Manager, Communications & Design

Position: Manager, Communications & Design

Location: Remote; or Los Angeles, CA (all candidates should be based in the United States)

Employment Type: Full-time, Salaried, Exempt

Compensation Range: $75,000/year-$90,000 DOE

Level: Manager I

Reports To: Vice President, Communications

Manages: None

Supported By: Communications team, Program team, Development team, Operations team

Education/Experience Preferences: Bachelor’s Degree, or equivalent professional experience preferred

Start Date: ASAP, open until filled

We Are DigDeep

The DigDeep Right to Water Project is a WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) organization committed to closing the water access gap for the 2 million+ people in the U.S. who still don’t have a tap or a toilet at home.

DigDeep believes access to clean water is a human right. We run several nationally recognized programs that empower communities to build their own water and sanitation systems. We won the 2018 US Water Prize for our Navajo Water Project, which has brought clean, running water to hundreds of Native families across New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah.

DigDeep launched the Appalachia Water Project in 2020, in McDowell County, WV. It has since brought clean, sustainable running water to hundreds of families in Southern West Virginia through public-private partnerships with the McDowell County PSD and East Logan PSD in Wyoming County. In addition to clean running water, the project is installing septic systems and connecting households to centralized sewer. The AWP is now expanding into neighboring states of Kentucky and Virginia to continue its quest of clean water for every Appalachian family.

Our water projects expanded in 2022 when we launched our Colonias Water Project. This project works to bring clean, running water to the residents living in communities along the Texas-Mexico border. The Texas colonias are largely unincorporated, low-income communities that fall just outside city limits and often lack basic infrastructure. Our work began in Cochran colonia near El Paso. DigDeep partnered with residents, housing nonprofits, and county officials to innovate a new model for public-private partnership that brings these basic services to families for the first time. Now we’re getting the water flowing in 5 more communities.

The Opportunity

DigDeep is seeking an experienced Communications Manager to join our growing team. Reporting to the Vice President, Communications, the Communications Manager will lead strategic communications initiatives that advance water equity and amplify community voices. This role combines creative leadership, strategic thinking, and a deep commitment to ethical storytelling. The ideal candidate will bring both vision and hands-on expertise in managing communications projects while mentoring team members and fostering cross-departmental collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Team Management

• Develop and execute comprehensive communications strategies aligned with organizational goals.
• Collaborate with communications team members, providing clear and timely ideation, support, and feedback.
• Lead the planning and implementation of communications campaigns across multiple channels.
• Foster collaboration between communications team and other departments.
• Ensure all communications align with DigDeep’s values and ethical storytelling principles.

Content Strategy & Development

• Drive content strategy across all channels, ensuring consistency and impact.
• Oversee the development of compelling narratives that center community voices.
• Guide and support the creation of reports, presentations, and other key communications materials.
• Establish and maintain editorial standards and processes.
• Lead innovation in storytelling approaches while maintaining ethical guidelines.
• Build and maintain relationships with community partners and stakeholders.

Project & Resource Management

• Manage communications budget and resources.
• Develop and track project timelines, deliverables, and outcomes.
• Implement systems for efficient workflow and asset management.
• Oversee communications request process and prioritization.
• Monitor and evaluate communications impact through metrics and feedback.

Department Operations

• Lead communications planning and strategy sessions.
• Develop and maintain departmental processes and procedures.
• Manage vendor and contractor relationships.
• Ensure effective cross-departmental collaboration with fellow managers.
• Support VP in strategic planning and department growth.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee. As the organization continues to evolve, duties or tasks may change without impacting the overall job description.

Competencies

• Change Management: Task/strategy orientation. Seeks opportunities for growth and innovation. Anticipates obstacles and prepares contingencies. Collaborates on goals and provides guidance under novel circumstances. Champions new policies and drives adoption within functional areas.
• Professional Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills. Adapts communications to effectively reach desired audiences. Handles conflict empathetically and clarifies ambiguities effectively.
• Influence: Oversees relationships and alliances within functional areas. Synthesizes project needs to achieve goals. Proposes alternative solutions when appropriate.
• Judgment & Decision-Making: Identifies information needed to clarify situations. Navigates uncertainties with problem-solving strategies. Proposes and applies solutions using a community-driven approach.
• Ownership: Fully owns projects with limited guidance. Demonstrates commitment to deliverables and exercises independent judgment.
• Personal Development: Continually develops professionally through feedback and collaboration. Shares key insights and best practices with the team.
• Technical Expertise: Demonstrates depth of knowledge in technical areas. Effectively applies technical expertise to identify solutions and ensure data security.

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent professional experience preferred.
• At least 4 years of applicable professional experience required; experience in the design field required.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite and Google Workspace required.
• Experience with Slack, Asana, Canva, Figma, Zoom, and Expensify preferred.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite preferred; Premiere Pro is a plus.
• Understanding of ethical storytelling principles and practices.
• Basic design sensibility and ability to provide visual feedback.
• High computer literacy and tech-savviness required.
• Organized, trustworthy, and detail-oriented.
• Comfortable working independently and meeting deadlines.
• Willingness to travel as needed.

Compensation and Benefits

At DigDeep, we believe that great work requires a great job. We offer top-notch benefits prioritizing health, wellbeing, and support for employees’ families:

• Competitive wage commensurate with position level.
• Generous vacation and sick leave.
• 23 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Annual professional development stipend.
• Annual wellbeing reimbursement.
• BrightPlan membership (financial wellness benefit).
• Comprehensive health benefits, including employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life insurance, 100% employer-paid.
• Work laptop and allowances for cell phone and internet use.
• 15 paid holidays (including one-week closure for Labor Day).
• 401k retirement plan with employer match.

Interested?

When applying, please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume. References should be available upon request. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. No office visits or calls, please. Thank you.

DigDeep has adopted a COVID-19 vaccination policy to safeguard the health of our employees and community. Where permissible by law, candidates applying to work at DigDeep should be ready to demonstrate proof of up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination.

In an effort to promote pay equity and transparency, DigDeep does not negotiate compensation outside of posted ranges. Compensation is based on factors such as internal budget analysis, external market value, and internal pay alignment.

Please note that DigDeep cannot provide immigration sponsorship for this position.

DigDeep is deeply committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We believe social change happens when people from various backgrounds and identities come together with a common purpose. Join us, and we’ll close the U.S. water gap in our lifetimes.

DigDeep is a certified Great Place to Work®.

Learn more here