Reports to: Deputy Director
Job Status: Exempt
Salary Range: $87,395-104,305 ($3641.46- $4346.04 semi-monthly)
Summary
The Communications & Content Manager serves as a key executor of First 5 Sonoma County’s communication efforts and partners with agency leadership and staff to implement day-to-day tasks that drive First 5’s messaging, visibility and community relations and plays a central role in crafting and disseminating external communication efforts related to policy and advocacy, programs, and initiatives. The Communications & Content Manager will have hands-on involvement in media material, press releases, web copy, social media posts, impact reports and op-eds. There is a strong emphasis on writing in this role, with a significant responsibility for drafting the first versions of various communication materials and working with various staff members to ensure accurate content. This highly collaborative individual works across areas of agency’s strategic goals to develop consistent messaging, positioning the agency as a leader in public, private, and nonprofit sectors to advance the agency’s goals and vision and improve the lives of young children and their families.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities Duties may include but are not limited to the following:
Communications Strategies
- Collaborate with agency Executive and program teams to develop and implement a broad range of agency communication strategies.
- Develop and execute an annual communications plan, including brand collateral and coordinated outreach across platforms.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with local media outlets; draft and pitch Letters to the Editor, op-eds, and media stories.
- Manage all aspects of agency’s social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), including planning, content creation, posting, and engagement.
- Create public relations and marketing materials such as flyers, press releases, and newsletters aligned with agency brand guidelines.
- Develop creative multimedia content including short-form video, photography, graphics, and digital storytelling that highlight the impact of agency’s work.
- Capture stories from families, partners, and community events to create compelling narrative content across social media, newsletters, and the website.
- Translate complex policy and program information into engaging, accessible content for diverse audiences.
- Identify and pursue storytelling opportunities that elevate voices of families and demonstrate the impact of local investments in early childhood.
- Maintain agency website with current, engaging content in collaboration with staff.
- Track, analyze, and report on communications and marketing analytics to inform strategy and improve audience engagement.
- Support the design and publication of Commission materials such as the Strategic Plan, Community Impact Report and other public-facing documents.
- Photograph and document events and community activities for use across digital and print communications.
- Work with staff to develop, design, and disseminate the monthly digital newsletter.
- In collaboration with the Research & Evaluation Manager, produce professional public-facing reports, literature reviews, and other materials. Use data and evaluation findings to tell the story of the agency’s impact and the value of public investments in early childhood.
- Ensure dissemination of impact reports to the community, the First 5 Sonoma County Commission, local and state leaders, advisory bodies, funded partners, and professional audiences.
- Support staff and funded partners in applying agency’s style guide, logos, and brand voice in external communications.
- Maintain and regularly update a database of local and state media contacts.
Community Relations
- Support executive and management staff as well as Commissioners to represent the agency at community events and public meetings.
- Collaborate with staff to plan and implement community events, especially partnering with media for publicity.
- Advocate for young children and families by building a shared vision and creating public and political will for programs for young children.
Organizational Capacity
- Prepare and manage the organization’s communication budget.
- Develop a deep familiarity with public funding streams and statutory mandates governing First 5 Sonoma County (CA Prop. 10 and Sonoma County Measure I) and support alignment and articulation from planning to implementation of strategic plan.
- Assess communications and outreach programs on an on-going basis to create a culture of learning and continuous improvement to further First 5’s strategic objectives.
- Procure, manage, and/or supervise contractors, consultants, and/or staff as needed.
- Coach and assist team members on improving communications/presentation skills.
- Perform communication research; monitor the progress of communications strategies.
- Manage special projects.
- Participate in professional development to learn best practices and trends in outreach and communications, particularly for children prenatal to age 5 and their families.
- This position does not have supervision of direct reports. Other duties as assigned.
Required Experience & Education Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities in qualifying.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent preferred in communications, marketing, journalism, early childhood, social science, education, health, public policy, public administration, public relations or related discipline.
Experience
- 5+ years designing and executing marketing and communications strategies, including managing multiple social media accounts.
- 5+ years building and maintaining relationships with local nonprofits, businesses and/or elected officials to achieve public relations goals.
- Bilingual English/Spanish is preferred.
Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Knowledge of local early childhood landscape and children’s issues.
- Ability to create engaging digital content that builds community awareness and public support for early childhood initiatives.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills with demonstrated ability to develop and deliver reports, recommendations, and presentations. Strong attention to detail.
- Experience navigating Meta Business Suite; utilizing all features of Instagram and Facebook including posting static content, Story content and Reels; in-app video editing, captioning, alternative text, comment moderation and analytics suite, tagging, and proper use of text in content to increase search ability.
- Proven ability to establish, maintain existing, interact with, and build collaborative relationships with a variety of constituencies, e.g. elected officials, community partners, staff, and Commissioners.
- Mission-driven and self-directed, with a demonstrated passion for agency’s work to strengthen families and improve child outcomes.
- Knowledge of or ability to learn about the full range of programs, services, policies and issues that impact young children e.g. early childhood education, health and development; family support and well-being; and community engagement, including research-based, best, and emerging practices.
- Skills to monitor and manage contractors and vendors, and developing scopes of work.
- Strategic thinker who considers internal and external stakeholder needs and considers impact when making decisions.
- Expert project management skills and an ability to handle a complex environment with multiple priorities; adapt to ambiguous, fast-paced environments.
- Handle uncertain situations professionally and reasonably; maintains flexibility to respond to changing circumstances or priorities.
- Demonstrated analytical and critical thinking skills; provide recommendations with supporting rationale and business reason.
- Strong decision-making skills; good judgment in recognizing scope of authority.
- Ability to work well as a team member and independently while collaborating with others to achieve desired goals/results.
- Awareness of confidentiality laws. Handle confidential information with discretion and caution. Respect privacy rights of clients, families, and providers in communications.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook). Familiarity with InDesign, Canva, web design platforms like WordPress, and MailChimp.
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing, to staff, the Commission, partners and the public; demonstrate strong writing and editing skills.
- Plan and organize work to ensure agency and program goals are achieved.
- Adapt with minimal or no notice, to changes in operations, work assignments or procedures.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Program development and planning methodologies.
Physical Requirements
- Regularly required to talk and hear, stand, walk, bend, kneel, and crouch.
- Prolonged periods sitting/standing at a desk and working on a computer.
- Work is occasionally physical, requiring setting up for meetings, lifting or carrying cumbersome materials of up to 25 pounds, e.g., easels, flip charts, refreshments, brochures, etc.
Work Environment
- This job primarily operates in-office and can become a hybrid remote/professional office environment after six months.
- Regularly drives and/or travels throughout Sonoma County to perform the above job duties; driving is an essential function of this position.
- Possession of a valid California Driver’s License and appropriate insurance.
Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, activities, and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.
