Senior Director of Communications
Remote, US
The Praxis Project
Date Posted: 8/18/2025
About the Praxis Project
The Praxis Project is a values-driven, national nonprofit organization that seeks to improve health justice through partnerships to build community power and increase authentic collaboration and engagement. Praxis believes strongly that organized communities are critical partners in the struggle to create healthy communities. Praxis works with over 200 diverse grassroots groups across the United States that influence local policy, mobilize communities, and strengthen programs and organizations to improve health, equity, and racial justice. Praxis works to enable local efforts to build community power through training, technical assistance, capacity-building, hosting spaces for building relationships and learning, as well as comprehensive fiscal sponsorship. Our capacity-building programming is focused on partnerships that actively advance Praxis’ mission to build healthy communities by transforming the power relationships and structures that affect our lives. For more information, please visit www.thepraxisproject.org.
About Health Equity Works
Health Equity Works (HEW) seeks to transform how America talks about racial health equity by supporting a powerful network of advocates equipped with strategic communications tools, real-time intelligence, and coordinated messaging that drives lasting narrative change.
HEW serves as a central communications hub, providing shared opposition research, collaborative message testing, rapid response coordination, and unified messaging frameworks. Through real-time social listening, audience research and message testing, we help our network communicate in ways that expand support for health equity. We operate as a hub-and-spoke network, amplifying partner organizations' communications, and building capacity where gaps exist. Through strategic communications support and collaborative campaigns, we help advocates move beyond reactive messaging to proactive narrative building. For more information, please visit www.healthequityworks.org.
Position Summary:
The Senior Director of Communications serves as the strategic communications leader responsible for communications initiatives that contribute to building HEW as the strategic hub and leading resource for health equity partners seeking advocacy support and capacity building.
This senior-level position combines strategic communications planning with hands-on program development, driving HEW's network communications efforts while building organizational capacity through team leadership, consultant management and innovative program implementation.
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Senior Director provides strategic communications counsel ensuring that all communications activities effectively support the organization's mission and programmatic goals. The role requires a seasoned communications professional who can translate organizational priorities into effective communications strategies while building the infrastructure necessary for sustained impact.
As the senior communications professional within the organization, this position will directly supervise the Communications & Engagement Manager, Senior Content Writer, and strategic relationships with external consultants and vendors. The Senior Director is responsible for building and maintaining a communications operation that can execute sophisticated, multi-faceted communications strategies while maintaining the flexibility necessary for effective, rapid response and program adaptation.
The ideal candidate will be an experienced communications professional with proven experience leading communications teams and programs.
This is a full-time (40 hours per week), fully benefits-eligible, exempt position with a general work schedule of Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. Overnight travel is required. The salary range for this position is $140,000-$149,000 per year, and the final salary will be based on experience.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Provide counsel on communications strategy, messaging, and reputation management
Lead strategic planning processes for communications initiatives and set annual goals and priorities
Build and maintain strategic relationships with key stakeholders including media, policymakers, advocacy organizations, and health equity leaders
Lead a high-performing communications team (directly supervise and mentor the Communications & Engagement Manager and Senior Content Writer)
Establish clear performance expectations, conduct regular evaluations, and career development
Foster a collaborative team culture that promotes creativity, accountability, and professional growth
Coordinate cross-functional collaboration between communications and digital teams
Identify, evaluate, and manage relationships with external communications consultants and agencies, while providing strategic direction and maintaining accountability for deliverables and outcomes
Design and implement a comprehensive speakers bureau program to amplify network partners’ expertise
Manage rapid response protocols, communication systems, and decision-making frameworks for time-sensitive situations
This is not a 100% comprehensive list of all duties and responsibilities that may be assigned.
Qualifications, Education and Experience
Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in communications, public relations, or related field with at least 3-5 years in senior leadership roles
Proven track record of building and leading high-performing communications teams
Experience managing budgets, consultants, and complex communications programs
Demonstrated success in strategic planning and execution of large-scale communications initiatives
Required skills, knowledge, and abilities
Deep expertise in all aspects of strategic communications, including media relations, content strategy, and crisis communications
Exceptional writing and editing skills with experience producing executive-level communications materials
Proven ability to develop compelling messaging and narrative frameworks
Experience with thought leadership development and positioning executives as issue area experts
Strong presentation skills and experience as an organizational spokesperson
Strategic thinking ability with experience translating organizational goals into communications strategies
Data-driven approach to communications with experience using analytics to measure impact and inform decision-making
Understanding of media landscape, political environment, and advocacy ecosystem
Ability to anticipate trends, identify risks, and develop proactive communications approaches
Experience with crisis management and rapid response communications at the organizational level
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently with minimal supervision
Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and organizational needs
Desired qualifications: Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
Advanced degree in Communications, Public Policy, Public Health, or related field
Specific experience in health equity, public health, or social justice advocacy communications
Background in nonprofit or advocacy organization leadership
Experience with speaker’s bureau development and management
Track record of building thought leadership programs and securing high-profile media placements
Deep understanding of health equity landscape, key stakeholders, and policy environment
Understanding of community organizing principles and grassroots advocacy approaches
Experience with health equity coalition work and collaborative advocacy efforts
Mental and physical demands
Fast-paced work environment.
High level of concentration and attention to detail required.
Time speaking and listening ranges between 25–50%.
Extended time sitting or standing while at a computer.
Praxis currently works remotely both as an internal team and with our partners based across the United States. Leading and participating in remote video and telephone conferences is required.
Multiple video conferences per day with camera settings and video camera on.
Occasional travel (about 1 trip per quarter), including overnight travel, is required; each trip potentially being 2 or more days per trip.
In-person team meetings or participation in networking events may be expected approximately 1x per quarter.
Some exposure to hearing, seeing, or imagining traumatic events or social crises within the communities we serve.
Extensive interaction and communication with colleagues and strangers, in person and virtual.
Valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and insurance are required for employees driving on Praxis business; driving record checks may be required as well.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Praxis Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religious creed, disability (mental and physical) including HIV, AIDS, and AIDS-related conditions, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, age, marital status, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.
Praxis participates in I-9 & E-Verify. You must be able to prove you are legally authorized to work in the United States. This role may require a background check.
The Praxis Project will endeavor to make a reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of qualified employees with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on Praxis operations. Please submit reasonable accommodation requests to people@thepraxisproject.org.
Required Training
Praxis is committed to fostering a safe and welcoming work environment. All Praxis employees are required to complete annual training on preventing harassment and discrimination. Additionally, managers are required to complete training on managing bias and creating an inclusive workplace. Ongoing training may be assigned for professional development purposes.
Benefits
Praxis offers a very competitive full-time benefits package including employer-sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance, paid sick leave, paid vacation (15 days in year one of employment), 15+ paid holidays per year, flexible spending accounts, 401k retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested), reimbursement for cell phone and wireless internet usage as well as wellness costs, regular cost-of-living pay adjustments, and more.
To Apply
Please submit your application for the Senior Director of Communications position at The Praxis Project to contact@healthequityworks.org. Screenings will begin the week of August 18th. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applications will only be accepted with a resume & cover letter. The ideal start date is before or by September 29th.
