Communications Director

McKinley: Youth, Family, and Community are what we are all about! We offer a great working environment and benefits package! McKinley encourages growth so that you can Be your Best H.U.M.A.N.

At McKinley employees share a set of guiding principles: We embrace a culture that is Hopeful, Understanding, Moral, Awesome, Nurturing. - H.U.M.A.N.

The Company: McKinley is a highly respected welfare organization with a comprehensive array of programs and services – which touch nearly 1,800 lives annually – including short term residential treatment program (STRTP), Foster Care, Adoptions, Mental Health Services, and Special Education. McKinley has 5 locations throughout southern California with our main campus located in San Dimas. We embrace a culture that is H.U.M.A.N.- Hopeful, Understanding, Moral, Awesome, Nurturing. McKinley has created a Hopeful environment, in which we choose optimism in finding the motivation to achieve our greatest dreams. We are a team dedicated to Understanding individual needs and do so by listening and embracing each individual’s stories. We strongly embrace our agency’s Morals by treating everyone with kindness and respect. At McKinley, we acknowledge our team member’s and clients’ Awesome qualities by celebrating what makes each individual unique. We are dedicated to Nurturing a Trauma-Informed Integrated Care approach that has created a unique culture within the organization. We celebrate diversity by our commitment to cultivating an inclusive and affirming environment for all.

The Position: The Communications Director is a high-level strategic leader responsible for designing, directing, and executing McKinley’s overarching communications, media relations, and public relations framework. This role, serving as the organization's chief storyteller and primary editor, elevates McKinley’s public profile by securing impactful media placements, producing elite-tier written content, and protecting brand integrity across all regional and national touchpoints. The Director will leverage deep, established journalism networks to position McKinley as a premier thought leader in the sector and collaborate closely with senior leadership, the Board of Directors, and community partners.

Compensation and Benefits:

The pay range we’re offering is $80,000 - $95,000 annually depending (Based) on experience.

Our people are the heart of our organization, which is why we offer robust benefits to support your health and wellness as well as your personal and financial well-being.

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• Paid Time Off
• Sick Time
• Paid Holidays
• 403(b) retirement plan with company match up to 3%
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Credit Union Membership
• Training Opportunities to Further Personal and Professional Growth

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Journalism, Communications, or a closely related field required; Master's degree preferred.
• 6–8+ years of progressive professional experience in public relations, journalism, or media management, with a proven track record of leadership within a mission-driven nonprofit environment.
• Exceptional, versatile writing portfolio across multiple genres (op-eds, thought leadership, press releases, investigative narratives, and donor impact stories) with impeccable editing and proofreading skills.
• Deep, active, and verifiable relationships with local news outlets, Southern California regional media, and major national journalism networks.
• Proven history of successfully building and executing aggressive PR campaigns, securing high-impact earned media placements, and handling sensitive crisis communications.
• Deep familiarity with community-centered narrative practices, ensuring storytelling preserves the dignity, privacy, and agency of the populations served.
• Experience managing, coaching, and elevating high-performing communications, marketing, or creative teams.
• Proficient in Google Suite and project management platforms (e.g., Monday.com).
• Strategic mastery of Content Management Systems (CMS), email marketing software, and advanced social media analytics tools.
• Working familiarity with creative software suites (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro) or Canva to direct creative asset workflows.
• Assume responsibility for assigned aspects of special events.
• Must pass pre-employment physical exam, TB, and drug screening
• Ability to lift at least 15 pounds for filing, boxes, and packages
• Ability to sit for several hours performing clerical functions