POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Director of Narrative Power and Policy Strategyis a key leadership role responsible for shaping and advancing Pillsbury United Communities' public narrative, community voice, and policy influence. This role integrates strategic communications, marketing, community organizing, advocacy, and government relations to drive systemic change.

Reporting to the Head of Advancement and serving on the senior leadership team, this leader partners across the organization and with community to shift narratives while mobilizing people, strengthening partnerships, and influencing policy outcomes aligned with organizational mission.

This role operates at the intersection of storytelling, power-building, policy, and brand, ensuring that community voice drives both narrative and action while elevating the PUC's local and national visibility.

Primary Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

Strategy and Thought Leadership

• Develop and lead an integrated strategy that aligns communications, marketing, narrative shifting, community organizing, and policy advocacy
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the leadership team and Board on messaging, positioning, and external influence
• Shape and advance narrative change strategies that challenge dominant, incomplete, and/or false narratives about our communities
• Drive the development of a policy platform that aligns community voice, programmatic insights, and emerging opportunities for innovation and systems change
• Identify and elevate community voices to influence public discourse, policy priorities, and systems-level change
• Lead development of organizational messaging frameworks, marketing strategies, campaigns, and crises communication
• Raise the organization's visibility and influence at both local and national levels
• Represent the organization as a spokesperson in media, public forums, and high-level stakeholder settings
• Recommend and help advance policy agendas in partnership with leadership and the Board of Directors
• Maintain a deep understanding of the political, community, and media landscape to inform strategy

Operations and Outcomes

• Oversee execution of integrated communications, marketing, advocacy, and engagement strategies across digital, print, media, and all platforms in support of program and agency needs
• Lead and supervise marketing, communications, and branding functions, ensuring alignment, consistency, and excellence across all channels
• Oversee website/social media site development and maintenance
• Drive development and implementation of comprehensive marketing strategies that strengthen brand identity and audience engagement
• Lead narrative campaigns that connect storytelling with organizing and policy action
• Establish measurable goals and outcomes related to audience engagement, narrative impact, community mobilization, and policy influence
• Identify and pursue opportunities for funding, partnerships, and program alignment across government and external systems with organizational leaders
• Manage relationships with external vendors, consultants, and strategic partners
• Ensure consistency, quality, and cultural alignment across all communications, marketing, and engagement efforts
• Anticipate and respond to emerging issues, risks, and opportunities in a dynamic environment
• Support fundraising and advancement efforts through strategic communications, marketing, branding, and positioning

People and Community Development

• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing, cross-functional team spanning marketing, communications, organizing, advocacy, and external contractors as needed
• Directly supervise marketing and communications staff, and oversee broader external engagement, narrative, and policy partners/contractors
• Foster a collaborative, matrixed environment that encourages innovation, accountability, and shared ownership
• Cultivate leadership within teams, supporting professional development and growth
• Build and sustain strong relationships with community members, grassroots leaders, and partner organizations
• Foster and maintain relationships with key elected officials and public sector leaders at city, county, state, and federal levels
• Develop and manage partnerships with nonprofit, civic, and advocacy organizations to advance shared goals
• Represent the organization in community spaces, including complex or sensitive environments, with credibility and care
• Facilitate inclusive engagement and dialogue across diverse stakeholders, including navigating difficult conversations around race and equity
• Serve as a resource to staff across the agency to strengthen civic engagement and advocacy as a core shared competency

Financial Management

• Monitor and analyze revenue performance against goals, adjusting strategies as needed
• Develop and manage budgets across marketing, communications, advocacy, and engagement functions
• Align resources with strategic priorities to maximize organizational and community impact
• Identify and support funding opportunities, including public sector investments and partnerships
• Provide regular financial and performance updates to leadership and Board as needed
• Ensure strong stewardship of resources, including contracts, partnerships, and external investments
• Support grant development, reporting, and compliance in collaboration with advancement and program teams

Required Skills/Experience

• Minimum 5-7 years of leadership experience in communications, marketing, organizing, advocacy, public affairs, or related fields
• Demonstrated success in marketing strategy development and implementation, brand leadership, and audience growth
• Proven experience in narrative change, community engagement, and/or policy advocacy
• Deep commitment to racial equity, justice, and community-centered practice
• Strong understanding of government systems and experience building relationships with elected officials and public sector leaders
• Exceptional communicator and storyteller with the ability to translate complex ideas into compelling narratives

• Proven ability to lead teams, manage across functions, and operate in a collaborative, complex environment
• Skilled relationship-builder with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders, including those with differing perspectives
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans and measurable outcomes
• Experience managing budgets and aligning financial resources with strategy
• High level of emotional intelligence, cultural competence, and adaptability
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• Proven track record and comfort enfranchising and engaging a diverse set of stakeholders.
• Able to build positive, nonjudgmental relationships with community
• Strong technical and creative writing skills
• Understanding of appropriate personal boundaries and professional ethics
• Self-motivating with excellent time management and accountability skills

Desired Attributes

• Passion for what's possible
• Clear sense of personal purpose
• Commitment to social justice with an equity-driven approach
• Creative problem-solver that is adaptive and responsive
• Skilled communicator, motivator and compelling storyteller
• Relationship centered
• Robust financial acumen
• Results oriented and ambitious
• Commitment to dismantling oppressive systems including but not limited to racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, and colonialism

Benefits

Benefits are offered to all regular employees who work at least 20 hours a week. Our benefits package includes health insurance, dental insurance, vision coverage, employer paid short term and long term disability, employer paid life insurance, health saving account (HSA) option, flexible spending account (FSA) option, retirement plan option with an employer match, paid time off and floating holidays, and numerous paid holidays.

A Note to Potential Candidates:

Studies have shown that women, trans, non-binary folks, and Black, Indigenous, People Of Color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization, and we are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. That candidate may be one who comes from a background less traditional to our field of work, and that's okay. We would strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of the qualifications described.