Overview

Director of Communications & Marketing Jobs in Ojai, CA at Humane Society of Ventura County

Title: Director of Communications & Marketing

Company: Humane Society of Ventura County

Location: Ojai, CA

Position Overview

The Director of Communications & Marketing is a newly established leadership position that reflects HSVC’s commitment to strengthening communications, community engagement, and organizational visibility. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Communications & Marketing will serve as a strategic communications leader, trusted advisor, and thought partner to the Executive Director and leadership team during a significant period of growth and organizational evolution for HSVC.

This individual will develop and execute a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy that enhances the visibility, credibility, and impact of HSVC’s animal welfare mission, strengthens public awareness, elevates organizational storytelling, deepens community engagement, and supports the organization’s long-term strategic goals.

This position represents an opportunity to build and shape a communications function that touches every aspect of the organization. The Director oversees public relations, media engagement, digital marketing, brand management, crisis communications, and internal communications efforts, working closely with leadership and program teams to amplify HSVC’s voice, connect with key audiences, and support the organization’s evolving vision and priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Communications Leadership

  • Develop and execute a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy aligned with HSVC’s mission, organizational priorities, and long-term growth goals.
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to the Executive Director and leadership team on communications, messaging, visibility, reputation, and public engagement.
  • Translate organizational strategy into clear communications priorities, plans, campaigns, and messages for diverse audiences.
  • Strengthen and steward HSVC’s brand voice, messaging, and public narrative across all channels and materials.
  • Establish goals, measures, and feedback loops to evaluate communications effectiveness, engagement, reach, and impact.

Storytelling & Content Development

  • Lead organizational storytelling efforts that communicate HSVC’s mission, impact, programs, services, and future direction with clarity and authenticity.
  • Translate complex animal welfare, veterinary, operational, and organizational initiatives into accessible, emotionally resonant, and accurate communications.
  • Oversee development of content across website, social media, email, video, print, donor communications, annual reports, newsletters, press materials, and community-facing collateral.

Community Engagement & Relationship Building

  • Strengthen public understanding of HSVC’s work, services, mission, and evolving role throughout Ventura County.
  • Develop communications strategies that deepen engagement with community members, adopters, volunteers, donors, veterinary clients, partners, media, and other constituents.
  • Help build trust and credibility with diverse communities, including those with limited access to animal welfare resources.
  • Collaborate with Development and program teams to align community engagement, donor storytelling, and mission-based communications.

Organizational Influence & Change Leadership

  • Support leadership and staff through periods of organizational growth, change, and evolution by providing clear, thoughtful, and timely communications guidance.
  • Partner with leaders across the organization to anticipate communications needs and develop messages that support alignment and trust.
  • Provide thoughtful communications counsel and support during highly visible, sensitive, or complex situations.

Media Relations & Public Affairs

  • Develop and maintain relationships with local, regional, and relevant media to increase understanding of HSVC’s work and impact.
  • Prepare press releases, media statements, talking points, op-eds, background materials, and other public-facing communications.
  • Support the Executive Director and other leaders in media preparation, public remarks, interviews, presentations, and external communications.
  • Monitor public dialogue, media coverage, and online conversations to identify opportunities, concerns, and emerging communications needs.
  • Develop thoughtful protocols and messaging approaches for high-visibility or crisis communications situations.

Digital Communications & Marketing

  • Lead digital communications strategy across HSVC’s website, social media, email marketing, and other digital channels.
  • Develop audience engagement strategies that expand reach, strengthen visibility, and deepen constituent connection with HSVC.
  • Oversee digital campaigns related to adoption, foster recruitment, volunteer engagement, community services, clinic awareness, fundraising, and organizational storytelling.
  • Ensure visual identity, tone, and messaging are consistent and compelling across digital channels.

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Lead, mentor, and support communications and marketing staff, contractors, consultants, vendors, and creative partners.
  • Build strong working relationships across shelter operations, veterinary services, development, HR, finance, facilities, volunteer engagement, foster programs, and other functions.
  • Manage projects, priorities, deadlines, vendors, budgets, and deliverables with clarity, accountability, and follow-through.
  • Balance long-term strategy with day-to-day communications needs in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.

The Leader

HSVC seeks a strategic communications leader, compelling storyteller, collaborative manager, trusted advisor, and passionate ambassador for the organization’s mission. The ideal candidate will bring the communications discipline, maturity, creativity, and relationship-building skills needed to help HSVC tell its story, build trust, and deepen engagement during a meaningful chapter of growth and evolution.

The strongest candidates may come from animal welfare, nonprofit, healthcare, advocacy, public service, education, conservation, hospitality, lifestyle, consumer brands, creative agencies, or other mission-driven and community-facing environments. A genuine connection to animals and enthusiasm for HSVC’s mission are essential.

The successful candidate will be both strategic and hands-on. They will be able to set vision and direction, advise senior leadership, build systems and processes, and roll up their sleeves to write, edit, shape content, manage projects, and respond to evolving communications needs.

Desired Experience & Core Competencies

  • Strategic communications leadership, including experience developing and executing integrated communications strategies aligned with organizational priorities and long-term goals.
  • Exceptional storytelling and content development skills, including the ability to translate mission, impact, and complex organizational initiatives into clear and compelling messages for diverse audiences.
  • Strong community engagement and relationship-building skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility with constituents, partners, donors, volunteers, community members, media, and other key audiences.
  • Experience supporting organizations through growth, change, public visibility, or strategic evolution.
  • Demonstrated experience leading communications teams, managing projects, collaborating across departments, and delivering high-quality work while balancing multiple priorities.
  • Strong writing, editing, verbal communication, and message-development skills across multiple formats, platforms, and audiences.
  • Experience with public relations, media relations, digital communications, social media strategy, reputation management, and audience engagement.
  • Ability to advise and partner with executive leadership on communications priorities, messaging, public presence, and sensitive issues.
  • Experience managing communications budgets, vendors, consultants, and external partners.
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience in animal welfare, sheltering, veterinary services, rescue, animal advocacy, or related fields.
  • Experience in nonprofit, social impact, public service, advocacy, community-based, or other mission-driven organizations.
  • Experience supporting fundraising communications, donor engagement, annual campaigns, impact reporting, or development communications.
  • Spanish language proficiency or experience developing bilingual or multilingual communications and outreach.
  • Experience communicating with diverse communities and building trust across lines of difference.

Mission Alignment

  • The Director of Communications & Marketing will serve as an ambassador and advocate for HSVC’s mission and should demonstrate a sincere commitment to improving the lives of animals and the people who care for them.
  • The successful candidate will be energized by the opportunity to help HSVC expand its reach, communicate its impact, deepen community engagement, and advance its vision for the future.

Location

  • This position is based in Ojai, CA, with an expectation of a meaningful on-site presence and the possibility of a partially hybrid work arrangement.

Compensation

  • The starting salary for this position is anticipated to begin at $120,000 and will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. HSVC offers a competitive benefits package, including a memberships and professional development budget of up to $1,500. Additional details will be shared during the search process.

Start Date

  • The anticipated start date for this position is Fall 2026 or as mutually agreed upon.

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