Communications Specialist

Starting salary range: $75,518 - $90,621. This position is open in San Francisco, San Mateo, and San Rafael, CA, with local travel required within San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin Counties. Periodic travel to Sacramento and throughout the state is also required. Access to reliable transportation is necessary.

About the Role

The Communications Specialist for GGRC serves as a go-to resource for quality, accessible, and inclusive communications across all of GGRC’s internal and external channels. This role supports the implementation of communications strategies, manages workflows, and helps build and maintain the internal systems and practices that enable effective communication across the organization. Working in partnership with GGRC leadership and program teams, the Communications Specialist focuses on project management, coordination, and execution of communications across departments. The role ensures that communications are clear, consistent, timely, and aligned, while keeping complex, multi-stakeholder projects on track. At the center of this role is a commitment to accessible, inclusive, person-centered, and disability-forward communication.

Responsibilities

• Communications Coordination & Implementation
  • Implement communications strategies and tactics aligned with GGRC’s mission and priorities
  • Maintain communication planning tools, calendars, and coordination systems
  • Coordinate editorial calendars, cross-team content workflows, and messaging across teams to ensure consistency and alignment
  • Track deliverables, timelines, and dependencies across multiple projects
  • Ensure that requests that come through the website contact and elsewhere are routed to the appropriate department
• Channel Management & Quality
  • Serve as a quality control lead across all communications, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment with established standards
  • Ensure all communications meet accessibility and inclusion standards (plain language, ADA compliance, multilingual access where appropriate)
  • Manage and maintain communications channels, including website, social media, newsletters, and publications
  • Ensure information is accurate and current, especially on the website
  • Use analytics, feedback, and community input to spot gaps or inconsistencies and drive continuous improvement
  • Identify when to leverage external consultants or additional resources
• Communications Culture & Capacity Building
  • Support department teams in developing and delivering clear, consistent communications
  • Maintain feedback loops that surface staff insights
  • Ensure materials are accurate, timely, and aligned with organizational priorities
  • Serve as a resource and partner to staff, helping them communicate clearly and effectively
  • Develop and maintain templates, tools, and guidance for consistent communications
  • Support trainings and coaching to strengthen staff and board communication skills at all levels of the organization
  • Reinforce best practices in accessible, inclusive, and respectful communication
  • Help build a culture of clarity, responsiveness, and accountability in communications
  • Support storytelling efforts by helping staff identify and capture compelling stories that reflect GGRC’s impact
  • Identify growth areas and bring in third-party experts as needed to strengthen the team’s communications skills
• External Communications
  • Coordinate communications to priority audiences, including individuals with developmental disabilities, families, providers, policymakers, and community partners
  • Support development and distribution of external communications (e.g., announcements, updates, press releases)
  • Ensure materials reflect dignity, clarity, and lived experience of the communities GGRC serves
  • Coordinate media inquiries, public statements, and outreach logistics as needed
  • Coordinate communications for events, including timelines, materials, and outreach, ensuring clear, consistent, and accessible information for all audiences
• Issues Response & Leadership Support
  • Support coordination of communications for time-sensitive or high-visibility issues
  • Draft and refine messaging, talking points, and materials for leadership as needed
  • Help track external developments (policy, media, community context) and flag implications
  • Coordinate internal workflows to ensure timely and consistent responses
  • Support preparation of leadership and board-facing materials

What Success Looks Like

• Communications projects are well-coordinated, on time, and aligned across teams
• Significant communications have been approved by appropriate leadership staff
• Staff have clear tools and guidance to communicate effectively
• Communications are consistently high-quality, accessible, and inclusive
• Content workflows run smoothly, reducing last-minute requests and confusion
• Leadership and staff are supported with clear, timely communications materials
• The organization communicates with clarity and credibility across channels

Requirements

• BA in Communication, Marketing, Business, Literature, or a related field (Master’s preferred)
• 5–8+ years of experience in communications, public affairs, or a related field
• Experience managing social media for similar organizations
• Experience coordinating communications across teams or departments
• Demonstrated experience supporting disability inclusion, accessibility, and respectful representation

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in disability services, healthcare, statewide government, or regulatory agencies
• Familiarity with legislative and public policy processes
• Experience working in multi-stakeholder or highly regulated environments
• Experience with content management systems and video/visual storytelling tools
• Multilingual skills (e.g., Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog)

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical and dental benefits with a generous employer contribution
• Employer-paid life, disability, and vision coverage
• 10% employer contribution to a 403(b) retirement account
• Generous time off benefits:
  • 13 vacation days
  • 15 sick days
  • 11 paid holidays
  • 6 personal holidays
  • Up to 5 paid days for continuing education

About GGRC

GGRC values diversity and believes in creating an environment where people of all backgrounds can collaborate to find solutions to complex problems. GGRC is community-minded and passionate, valuing each person as a full, robust, and unique individual. The organization interacts with each person in a manner that is respectful and responsive, placing each person at the center of their own life. GGRC approaches each individual as an expert on their own life and identity, with a clear and attentive inquiry into what is important to them.