Pivotal · 22 hours ago
Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs
Kirkland, WA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$305K/yr - $326K/yr
15+ years expPivotal is a group of organizations working to accelerate social progress for women and young people. The Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs is responsible for leading the communications strategy, managing media relations, and overseeing external written content within the Pivotal ecosystem.
LGBTSocialWomen's
Responsibilities
Set direction and be responsible for the execution of the Principal’s communications strategy, guiding teams responsible for:
Core narrative and key message development
Speechwriting, op-eds, social content, and interview preparation
Media interview and event management
Staffing and prepping for events and travel
Journalist and media relationship development
Editorial planning across digital platforms and paid media
Audience insights, measurement, and analytics
Lead strategy for telling the story of the full Pivotal ecosystem
Enable short-, medium-, and long-term communications goals in collaboration with the Communications & Public Affairs team
Engage internal and external partners to learn, envision, and co-create communications opportunities across the Principal and Pivotal ecosystem
Build strong cross-functional and external relationships, navigating a sophisticated partner landscape
Serve as an internal and external ambassador of Pivotal’s mission, culture, and values
Serve as a trusted senior advisor to the Principal
Lead risk and crisis communications for the Principal and Pivotal, including real-time response to breaking news, platform shifts, and reputation management
Develop strategies to capitalize on emerging communications opportunities, incorporating analytics and measurement
Coach, staff, and manage the Principal’s high profile media engagements, and mentor other team members supporting the Principal
Oversee, train, and mentor direct and indirect report(s), providing direction through clear expectations and regularly conducting check-ins and providing performance feedback while supporting individual development
Interview, hire and onboard new team members
Lead a team of communications professionals across speechwriting, earned media, messaging, rapid response, digital, content, thought leadership, research, measurement, and operations
Ensure cross-functional alignment across the Pivotal ecosystem, including coordination between Principal, internal teams, and organizational goals
Partner with the Vice President, Impact Communications & Creative Strategy to align shared services (e.g., Writing/Media housed in Communications & Public Affairs; Creative Studio in Impact Communications) toward unified goals
Model and support equity and belonging as core values of the team, consistent with organizational values and legal requirements
Position the function as a strategic, collaborative partner across the organization
Foster a culture of inclusivity and accountability across the Communications & Public Affairs team and its partners
Perform other job-related duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
Minimum 15 years of experience in the Communications field (public or private sector) or a related subject area, or an equivalent combination of advanced training and experience
Minimum 10 years leading others, with demonstrated commitment to staff development and experience fostering equity and belonging within a team
Demonstrated leadership managing diverse communications teams and overseeing external agencies and creative talent
Experience working with high-profile and influential public figures
Proven ability to speak candidly and persuasively, always with empathy for the Principal's needs and perspectives
Experience in reputation management and in developing and implementing successful multi-media communications strategies
Systems thinker who can identify connections between strategies, projects, and opportunities
Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information succinctly for diverse audiences
Ability to present ideas with brevity, clarity, and conviction
Deep understanding of how to leverage the full range of communications tools to drive impact at scale
Proficiency using Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and SharePoint)
Fluency in use of systems necessary to role (e.g., Salesforce, Workday)
Willingness and ability to travel as needed
Preferred
Ability to draw connections across disparate data points and opportunities, provide leadership in vision development, and implement multiple strategies to realize that vision
Knowledge of the broader eco-system of philanthropy and the gender community, including up-to-date awareness of platforms, thought leaders, peers, and communities
Experience and comfort with public speaking and engaging a wide range of audiences
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life
Disability
Long-term care insurance
Fertility benefit
Caregiving support
144 hours of vacation
96 hours of sick leave
401k
HSA
FSA
An opportunity to earn a discretionary annual target performance bonus
And more.
Company
Pivotal
Founded by Melinda French Gates, Pivotal works to accelerate the pace of social progress for women and young people in the U.S. and around the world.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Erin Harkless Moore
Managing Director, Investments
John Sage
Senior Advisor to Melinda French Gates
Recent News
Fierce Healthcare
2026-01-11
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