatives, and opportunities for visibility
- Develop narratives that support case-making for MIC frameworks and strategies
- Ensure consistent tone, voice, and framing across programs, leadership communications, convenings, written materials, and digital presence
- Serve as internal steward of MIC’s brand, setting clear standards and supporting staff, board, and partners to communicate in alignment – without sounding scripted or generic
- Translate complex, often abstract infrastructure work into clear, compelling stories grounded in impact, people, and outcomes
Communications Planning and Infrastructure
- Develop, manage, and implement annual and quarterly communications plans aligned with organizational priorities, program timelines, and capacity realities
- Build and maintain scalable systems for content production, approvals, and distribution that work across a growing organization
- Build and manage a communications tech stack that supports execution, collaboration, and performance tracking
- Create templates, playbooks, and guidance that enable staff and leadership to communicate effectively and efficiently
- Anticipate narrative risks and opportunities in a fast-changing political context, and proactively adjust plans, messaging, and execution as needed
- Work directly with co-EDs, program deputies and program directors in day-to-day workflows and implementation
- Provide limited, targeted technical support such as training/tools to program teams to align and coordinate program messages with broader organizational messaging
- Manage a cross-program Comms Team and collaborate with internal teams that are developing MIC’s narrative infrastructure
- Collaborate with internal teams on data management as part of audience engagement
Communications Execution
- Own and manage a cross-organizational editorial calendar
- Manage MIC’s external communications channels, including email, website, and social platforms
- Coordinate communications with movement partners when appropriate, especially during shared initiatives
- In partnership with other staff, develop and oversee key assets – from reports and toolkits to social media content to email newsletters
- Partner closely with the Co-Executive Directors and Program Deputies to shape and support executive voice, positioning, and public-facing communications as an integrated component of the overall communications strategy
- Prepare talking points, speeches, op-eds, presentations, and external messaging as needed
- Support board and Leadership Council members with aligned messaging tools, guidance, and prep as needed
- Manage vendors and consultants who serve as communications capacity for the organization
Who You Are
Required
- 7 to 10+ years of experience in communications, narrative strategy, or brand execution in movement, nonprofit, advocacy, or adjacent sectors
- Experience working within or alongside organizing, power-building, or movement infrastructure organizations
- Proven ability to manage up, across, and down
- Proven ability to execute and evolve a brand or narrative strategy across multiple channels and stakeholders
- Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to make complex ideas accessible and compelling
- Experience supporting and prepping senior leadership or executive communications
- Strong project management skills and ability to juggle multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment
- Deep alignment with MIC’s mission, values, and movement-centered approach
Strongly Preferred
- Familiarity with California’s movement ecosystem and regional dynamics
- Experience managing vendors, consultants, or creative partners
- Comfort operating in ambiguity while building structure, clarity, and momentum for others
Employment Classification and Salary
- This is a full-time, exempt position starting as soon as possible. This role is remote; however, the candidate must be in California.
- The starting salary for this position is $160,000
- The MIC has a 90-day trial period policy for all new hires. This allows both the organization and the employee to ensure a great fit. During this period, performance, adaptability, and cultural alignment will be assessed through ongoing feedback and a formal review.
Benefits
- 100% organization-funded medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees, their spouses or domestic partners, and their children. Coverage begins on the first day of employment.
- Paid Time Off: As a full-time employee, you will receive 15 days of vacation, 12 sick days per year, and a generous paid family leave policy. Accrual of this benefit begins on the first day of employment and becomes available upon completion of the 90-day trial period.
- Paid Holidays: 21 days total, including a 10-day Winter Break overlapping with Christmas and New Year’s Day. Additionally, 4 Floating Holidays will be made available upon completion of the 90-day trial period.
- Retirement Plan: MIC offers a 403b retirement plan. MIC contributes an employer-paid amount equal to 5% of your salary. Vesting for this contribution is immediate. Employees have a default 3% personal contribution rate and may adjust it at any time. This benefit becomes available after the 90-day trial period.
MIC’s salaries and benefits reflect our commitment to collective care and sustainability. They may evolve as the organization grows, and employees will be updated as changes occur. Additional details will be provided upon hiring.
Movement Innovation Collaborative is an equal-opportunity employer.
We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage those who see alignment with our mission and believe they have the relevant skills and experience to apply. We commit to providing an inclusive work environment where everyone is treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.