Senior Public Relations Specialist, Communications

We are seeking a Senior Public Relations Specialist to join the Foundation in its mission of benefitting, supporting, and enhancing the California Community Colleges—the largest and most diverse system of higher education in the nation. The Foundation for California Community Colleges is on a mission to double its impact in the next 10 years. We are a group of relentless optimists and innovators in education, working collaboratively with public and private partners to help improve the student experience and expand pathways to economic and social mobility in communities across California.

What You’ll Do

The Senior Public Relations Specialist is an excellent opportunity for an experienced communications professional with exceptional skills in media relations, crisis communications, thought leadership, and executive communications. This position supports public relations efforts on behalf of the Foundation for California Community Colleges, in coordination with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, to help shape and protect the reputation of the nation’s largest system of higher education. The Senior Public Relations Specialist will lead proactive outreach, develop consistent and persuasive messaging, and ensure communications align with the system’s mission and strategic priorities.

• Develops and executes proactive media relations strategies, including cultivating and maintaining relationships with journalists, editors, and influencers across local, state, and national outlets.
• Drafts, edits, and distributes press releases, media advisories, op-eds, talking points, Q&As, and feature stories highlighting key initiatives, partnerships, and leadership perspectives.
• Assists with executive communications efforts, including speechwriting, talking points, presentations, and other messaging materials for the CEO, Chancellor’s Office executives, and senior leadership.
• Serves as a key contributor in crisis communications and issues management, developing timely, accurate, and empathetic messaging that supports organizational integrity and responsiveness.
• Provides strategic counsel to leadership and program teams to anticipate and respond to emerging issues, ensuring communications are coordinated, strategic, and consistent.
• Coordinates and supports media interviews, press events, and public appearances, preparing spokespeople and ensuring message alignment.

Attributes for Success

• 5–7 years of experience in public relations, media relations, thought leadership, or strategic communications.
• Proven experience in executive communications and crisis response required.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling abilities across formats, including speeches, op-eds, and media materials.
• Proven track record in media relations, with the ability to proactively pitch stories and secure coverage in diverse outlets.
• Strong experience in executive communications, including speechwriting and leadership messaging.
• Knowledge of crisis and reputation management, with the ability to respond to high-pressure situations strategically and calmly.
• We’re recruiting for mission-driven, passionate, equity-minded individuals with a strong desire to impact and change people’s lives for the better
• Our work holds great weight and responsibility, and the opportunity to impact the lives of millions
• Innovation, creativity, collaboration, and entrepreneurship are encouraged as employees work to achieve organizational goals
• FoundationCCC blends the impact of a non-profit, the culture of an entrepreneurial start-up, and the scale of a state agency
• Team members are hired for their expertise in niche areas across our areas of impact and higher education overall, and for their knowledge of business, philanthropy, technology, communications, and more
• We have a commitment to professional development and an emphasis on shared leadership, to ensure growth for employees and the organization overall

What we Offer

FoundationCCC is fully committed to a “remote-first” philosophy, and recruits and hires talent across the state in fully remote positions, where virtual work is possible. Our headquarters are located in Downtown Sacramento, just blocks from California’s State Capitol.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation, generous PTO, holidays
• Medical, dental, and vision plans, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Wellness offerings
• CalPERS retirement program and optional 403(b) and 457 Retirement plans
• Tuition reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer

If you have any additional questions, please email us at [email protected].

Budgeted Annual Salary Pay Range:

Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.