Career Opportunities

California Native Vote Project
Communications Manager – Los Angeles
Position Type: Full-Time
Salary Range: $80,000–$85,000
Location: Los Angeles, CA (Hybrid)
Communications Manager Application

About California Native Vote Project (CNVP)

Founded in 2016, the California Native Vote Project (CNVP) is a Native-led, statewide organization advancing justice and self-determination for Native American communities across California. Through year-round organizing, nonpartisan civic engagement, leadership development, policy advocacy, and research, CNVP builds multigenerational political power across tribal and urban Native communities. By strengthening the Native organizing ecosystem and preparing emerging leaders and Native youth to shape policy and public decision-making, CNVP ensures Native voices are not only heard, but are driving change across civic, health, and governance systems. Learn more at www.canativevote.org.

Position Overview

The Communications Manager reports to the Director of Communications and is responsible for translating CNVP’s communications strategy into coordinated, high-quality campaigns and day-to-day communications operations. The Manager oversees the development and execution of digital storytelling, content, media, and campaign communications that advance CNVP’s organizing, civic engagement, leadership development, advocacy, and narrative change goals, while elevating Native voices, perspectives, leadership, and issues in public discourse.

The Communications Manager serves as a key connector between the Communications Department and CNVP’s advocacy, organizing and program teams, ensuring that communications are responsive to community needs, aligned with organizational priorities, and grounded in Native voice, experience, sovereignty, and self-determination.

The Manager directly supervises Digital Storytelling Organizers and is responsible for setting priorities, managing workflows, coaching staff, maintaining quality standards, and ensuring timely execution across CNVP’s communications channels.

Key Responsibilities

• In partnership with the Director of Communications, translate CNVP’s organizational and communications strategy into annual, quarterly, and campaign-specific communications plans.
• Lead day-to-day communications operations, including prioritization, project intake, workflow management, editorial planning, approvals, and production timelines.
• Maintain and oversee CNVP’s organization-wide editorial and communications calendar.
• Establish communications systems, processes, templates, and standards that improve coordination between Communications and other departments.
• Ensure consistent, culturally responsive, and audience-appropriate messaging across CNVP’s communications channels.
• Identify communications opportunities and risks and recommend strategic responses to the Director of Communications and senior leadership.

• Manage the development and implementation of digital storytelling and content strategies across social media, email, website, video, and other digital platforms.
• Supervise Digital Storytelling Organizers responsible for content development, community storytelling, social engagement, digital campaigns, and field-based content gathering.
• Establish content standards and workflows that ensure accuracy, consistency, accessibility, brand alignment, and cultural responsiveness.
• Oversee the development of content that elevates Native voices, community leadership, CNVP’s impact, and priority campaigns.
• Guide rapid-response communications in coordination with the Director of Communications and relevant program and organizing teams.
• Ensure digital storytelling supports audience engagement, organizing objectives, and CNVP’s broader narrative change goals, including elevating Native voices, increasing visibility of Native issues, strengthening community identity and power, and building broader public understanding of Native communities.

• Manage and implement communications strategies that advance CNVP’s narrative change goals and strengthen public understanding of Native communities, Native sovereignty, self-determination, and issues affecting Native people across California.
• Identify opportunities to elevate Native voices, stories, leadership, and lived experiences in public discourse and challenge narratives that erase, misrepresent, or marginalize Native communities.
• Translate complex Native issues, policy developments, organizing priorities, and community perspectives into accessible and compelling communications for diverse audiences.
• Monitor digital media public discourse, and emerging narratives related to Native communities and identify opportunities for CNVP to shape, respond to, or advance narratives.
• Partner with organizing, policy, research, leadership development, and community teams to ensure CNVP’s communications reflect community priorities and contribute to long-term narrative change.
• Support the development of spokespeople, storytellers, and community voices who can help advance CNVP’s narrative and represent Native perspectives across media and public platforms.

• Manage and implement cross department communications campaign strategies and tactics.
• Translate organizing goals into clear communications objectives, audiences, messages, calls to action, and distribution strategies.
• Coordinate communications support for civic engagement, coalition and alliance work, events, advocacy campaigns, and rapid-response moments.
• Ensure communications staff have the information, assets, timelines, and context needed to effectively support organizing campaigns.
• Monitor emerging issues and field trends and identify opportunities for narrative intervention and digital engagement.

• In partnership with the Director of Communications, cultivate relationships with journalists and relevant media outlets.
• Support media outreach, pitching, press releases, media advisories, talking points, and other public relations materials.
• Track media opportunities and coverage and maintain accurate records of CNVP’s media engagement.
• Coordinate with the Director of Communications and organizational leadership on high-profile or sensitive media matters.

• Directly supervise Digital Storytelling Organizers and other communications staff as assigned.
• Establish clear goals, priorities, work plans, and performance expectations for direct reports.
• Provide regular coaching, feedback, professional development, and performance management.
• Create a collaborative team environment that encourages creativity, accountability, learning, and shared ownership.
• Delegate work effectively and ensure staff capacity is aligned with organizational priorities.
• Participate in recruitment, onboarding, and development of communications staff, interns, fellows, and contractors as needed.

• Establish and monitor communications KPIs in partnership with the Director of Communications.
• Provide periodic digital footprint, audience engagement, media, and campaign performance analysis to inform strategy and decision-making.
• Use analytics and audience insights to continuously improve content, storytelling, and digital organizing strategies.
• Maintain accurate communications records and contribute to communications budget planning, tracking, and management.
• Monitor channel performance and identify opportunities to increase engagement, reach, recruitment, and community participation.
  

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of professional experience in communications, digital strategy, public relations, journalism, organizing communications, or a related field, including experience supervising or managing staff.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing integrated communications campaigns across multiple channels.
• Experience managing editorial calendars, communications workflows, deadlines, and cross-functional projects.
• Experience coaching and developing creative or communications staff.
• Strong understanding of digital storytelling, social media strategy, email marketing, web content, and audience engagement.
• Experience working in or alongside organizing, advocacy, electoral, or movement-building environments.
• Strong media relations and public relations experience.
• Experience using digital analytics and performance data to inform communications strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to develop communications strategies that elevate underrepresented voices, shape public narratives, and increase visibility and understanding of issues affecting Native communities.
• Strong understanding of Native communities, issues, sovereignty, self-determination, and cultural contexts, with experience working with or within Native organizations strongly preferred.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex issues into clear, compelling, and audience-appropriate messaging.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Ability to travel within California and occasionally work evenings and weekends as needed.

Work Environment and Position Requirements

• Hybrid, in-person and virtual, with some evenings and weekends.
• This role will require a minimum of two in-person days per week at the Los Angeles office.
• This position includes office work, remote work, community outreach, and regional travel.
• Experience working with Native American communities and/or Tribal organizations.
• Demonstrated commitment to CNVP’s mission, vision, and values and to building the political power of American Indian/Alaska Native communities in California.
• Strong verbal, interpersonal, relationship-building, and communication skills.
• Dependable, organized, and able to manage multiple responsibilities.
• Comfortable communicating with people from diverse backgrounds and discussing CNVP campaigns, programs, and opportunities for community involvement.
• Ability to use cell phones, laptops, and common workplace technology, including Gmail, Google Chat, and timekeeping/payroll software.
• The employee must have manual dexterity to operate a keyboard and be able to work on a computer for extended periods
• Must attend mandatory orientation and required training sessions, which may be virtual and/or in person.
• Must have reliable transportation to and from events and work assignments when required. Mileage reimbursement will be provided for eligible work-related travel.
• Valid California driver’s license and automobile insurance when driving a personal vehicle for CNVP business.
• Ability to work a variable schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Ability to travel as required within the employee’s assigned region and/or throughout California.
• Ability to stand, sit, and walk for extended periods during community events and outreach activities and safely lift up to 40 pounds.

Employee Health & Safety

In order to prioritize the health and safety of our employees, all California Native Vote Project employees are required to provide proof of COVID vaccination. California Native Vote Project will discuss reasonable accommodations with employees who may be unable to receive a vaccine due to disability, the advice of a medical provider, or sincerely held religious beliefs.

Compensation

Compensation commensurate with experience.

Ready to join the team? Apply today.

CNVP is a project of Community Partners®. Community Partners® is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. In addition, the organization will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.