Position: Program Communications Officer
Location: Milpitas, CA (Hybrid)
Reports to: Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Status: Full Time, Exempt
Compensation: $90,000/yr.
THE ORGANIZATION:
HomeFirst™ is a leading provider of housing services; prevention, outreach, shelter, interim, and permanent housing programming for individuals who are housing insecure or unhoused in the Bay Area of California. We serve more than 5,000 adults, Veterans, families, and youth each year through a continuum of care, which meets people where they are and works to support a housing plan specific to each individual.
HomeFirst has more than 400 staff working across two Bay Area counties including Sonoma and Santa Clara County. HomeFirst operates more than 15 locations, including The James F. Boccardo Regional Reception Center (BRC), Family Living Centers, Labath Landing Interim Housing, and more. Our core elements include, but are not limited to:
• Prevention
• Street-based Services
• Emergency Housing
• Permanent Housing Interventions
• Supportive Services
• Affordable Housing
• Systems Leadership
HomeFirst is committed to a culture of demonstrating our core values.
Activism | Creativity | Excellence | Passion| Respect | Responsibility | Teamwork
THE TEAM:
In 2022, the agency reestablished a Marketing & Communications Department led by the Chief Marketing & Communications Officer. This department brings together content marketing, public relations, web development, and more to advance our mission of ending homelessness. The Program Communications Officer will report to the Chief Marketing & Communications Officer while collaborating closely with the Marketing & Brand Officer and future team members. The team is responsible for crafting internal and external use of HomeFirst’s voice to advance and protect the organization’s reputation, further its priority advocacy/program objectives, and ensure that employees are meaningfully connected to the agency’s mission and community.
YOUR ROLE:
The Program Communications Officer (PCO) serves as a primary representative of HomeFirst to the local communities we serve. They will expand public awareness of HomeFirst programs and services, including all aspects of our mission, and establish clarity on our organization’s impact on the unhoused population in our communities. The PCO’s day-to-day work is key in placing HomeFirst in the forefront of housing solutions in the Bay Area.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Create and maintain press release editorial calendar.
- Be a story-telling partner; sharing program outcomes and strategies for awareness, brand engagement, and fundraising.
- Serve as an agency spokesperson with media and community partners.
- Manage data and outcomes of your work.
- Collaborate with internal partners to create and execute communications strategies to elevate HomeFirst’s profile and to spotlight key products and programs in the media.
- Partner with the team and subject matter experts to execute thought leadership strategies that elevate our people, programs, projects, and progress.
- Support our staff with speaking engagements by developing prep documents and materials.
ELIGIBILITY & QUALIFICATIONS:
Although we value academic achievement, we recognize and celebrate individual journeys; therefore, experience and knowledge are prioritized.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Demonstrated knowledge of the subject area, evident by previous relevant work responsibilities
- Mission-driven with an interest and curiosity in housing solutions and service delivery.
- 3 years of professional services in the fields of Public Relations, Media Relations, and Internal Communications
- Ability to be physically present (some remote work ok)
SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND KNOWLEDGE:
- Adept in Microsoft Office Suite
- Excellent consulting, writing, presentation, and communication skills
- Strong public speaking and live interview skills
PREFERRED ATTRIBUTES:
- Superb communicator with strong storytelling skills and the ability to translate complex information into a concise narrative for various audiences.
- Strong project management skills and attention to detail, with a proven ability to run multiple projects simultaneously while delivering on the plan.
- Ability to partner across teams and collaborate with key stakeholders across the organization.
This role is further responsible for modeling the values and principles of HomeFirst within the agency and the broader community.
- The Program Communications Officer is relentless in their commitment to ending homelessness via the principles of Housing First and Harm Reduction.
- The Program Communications Officer can collaborate seamlessly with employees across the organization, external stakeholders, and our communities.
- HomeFirst is a multifaceted company in a diverse field, and the Program Communications Officer desires to work with people from various social and economic backgrounds.
Benefits of joining the HomeFirst team:
• Professional growth opportunities within the organization
• 100% medical coverage for employees with an opportunity to add dependents at a shared cost of 50%
• Chiropractic benefits with 20 annual visits
• Flexible and hybrid work schedules may be available
• 401K match up to 5% with immediate vesting
• Generous PTO, accrual begins with 120 hours annually and increases with tenure
• 11 observed holidays with 4 additional PTO hours for Civic Engagement provided annually
• Access to our Emergency Assistance Program (EAP)
• Pet insurance options available
HomeFirst Services is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. Additionally, HomeFirst Services participates in the E-Verify program, as required by law.
HomeFirst Services is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please let your recruiter know.
HomeFirst Services takes pride in its safety values, the wellness of our team, and respect for everyone we serve. Due to this commitment, HomeFirst Services mandates that all employees be vaccinated or render a religious or medical exemption effective September 13, 2021.