Senior Communications Associate
Location: San Francisco, CA
Overview
As a Senior Communications Associate, you will help shape and implement culturally inclusive communications strategies that engage diverse communities and elevate underrepresented voices. From branding and messaging to multilingual outreach and public engagement, you’ll support public and private sector projects that advance equity, build trust, and foster meaningful connections. This role is ideal for a collaborative, equity-driven communicator with a passion for community impact.
Who We Are
D&A Communications is a San Francisco–based, equity-first agency with nearly 30 years of experience advancing inclusive, community-centered strategies. We are culturally fluent storytellers who integrate public relations, creative services, and public engagement to deliver transformative communication programs for clients in both the public and private sectors—including government agencies, nonprofits, and mission-driven companies.
Our work focuses on meeting people where they are—developing strategies that reflect community voices and promote equitable outcomes. From expanding transportation access and affordable housing, to raising awareness about environmental resilience, to healthcare access and educational equity, we address the barriers impacting low-income residents and communities of color.
With deep cultural competency and a strong understanding of diverse social landscapes, we specialize in social impact sectors such as healthcare, housing, transportation, and education. Partnering with government agencies, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), and socially responsible companies, we design inclusive, community-centered campaigns that foster trust, build lasting connections, and drive meaningful, measurable change.
What You Will Be Doing: Building a More Just and Inclusive Society
As a key member of our project teams, you will work closely with clients and colleagues to develop and implement inclusive communication strategies that reflect and elevate community voices. You’ll help shape culturally responsive messaging across multiple platforms, support branding and storytelling for the private sector, public infrastructure and community initiatives, and engage stakeholders through town halls, focus groups, surveys, webinars, and related events. This role also involves attending and supporting multilingual outreach—both virtually and in person—partnering with Community-Based Organizations, and synthesizing community feedback to inform strategy. Your work will help advance equity, strengthen public trust, and create a lasting impact.
Who You Are
You are a strategic thinker and strong communicator with 3–5 years of experience in communications, public affairs, or marketing—ideally in a fast-paced agency or mission-driven setting. You’re skilled at translating complex information into clear, compelling messages and thrive in dynamic environments that span both public and private sectors.
Collaborative yet self-directed, you bring a diplomatic communication style to stakeholder engagement and are comfortable navigating difficult conversations with professionalism and tact. You excel at cross-team collaboration and project management, balancing multiple deadlines and coordinating diverse stakeholders with ease. You're experienced in organizing community events, engaging diverse audiences, and distilling public input to inform campaign strategies. Most importantly, you are deeply committed to equity, inclusivity, and strengthening communities, bringing purpose and integrity to every client and community interaction. Hands-on experience with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) is a plus.
D&A Communications is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Key Responsibilities
As a Senior Communications Associate, you’ll support daily communications across diverse public and private sector clients. In a hybrid setting, you’ll balance remote work, in-office collaboration, and in-person events while ensuring clear communication, accountability, and strategic focus.
Client-Facing & Strategic Support
- Support communications planning, execution, and reporting for public and private sector clients in areas like transportation, sustainability, housing, and health.
- Support comprehensive communications strategies for specific campaigns or initiatives
- Support crisis communications response and manage sensitive or high-stakes communications situations
- Draft and edit a range of content, including messaging frameworks, talking points, newsletters, social media posts, web copy, flyers, and press materials.
- Translate complex policies and data into clear, engaging content for diverse and historically underrepresented audiences.
- Participate in meetings; capture notes, track action items, and ensure follow-up.
- Manage small projects or project components, coordinating across internal teams and external partners.
- Provide basic project management support using tools like Asana, Kantata, or similar platforms.
Research, Writing & Digital Coordination
- Conduct background research, media scans, and outreach assessments to inform messaging and strategy.
- Contribute to creative briefs, campaign reports, and impact summaries.
- Assist with digital content development and performance tracking across web, email, and social media.
- Collaborate with design and digital teams to ensure brand and message consistency.
- Analyze communications metrics and provide strategic recommendations for improvement
Team Collaboration & Hybrid Coordination
- Coordinate across creative, strategy, and operations teams to keep projects aligned and on schedule.
- Participate in hybrid check-ins and team meetings; share progress and flag potential issues.
- Manage your calendar proactively—balancing Focus Time, utilization, and evolving team priorities.
- Mentor junior associates and provide guidance on complex communication projects
- Attend required in-person meetings and occasional community events.
Equity-Driven Engagement
- Prioritize equity, accessibility, and inclusion in all aspects of communication.
- Support culturally responsive outreach, including translation, community partnerships, and grassroots engagement.
- Contribute to internal conversations on equitable storytelling, representation, and inclusive campaign design.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, Public Policy, Urban Planning, or a related field required.
- 3–5 years of experience in communications, public affairs, or a related field—preferably within a fast-paced agency, nonprofit, or public sector environment.
- Demonstrated experience writing and editing a wide range of materials, from press releases and fact sheets to social content and community flyers.
- Proven ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities across projects with different timelines and audiences.
- Experience working directly with clients and/or public agencies is a strong plus.
- Comfortable using project management and collaboration tools such as Asana, Slack, Zoom, Teams, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Office.
- Experience working with or in support of diverse communities, with a demonstrated understanding of inclusive and equitable communications practices.
- Advanced proficiency in analytics tools (Google Analytics, social media insights, media monitoring software)
- Experience with multimedia content creation
- Knowledge of public relations measurement and evaluation methodologies
- Familiarity with marketing automation platforms and customer relationship management systems
- Bilingual or multilingual candidates (especially Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog, and Vietnamese) are strongly encouraged to apply.
