[Hiring] Vice President, Communications @Larnell Vickers Enterprises

Role Description

Color Of Change is seeking a Vice President, Communications to serve as the organization's senior-most leader for message, public voice, creative direction, and audience development. The VP sits on the Organizational Leadership Team and reports to the President and CEO.

This role leads the work that carries Color Of Change to the public. The Campaigns Team runs our fights, and the Communications Team carries them. Communications makes the harm undeniable and the path to action clear. It builds awareness on the channels we own, organizes members through email, web, and text, backs campaigns with earned media, and keeps members engaged on what their action produced when a campaign ends. Communications also runs the email, website, and social media channels that carries every message, including Development's fundraising asks.

We need a writer who also leads. Our communications must do more than describe terrible things and ask people to respond. It should make our community's strength, resilience, creativity, and capacity visible, offer information people can use, explain how action brings about change.

This is a building role at a pivotal moment. Color Of Change is rebuilding under a new President and CEO with a new operating model and a clear strategy. The VP will set the editorial and creative standard, name who approves what, build an exceptional team, grow the channels the organization owns, and expand Color Of Change’s reach and impact. It is a rare opportunity for a leader who still loves to write, can direct partners with a firm hand, and wants to build a nimble but expert team.

Responsibilities

• Message, Narrative & Public Voice
  • Develop clear arguments and framing for organizational priorities in partnership with the President and CEO and the VP, Campaigns.
  • Personally draft and edit high-stakes statements, speeches, op-eds, campaign messages, and other public communications.
  • Hold the editorial standard across all public work: show rather than tell, name the harm plainly, provide actionable steps, and write the way our members actually talk.
  • Serve as a thought partner to the President and CEO on her public voice across broadcast, podcast, print, and stage.
  • Own rapid response and crisis moments, using expert judgment.
  • Serve as final approver on message and public voice, within the strategy set by the President and CEO.
• Channels, Creative & Audience
  • Lead and execute the email, website, and social media channels and the shared send calendar.
  • Raise the quality of stories, memes, visual concepts, and original content.
  • Set priorities for discovery, reach, return engagement, and direct supporter relationships.
  • Give original programming realistic promotion plans.
• Narrative, Culture & Legacy
  • Make Black history, dignity, creativity, and belonging visible.
  • Move verified truth through Black media, creators, and trusted messengers.
  • Report back to members after each campaign on its efficacy, its missteps, and what comes next.
• Department Management & Operational Excellence
  • Own team intake, deciding what the team takes on, what waits, and what it declines.
  • Name routine approvers, backups, and escalation rules.
  • Direct contracted social media, communications support, and earned media partners.
  • Manage Communications priorities and resources within the approved budget.
• Team Leadership & Talent Development
  • Lead a department of eight full-time positions.
  • Direct, coach, and evaluate the full team.
  • Collaborate closely with People and Culture to champion organizational values.
  • Raise the standard of excellence across the team through coaching, feedback, and accountability.
• Cross-Functional Leadership & Alignment
  • Serve as a member of the Organizational Leadership Team.
  • Ensure that our campaigns become durable within the public understanding.
  • Partner with Development and Marketing for audience growth and activations.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in communications, journalism, media, or creative leadership, including 5+ years leading and developing a team.
• Exceptional writing and editing ability; a portfolio will be requested and reviewed.
• Demonstrated success growing or deepening an audience relationship.
• Experience connecting digital content, earned media, audience development, and original programming.
• Experience directing agencies and contractors, and holding them to our standards.
• Fluency with Black media, Black creators, and the cultural landscape.
• Proven judgment through a crisis, a disinformation campaign, or a hostile news cycle.
• Experience managing a department budget.
• Ability to provide a structural analysis of racism aligned with Color Of Change's vision and values.

Key Characteristics & Working Style

• A writer who leads, still drafts, edits, and shapes the framing on our biggest priorities.
• Calm and decisive under pressure, able to lead through rapid response and crisis.
• A builder, comfortable carrying more individual work in the early months.
• A generous but demanding editor, who raises the quality of the work.
• Clear about priorities, able to say what the team will do, what waits, and what it declines.
• Culturally fluent, with an authentic connection to the communities Color Of Change serves.
• Collaborative and able to build trust and drive alignment with various stakeholders.

Reporting Structure & Team Context

• Reports to: President & CEO; serves on the Organizational Leadership Team.
• Collaborates closely with: VP, Campaigns; VP, Development; and external partners.
• Direct Reports: At full build, you will lead a team of eight (8) communications specialists.

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation for this role is a $170,000 to $180,000 base salary, commensurate with experience.
• Color Of Change offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts; a 401(k) retirement plan (employer match); generous paid time off.
• Paid holidays; and paid family leave.

Working Environment

Color Of Change operates in a remote environment with team members across the United States. You will collaborate regularly with colleagues via video, email, and chat. This role requires working core hours Monday through Friday on a laptop for most of the workday, with additional time as needed to support communications execution and organizational priorities. Occasional travel may be required for events, activations, team convenings, or strategic planning.