Director of Communications and Marketing

Goodwill Of Silicon Valley • Full-time • San Jose, California • 1m ago

Description

Founded in Santa Clara County in 1928, Goodwill of Silicon Valley is dedicated to improving employment opportunities, increasing standards of living, providing economic independence, and restoring our clients’ sense of self-worth. We achieve this through workforce creation, vocational training, and environmental stewardship. With 17 retail stores, an online store, an extensive reuse/recycling operation, and our Contract Services division, we help individuals overcome barriers to employment, build sustainable lives and communities.

Goodwill of Silicon Valley (GWSV) seeks a highly relational, community-centered Director of Communications and Marketing to lead the organization’s external presence with a primary focus on deepening community connection, partnership, and trust. This role is responsible for advancing GWSV’s visibility and impact by building strong relationships across the communities it serves, while aligning communications and marketing strategies to support engagement, program participation, and mission growth and retail performance.

The Director will serve as a key external ambassador for GWSV. Bringing strong knowledge of local community needs, an existing network of partners, and the ability to cultivate new relationships that expand opportunity for program participants. While overseeing communications and marketing functions, this role prioritizes community engagement as the central driver of strategy and impact.

Job Responsibilities

Community Presence

Orchestrate community engagement activities with the CEO, Retail, Operations and Mission.

Work closely and provide support for Community Engagement Director in mission outreach and marketing strategies

Develop and lead strategies that strengthen GWSV’s visibility, credibility, and influence across the communities it serves as it aligns with the strategic plan.

Identify and implement opportunities to elevate the organization’s presence through community partnerships, public events, and strategic collaborations. Leverage GII as a source and connector to other Goodwill's.

Work with program and leadership teams to highlight program outcomes, participant success stories, and community impact in ways that deepen public understanding and support.

Support leadership in positioning GWSV as a trusted voice in workforce development and community impact through speaking opportunities, thought leadership, and public engagement.

Track and evaluate community engagement and communications metrics (media reach, digital engagement, event participation, and audience growth) to measure impact and refine strategies.

Collaborate with the development team to support fundraising campaigns and donor communications.

Engage the Board of Directors as ambassadors and connectors to deepen community relationships.

Communications and Marketing Strategy

Develop and implement communications and marketing strategies that support community engagement, awareness, and retail performance.

Work with the Human Resources staff to develop an internal communications strategy.

Ensure all communications reinforce GWSV’s mission, values, and community-centered approach.

Oversee brand consistency while allowing for authentic, community-informed messaging.

Lead development of materials including annual reports, campaigns, digital content, and outreach tools that support engagement goals.

Supervise staff and external partners supporting communications and marketing functions.

Digital Presence and Public Relations

Oversee digital platforms (website, social media, e-newsletters) as tools for engagement, not just promotion.

Ensure content is accessible, relevant, and responsive to community needs and interests.

Manage relationships with media outlets to increase awareness of GWSV’s community impact.

Collaborate with GWSV’s public relations firm for media outreach and public relations efforts, including press releases, media opportunities, and reputation management.

Fundraising and Stakeholder Engagement Support

Partner with the development team to strengthen donor engagement through authentic community connection and storytelling.

Support campaigns that connect donors and funders to real community impact and outcomes.

Measurement and Continuous Improvement

Track and evaluate community engagement outcomes including partnerships, participation, and stakeholder engagement.

Use qualitative and quantitative insights to refine strategies and improve impact.

Responsibilities may be added, deleted, or changed at any time at the discretion of management, formally or informally either orally or in writing.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Minimum 7–10 years of experience in community engagement, partnerships, communications, or related field.

Demonstrated experience working within and across diverse communities, with strong understanding of local/regional community needs.

Established network of relationships within the community, including nonprofit, government, and/or workforce development sectors preferred.

Proven ability to build and sustain strategic partnerships.

Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills; comfortable serving as a public-facing representative.

Experience aligning communications or marketing efforts with community engagement goals.

Strong storytelling and messaging skills grounded in authenticity and impact.

Experience collaborating and mentoring marketing and communication strategies across internal teams including programs, retail and operations, development, and leadership.

Strong listener to learn and develop marketing value propositions within the organization

Ability to think strategically while executing tactically.

Ability to demonstrate creativity while balancing the budget

Must be able to talk accurately and quickly to convey important instructions or ideas and may give presentations or speeches to large groups.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public administration, or related field preferred.

Business administration within a non-profit experience.

Working Conditions

Works in an office environment.

Works a standard workweek with occasional evenings and/or weekends.

Occasional local travel to GWSV’s retail stores.

Emotional Effort

Moderate: Occasional short deadlines. The work environment is occasionally hectic with occasional high activity, with great emphasis on teamwork.

Personal Acumen

Leadership Acumen

Vision – Able to envision the big picture

Strategic Agility – Ability to plan for the future and can think outside the box

Change Agent – Willing to take calculated risks and challenge traditional thinking for positive change

Management Acumen

Management Style – Belief in empowering employees through coaching and positive motivational techniques

Organizational Skills – Results orientated, can meet high standards, goals and objectives

Accountability Style – Holds employees accountable for standards and serves as a mentor in their professional development. Open to 360-degree feedback

Collaborative – Sees value in working and forging effective relationships with others

Teamwork – Willing to work as part of a team, enjoys sharing credit with colleagues

Problem Solver – Ability to simplify complicated issues and develop traditional and nontraditional solutions

Interpersonal Acumen

Integrity – possess the highest ethical standards, trustworthy and transparent.

Interpersonal Savvy – ability to relate and build constructive relationships with employees, customers, clients, and board members.

Composure – ability to remain calm and collected under pressure.

Communication – strong communicator, excellent listening skills and ability to develop and make effective presentations to Goodwill employees, and/or (as appropriate) Sr Management and Board Members.