Communications Manager

Status: Full-time, exempt

Location: Hybrid, four days remote, one day (Tuesday) in the Oakland office. Applicants must live in or be willing to relocate to the Bay Area.

Organization

California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy is a nonpartisan policy and research organization focused on identifying solutions to the state’s most critical challenges at the intersection of higher education, equity, and the economy. Established in 2011, our mission is to help transform the state's higher education system into an engine of economic opportunity that empowers all Californians, particularly those from underserved communities, to achieve their full potential. California Competes benefits from the expertise of our highly respected, bipartisan Board of Directors , which comprises current and former public officials, business executives, and community leaders from across the state.

Our diverse staff brings decades of experience in higher education and public policy. We work statewide and travel across the country to research and advocate for a higher education system that provides opportunities for all Californians. For more information, please visit californiacompetes.org .

Position

Reporting to the Senior Communications Director, the Communications Manager will support the development and execution of California Competes’s communication and outreach activities to advance the organization’s objectives and policy priorities. This role will also serve as the primary communications contact for The California Alliance for Student Parent Success , a statewide coalition co-led by California Competes. Major specific duties are described below.

Responsibilities

Strategic Communications (40%)

• Manage communications planning and execution for initiatives, resource and research releases, and events, partnering with project leads to align messaging, provide editing support, coordinate deliverables, and increase organization's visibility with key audiences.
• Develop high-impact communications, including blogs, op eds, event collateral/swag, presentations, graphics, talking points, social media toolkits, executive and board communications, and other content as requested.
• Maintain consistency with the organization's brand identity and voice across all platforms and materials.
• Prepare staff and CEO to represent the organization publicly.
• Coordinate with graphic design, copyediting, and other communications contractors, managing timelines and consolidating stakeholder feedback to ensure high-quality final products.
• Stay updated on higher education policy, communications trends, and media opportunities, sharing insights that strengthen organizational communications.

Digital Presence (35%)

• Manage California Competes's digital presence across the website, email marketing, and social media (primarily LinkedIn) channels, ensuring content is timely, engaging, and aligned with organizational priorities.
• Coordinate with the contractor hosting the organization’s website for page development, support, or fixes, as needed.
• Monitor analytics to identify trends, high-performing pages or posts, and referral sources and recommend and implement strategies to strengthen the organization's digital presence

Media Relations (15%)

• Draft pitch emails, press releases, and other outreach materials to promote California Competes research, resources, and expertise to the media.
• Support and maintain relationships with journalists and media outlets, assisting with media outreach and responding to media inquiries.
• Maintain media lists and monitor and track media coverage.
• Help prepare staff for media interviews by curating background information and talking points.

General Support (10%)

• Provide overall project management support for staff’s communications needs.
• Perform other communications-related duties, as assigned.

Skills and Requirements

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent in education and experience
• A minimum of 4-7 years of experience in communications or relevant field
• Storyteller with strong verbal and written communication skills, including editing and presentation skills, particularly being able to thread narratives and research
• Passion for advancing equity and improving life outcomes for marginalized Californians
• Excellent organization and prioritization skills
• Keen attention to detail and ability to ensure accuracy and rigor to the highest standards
• Creative and strategic thinker
• Recognizes ways that race and ethnicity, gender, and other identities intersect in postsecondary access and success
• Understands the historical context for racial inequity and its present-day implications, and is driven to make creative and concrete changes through advancing systemic change through strategic communications
• Growth mindset and commitment to demonstrating results and gathering feedback to inform experimentation, iteration, and improvement
• Flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to anticipate needs, prioritize, and juggle multiple projects at once

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience or interest in policy communications
• Graphic design experience
• Master’s degree in a relevant field

Compensation

• Hiring salary range: $88,570-104,200/year, depending on experience
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision benefits; 403(b) plan with employer match after 90 days
• A minimum of 10 vacation days (increases with time at organization), plus 14 company-observed holidays and two floating holidays, sick leave, and winter office closure.
• Full-time, exempt position

Application Process

To apply, please fill out the application using BambooHR and include a résumé, cover letter, and writing sample. Priority review of applications will begin on Monday, July 20, 2026 . Applications will be considered until the position is filled.

If you have any questions, please contact careers@californiacompetes.org .

California Competes is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce.