Director of Communications

La Clínica del Pueblo
Functional Job Description

Director of Communications
Full-Time/ 40 hours per week

Supervisor: Chief Development Officer

Department: Development (800)

Location: Washington DC/Hyattsville; Hybrid (4 days on-site)

Classification: Exempt

Summary:

The Director of Communications reports to the Chief Development Officer (CDO) within the Development department. This is a new position that will play a fundamental role in building the communications structure that supports La Clínica’s internal and external organization wide communications priorities. Aligned with our 10-year strategic plan, launched this year, we seek to raise our visibility, promote vitality, and strengthen voice for Latin American immigrant health; we strive to be recognized as the community leader in advancing immigrant health and wellness across the metropolitan Washington region.

The Director of Communications will advance La Clínica’s mission and vision by raising awareness, engaging existing and new key audiences, and ensuring alignment with our top strategic priorities. This position provides a full range of strategic counsel, design and implementation of communications, public relations, and marketing plans, and delivering on systems across the organization that strengthen our unified voice.

Primary Relationships:

The Director will work closely with the CDO, leadership team, and cross-departmentally with managers and staff from the health literacy committee and health equity department to advance organizational priorities.

Qualifications:

Required Education, Skills, and Experience

• 7+ years of professional experience developing and implementing communications and marketing strategies; of which 3+ years’ experience working directly with bilingual media outlets.
• 3+ years of experience managing a team and complex cross organizational communication projects.
• Bachelor’s Degree in a public relations or communications field, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Bilingual – Fluency in oral and written Spanish and English.
• Demonstrated expertise in high-level communications, message development, branding, strategic planning, and media relations.
• Sound judgment and maturity, exemplified by consistent professionalism in working with individuals at all levels both internally and externally.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and motivate staff and delegate effectively to achieve objectives and deadlines.
• Ability to build cross-departmental relationships, collecting and sharing knowledge and expertise.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of current social media trends and strategies.
• Strong group facilitation and training experience.
• Fluency in Microsoft Suite of Programs, with high competency in Excel.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with integrity.
• Ability to complete some work outside of traditional business hours; ability to travel to off-site venues for media opportunities, meetings and events, primarily in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
• Mindset: Action oriented – this is a full-on, roll up the sleeves position, energized by building through collaboration; positivity and possibilities are your natural state.

Preferred skills

• Experience in the non-profit sector and in the DC Metro Area.
• Ability to speak effectively within all kinds of scenarios; and persuasively engage community leaders, journalists, and media spokespersons.
• Strong knowledge of public health and other issues impacting Latin American immigrant communities and their health, including a general knowledge of healthcare in a community health center setting.
• Ability to synthesize complex information from a variety of sources, including medical, advocacy, and research professionals and relay to key audiences in a compelling culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.
• Experience writing and successfully implementing institutional communications policies and procedures.
• A demonstrated commitment to the Latine community, social justice, and health equity.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develops annual communications plan and department budget to meet institutional goals and objectives and priorities as outlined by health communications and advocacy media, including key communication themes, events, publications, and media in collaboration with Chief Development Officer, Communications staff, and Leadership team.
• Sets annual communications goals and metrics. Monitor and track; regularly report to CDO and leadership where adjustments are needed to meet quarterly and annual goals.
• Works with CDO, Executive Director and Executive Team to plan and coordinate media pitches, press releases, articles, and media responses that further La Clínica’s reputation, client experience, and grow awareness of the breadth of our work, mission, and vision.
• Oversees institutional communications campaigns and signs off on copy for accuracy and adherence to purpose, branding, voice, and mission.
• Works collaboratively with Communications staff and contractors on the visual identity of La Clínica including graphic design, video, and collateral.
• Drives development and content production of all materials and media, including press releases, newsletters, website, social-media, advertising, and marketing collateral; works with leadership team to identify their area needs and plan into institutional calendar.
• Primary contact for media inquiries; develop and steward relationships with media contacts.
• Prepares leadership, board members, and key staff to be effective media spokespersons, provides messaging and training as needed.
• Guides and advises on public relations opportunities based on relevant news cycles; including where and when La Clínica representation should be present and participating.
• Establishes and evaluates processes, tools, and systems to ensure high performance, quality, and efficiency of work across the unit and teams.
• Supports interdepartmental collaboration, and contributes to a culture of trust, transparency, teamwork, and excellence under the ethos that everyone is a communicator.
• Acts as a spokesperson for La Clínica at external events and speaking engagements as needed; ability to articulate organization functions, priorities, and areas of need with conviction.
• Responds off-hours to direct rapid response and crisis communications.
• Conducts administrative functions such as scheduling, timesheets, invoices, credit card reconciliation, and other ad hoc duties, as necessary.
• Monitors communications budget, spending, and contract agreements in line with the approved annual budget.
• Proven ability to act with utmost discretion, confidentiality, and diplomacy.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Currently supervising one direct report.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, and train approved communications positions.
• Make staffing and resource investment recommendations for the communications unit to meet the evolving needs of the organization and align with strategic plan.
• Procure and oversee external Contractors, as needed, to support the Communications unit.
• Provide regular feedback and constructive and timely annual performance evaluations.
• Handle discipline, performance plans, and termination of employees in accordance with company policy.

At La Clínica, we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

Benefits:

• 403B
• Health insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Transportation Benefits
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid Vacation Time
• Employee Assistance Program
• FSA and DCFSA

Equal Opportunity Employer. We affirm all identities at La Clínica and expect all employees to welcome and work with colleagues and clients, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race/ ethnicity, country of origin, language, other ability, age, religion, or other identity.