The Director of Marketing & Communications is a senior leader responsible for developing and executing an integrated brand, communications, and marketing strategy that advances the Association's mission, reputation, and growth. This role is particularly focused on serving a membership-based, statewide professional association with an advocacy and public policy extension, balancing member engagement with external visibility and influence. The Director serves as a strategic partner to the executive team, ensuring consistent messaging, strong brand stewardship, and effective communication with members, stakeholders, policymakers, media, and the public.

Internal Relationships: Reports to Executive Director. Collaborates cross-functionally with Legal, Membership, Programs, Events, and the Leadership Team.

External Relationship: Board members, volunteer leaders, partners, media, vendors/ contractors, and external stakeholders.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Brand Strategy, Marketing & Communications

• Develop and lead a comprehensive brand, marketing, and communications strategy aligned with the Association’s mission, strategic plan, and advocacy priorities.
• Serve as the brand steward, ensuring consistent voice, visual identity, and messaging across all channels and audiences.
• Position the Association as a trusted authority and thought leader within the profession and statewide policy landscape.
• Lead audience segmentation and messaging strategies tailored to diverse member types, volunteers, partners, and stakeholders.
• Develop strategic marketing campaigns for support of events, programs, education, and initiatives.
• Collaborate with Membership Outreach Manager to drive membership growth, retention, and engagement, clearly articulating the membership value proposition.
• Collaborate with internal teams to develop strategic marketing campaigns for the support of events, programs, education, and initiatives through strategic marketing campaigns.
• Oversee all internal and external communications, including email, website content, publications, social media, press materials, and executive messaging.
• Maintain communication workflows, templates, content calendars, and style guidelines that support distributed content creation.
• Translate complex policy, advocacy, and professional issues into clear, compelling, and accessible communications for members and the public.
• Develop key messages, talking points, and narratives that align with brand, advocacy, and organizational priorities.
• Will oversee the marketing and social media platforms and account management

Advocacy & Public Affairs Communications

• Partner with policy and advocacy leaders to support public affairs, legislative, regulatory communications, and Association stakeholders.
• Ensure advocacy messaging is accurate, timely, and aligned with organizational positions while remaining accessible to non-technical audiences.
• Support crisis communications, issues management, and rapid response as needed.
• Serve as a lead or key point of contact for media relations, including pitching stories, responding to inquiries, and preparing spokespersons.
• Build and maintain relationships with media, partners, and external stakeholders to enhance the Association’s visibility and influence.

Leadership, Management & Operations

• Provide strategic direction and day-to-day leadership for a team including Marketing Manager, Web Content Coordinator, and Publication & Production Manager.
• Clearly define roles, priorities, and workflows to ensure effective collaboration, accountability, and timely execution across marketing, digital, and publication functions.
• Coach and develop team members to balance strategic thinking with high-quality execution in a lean team environment.
• Serve as an escalation point and quality-control lead for major campaigns, publications, brand assets, and external-facing communications.
• Oversee relationships with external vendors, freelancers, designers, printers, and agencies as needed.
• Manage the marketing and communications budget, ensuring effective resource allocation and alignment with strategic priorities.
• Establish goals, performance metrics, and reporting to evaluate the effectiveness of marketing, communications, and publication efforts.
• Serve as staff liaisons for External Affairs Committee and other relevant committees as needed.

Qualifications & Experience

• 7–12 years of progressive experience in marketing, communications, or brand strategy, with at least 3–5 years leading teams or functions.
• Demonstrated experience developing and leading integrated brand, marketing, and communications strategies in a complex or mission-driven organization.
• Proven ability to lead and coordinate a small, multi-disciplinary communications team while remaining appropriately hands-on.
• Strong understanding of membership-based organizations, associations, or nonprofits.
• Experience supporting or partnering with advocacy, public policy, or government affairs functions with familiarity in legislative processes, regulatory environments, or public affairs communications.
• Demonstrated expertise in brand management across digital, web, print, and experiential channels.
• Excellent written, verbal, and editorial skills, with the ability to translate complex issues into clear, compelling messaging.
• Experience managing budgets, vendors, and external partners.
• Experience working with boards, volunteer leaders, or committees.
• Digital marketing, analytics, and CRM/email marketing experience.

Compensation and Benefits

Annual salary: $97,545.00 - $122,711.60
Classification: Full Time, Exempt Position
Location: Hybrid, reporting to CAMFT HQ in San Diego, CA
Travel:  Less than 10% within California