Communications Manager — San Pedro, CA

Salary Range $80,000-$95,000

Job Summary

geWEn8NX9 is seeking an experienced, creative, and highly organized Communications Manager to lead our communications, creative production, and brand presence across fundraising campaigns, digital platforms, corporate partnerships, and community events.

We're looking for someone who can take ownership, lead the creative process, and turn strategy into exceptional work. This is a hands-on, highly visible role for a confident communications professional who combines strong creative judgment with outstanding project management and follow-through.

You'll oversee our communications calendar, digital channels, creative contractors, and campaign execution—working closely with our Development and Program teams to bring qzvbXpkBJ'g mission and student impact to life.

A sharp eye for design, photography, and video is essential. You don't need to be the designer, photographer, or videographer, but you must know what great creative work looks like, how to direct it, and how to ensure it meets our brand standards.

The ideal candidate is proactive, resourceful, and comfortable making decisions, managing competing priorities, and representing geWEn8NX9 professionally at events, service projects, and partner engagements.

Job Relations

Reports to: Director of Development

Works closely with: Executive Director, Development Team, Program Team, external creative contractors, communications strategist, corporate partners, and Student Ambassadors.

Key Responsibilities

Annual Giving & Communications (45%)

1. Communications & Content Leadership

• Lead the execution of qzvbXpkBJ'g annual giving campaigns and communications initiatives, supporting fundraising, donor engagement, and organizational visibility.

• Translate approved campaign strategies and messaging themes into creative briefs, production schedules, assignments, approvals, and successful launches.

• Write, edit, and produce donor-focused communications, including fundraising appeals, newsletters, social media, student stories, blog posts, reports, presentations, and announcements.

• Manage the annual communications calendar, aligning content and campaigns with fundraising priorities, program milestones, and organizational events.

• Collaborate with the Director of Development, Executive Director, and communications strategist to develop and execute compelling, consistent messaging.

• Independently coordinate projects across teams, anticipate needs, resolve production challenges, and ensure high-quality work is delivered on time.

• Track annual giving communications goals, deadlines, and performance measures.

2. Digital Marketing & Channel Management

• Manage qzvbXpkBJ'g social media presence across Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn, including content planning, publishing, and engagement.

• Oversee email marketing and newsletters through Constant Contact, and maintain website content, campaign landing pages, and partner recognition.

• Direct creative assets for digital channels, ensuring strong visual quality, accuracy, accessibility, and brand consistency.

• Maintain publishing workflows, deadlines, and quality-control processes.

• Use digital analytics and performance insights to strengthen engagement, expand reach, and support donor acquisition.

3. Storytelling & Program Partnership

• Build strong relationships with program staff and maintain a visible presence at program sites and activities to proactively identify student stories, milestones, and content opportunities.

• Develop and refine authentic student stories for fundraising, events, reports, and digital communications, helping students build confidence and share their experiences.

• Plan and direct student interviews, photography, and video capture in collaboration with Programs and creative contractors.

• Maintain an organized, year-round library of photographs, videos, interviews, student stories, and other communications assets.

• Ensure storytelling is ethical, respectful, consent-based, and grounded in student voice and relationships.

Corporate Sponsor Communications (20%)

• Manage sponsor communications, recognition, and deliverables across email, social media, events, and print, ensuring all partnership commitments are fulfilled.

• Produce tailored impact updates, student stories, presentations, and reports that demonstrate the value of corporate partnerships.

• Independently track sponsor commitments, coordinate production, and proactively manage deadlines and follow-through.

• Support corporate engagement opportunities, including employee experiences and service days.

• Serve as the on-site communications lead at corporate service projects, directing content capture, identifying opportunities, and engaging professionally with corporate partners and geWEn8NX9 staff.

Event Communications & Project Management (20%)

• Lead communications planning and execution for major geWEn8NX9 events, including the Annual Gala, corporate service days, and student and community events.

• Own event communications from planning through post-event follow-up, including production timelines, promotional materials, signage, presentations, shot lists, run-of-show needs, and content distribution.

• Direct and manage external designers, photographers, videographers, editors, and other creative contractors, overseeing briefs, schedules, revisions, budgets, quality, and final deliverables.

• Evaluate design, photography, and video for creative quality, effectiveness, audience relevance, and brand alignment; provide clear, actionable feedback.

• Lead on-site communications, coordinate contractors, direct content capture, make real-time decisions, and troubleshoot challenges independently.

• Support the development and preparation of student speakers and storytellers for key events.

• Represent geWEn8NX9 confidently and professionally with donors, corporate partners, volunteers, students, and staff.

• Ensure timely delivery of post-event communications, photography, video, and sponsor recognition.

Student Ambassador Program (10%)

• Co-lead JGecPyZ4e'V qTGtPq8 Ambassador Program in partnership with Programs, supporting student selection, preparation, engagement, and ongoing development.

• Coach students to confidently share their stories at events, donor engagements, and other public-facing opportunities.

• Coordinate Student Ambassador participation in campaigns, events, and organizational activities.

• Support opportunities that strengthen students' communication skills, confidence, and professional development.

• Independently manage communications-related preparation, scheduling, logistics, and follow-through to ensure a positive, consistent student experience.

Internal Communications (5%)

• Support internal announcements, staff updates, and clear communication across departments.

• Maintain regular visibility and strong working relationships with Programs, Development, and leadership.

• Proactively communicate project status, priorities, upcoming needs, and decisions to keep teams aligned.

• Demonstrate sound professional judgment, responsiveness, accountability, and follow-through in all interactions.

What We're Looking For

• Creative judgment: A discerning eye for graphic design, photography, video, layout, and brand presentation, with the ability to recognize, direct, and improve high-quality creative work.

• Leadership and ownership: A proactive self-starter who anticipates needs, makes sound decisions, solves problems, and independently drives projects to completion.

• Creative production management: Proven experience directing designers, photographers, videographers, and other contractors, including briefing, feedback, revisions, and quality control.

• Project management: Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple campaigns, contractors, stakeholders, and deadlines simultaneously.

• Communications expertise: Strong writing, editing, storytelling, and digital marketing skills, including experience with fundraising or audience engagement campaigns.

• Professional presence: Excellent interpersonal skills and confidence leading communications at events, collaborating across departments, and engaging with corporate partners and community stakeholders.

• Digital proficiency: Experience with social media, email marketing, website management, analytics, and tools such as WordPress, Constant Contact, Canva, Hootsuite, and ••••••••.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field required.

• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in communications, marketing, or creative production preferred.

• Demonstrated experience independently managing multi-channel campaigns, creative projects, and public-facing event communications.

• Proven experience managing external creative contractors and guiding projects from concept through final delivery.

• Strong writing and editing skills, with experience developing storytelling content and working within established messaging frameworks (such as StoryBrand).

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace; experience with •••••••• and Canva preferred.

• Portfolio or work samples demonstrating creative direction, brand judgment, and successful project execution.

• Experience in nonprofit or mission-driven organizations preferred.

• Availability for occasional evening and weekend events and local travel to program sites and community activities.

About geWEn8NX9

geWEn8NX9 helps continuation high school students overcome barriers and build pathways to economic mobility through career preparation, real-world work experience, job placement support, and long-term mentorship.

Working alongside schools, employers, and community partners, we help young people discover their strengths, gain professional experience, and take meaningful steps toward their futures. And our commitment doesn't end at graduation—we continue walking alongside students as they navigate what's next.