Communications Manager in Portland, Oregon at Native American Youth And Family Center

NAYA Family Center is seeking a creative, strategic, and collaborative Communications Manager to lead the organization's communications efforts and elevate the stories, voices, and impact of Urban Native youth and families. This role is responsible for developing and executing communications strategies that strengthen NAYA's brand, engage community members and supporters, and advance the organization's mission through thoughtful storytelling and meaningful outreach.

As Communications Manager, you'll work closely with the Director of Development and Communications to shape organizational messaging, manage media relations, oversee crisis communications, and ensure consistent branding across all platforms. You'll lead the creation of compelling content, support fundraising and community engagement initiatives, supervise communications staff, and help share the stories that inspire connection, advocacy, and investment in NAYA's work.

NAYA offers an exceptional benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) with up to 6% match, 16 paid holidays, and sick and vacation accrual that increases with tenure. This is a full-time position with general working hours of 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The role offers flexibility for a hybrid work schedule, with a combination of remote work, office collaboration, and occasional travel to community events and organizational activities.

Pay is $85,000 - dependent on qualifications and experience.

• Ideally, you have knowledge of Native American history and experience working within diverse populations, including urban and reservation Native American communities.
• You are a gifted storyteller who understands how thoughtful communications can strengthen communities, inspire supporters, and advance a mission.
• You have at least three to four years of professional experience in communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, or a related field, preferably within the nonprofit sector.
• You enjoy balancing big-picture strategy with hands-on execution, developing communications plans while creating compelling content across multiple platforms.
• You are an exceptional writer and editor with a strong understanding of audience engagement, messaging, and brand consistency.
• You have experience managing websites, email marketing, social media platforms, media relations, and public-facing communications campaigns.
• You are highly organized, thrive in a collaborative environment, and can manage multiple priorities while consistently producing high-quality work.
• You enjoy building relationships across departments and helping others tell their stories in authentic, respectful, and culturally responsive ways.
• You have experience supervising or mentoring staff and are committed to fostering professional growth, collaboration, and accountability.
• You are proficient with communications and productivity tools such as Microsoft Office, WordPress, MailChimp, and social media platforms. Experience with Adobe Creative Suite, HTML, and graphic design is a plus.

• Develop and implement organization-wide communications strategies that strengthen NAYA's brand, increase community engagement, and support organizational goals.
• Collaborate with the Director of Development and Communications to establish annual communications priorities, messaging, media strategy, and crisis communications plans.
• Create, edit, and manage compelling content across digital, print, email, website, social media, and other communication channels.
• Maintain NAYA's organizational voice, visual identity, and messaging standards while ensuring consistency across all programs and departments.
• Lead media outreach efforts by cultivating relationships with media partners, developing media plans, and writing press releases.
• Support fundraising campaigns and special events through strategic messaging, promotional materials, donor communications, and storytelling.
• Collaborate with staff across the organization to gather stories, photographs, and other content that highlights the impact of NAYA's programs and community.
• Supervise, coach, and support the Communications Coordinator while promoting professional development and high-quality work.
• Monitor communications initiatives, recommend improvements, and identify opportunities to expand NAYA's reach and visibility.
• Represent NAYA professionally at community events, public engagements, and collaborative partnerships while contributing as an active member of the Development and Communications team.

Providing a cover letter helps us better understand your communications experience, your passion for mission-driven storytelling, and your interest in joining NAYA, so we encourage you to submit one along with your resume. If you need accommodation during the application process, please email jobs@nayapdx.org.

Questions? Want to learn more about this opportunity before applying? We'd be happy to connect you with our Development and Communications leadership team or Human Resources.

NAYA is committed to building a work environment that respects and inspires every community member. Our mission is to serve Urban Native youth and families, so we strongly encourage members of the Native community to apply. We encourage applications from members of other historically marginalized groups as well, including women, people of color, those with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and those who have served in the military.

Qualifications:

Education & Training:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in related field, such as journalism, communications or marketing
• Understanding of development, fundraising and nonprofit organizations
• Knowledge of Native American history, an understanding of the diversity of the local American Indian/Alaskan Native community and issues surrounding the urban Indian experience

Experience:

• Minimum 3 - 4 years related professional experience
• Experience working within diverse populations (specifically with the urban and reservation Native American population, including working within a tribe, board, or other organization) strongly preferred

Skills:

• Excellent written communication skills and copyediting abilities; nuanced understanding of written and visual messaging
• Experience working with websites and managing standard social media platforms
• Highly organized; experienced in developing processes and procedures, strategies and campaigns
• Ability to take initiative and work creatively, launching new ideas or driving process improvements
• Ability to work quickly, independently and creatively under pressure
• Protection of confidential information and materials
• Ability to work independently as well as a part of a team
• Knowledge of AP style
• Graphic design skills and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite preferred
• Proficient computer skills including: Webflow or other hosting platform, MailChimp, Canva, Microsoft Office Suite, and HTML

Work Environment: 90% office/home/remotely, 10% outside office including travel time. NAYA employees are expected to work on site most of the week. With supervisory approval, employees may be able to work at home 1 to 2 days per week after successful onboarding.

Physical Requirements:

• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell.
• The employee may be required to sit for extended periods of time.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equipment Used: Computer, phone, fax, copy machine.

Safety Considerations: Some travel may be required.

Other Requirements:

1. Valid Oregon or Washington State Driver License or must be able to obtain one upon hire (must be eligible to be an insured driver under NAYA Family Center’s liability insurance policy which requires an Oregon or Washington driver’s license)

2. Successful completion of a background investigation (including a fingerprint criminal history check)

3. Successful completion of a DHS Background Check Unit