Vice President, Internal Communications

Easterseals Southern California; Gardena (CA); Hybrid; USD 190,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Easterseals Southern California seeks a strategic leader to helm internal communications, shaping how the organization aligns leadership, priorities, and enterprise execution. The Vice President will build governance, set standards, and serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, ensuring messaging is clear, consistent, and impactful across functions and service lines.

In this hybrid role, you will lead a small team (Director + Communications Partners + Coordinator), manage priorities and

Qualifications

• Strategic leadership in internal communications for a large organization.
• Experience advising senior executives and influencing decisions.
• Experience designing comms strategies in complex, nonprofit healthcare environments.

Responsibilities

• Define the enterprise internal communications strategy aligned to priorities.
• Establish operating model, governance, and decision rights for internal communications.
• Set clear priorities and trade-offs to focus on high-impact work.
• Serve as strategic advisor to leadership on communication and alignment.
• Shape how priorities, changes, and decisions are communicated across the organization.
• Influence leadership behavior to improve clarity, consistency, and transparency.
• Own the design of the enterprise communication cascade and alignment model.
• Ensure leaders are aligned before communications are deployed.
• Drive consistency of messaging across functions and service lines.
• Define the strategy for building leadership communication capability across the organization.
• Ensure leaders are equipped to communicate effectively without overreliance on internal communications.
• Lead a team of 3–4 direct reports (Director + Communications Partners structure + Coordinator).
• Set performance standards and ensure clarity of roles and responsibilities.
• Build a high‑performing, business‑aligned internal communications function.
• Define success metrics tied to alignment, adoption, and leadership effectiveness.
• Use insights to continuously refine the strategy and operating model.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Executive advisory

Org systems thinking

Leadership development

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Smartsheet

Privacy compliance

Attention to detail

Budget management

Deadline driven

Criminal clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communication, Business, or related field

Job description

Easterseals Southern California transforms lives every day. For over a century, Easterseals has championed inclusion and independence—delivering essential services like early childhood programs, autism services, employment and independent living support to more than 29,000 people each year. Through advocacy and education, we break barriers and create opportunities for the one-in-four Americans with disabilities.

The Vice President, Internal Communications is responsible for setting the vision, strategy, and operating model for internal communications across the organization. This role defines how communication drives organizational alignment, leadership effectiveness, and enterprise-wide execution. The Vice President is accountable for building the system—establishing governance, prioritization, and standards that enable the internal communications team to deliver high‑impact communications at scale. As a senior advisor to executive leadership, the VP shapes how the organization communicates, and how decisions are framed, aligned, and activated across the enterprise. The position demonstrates a strong commitment to ESSC’s mission and values by supporting a high‑quality, person‑centered service environment.

Hiring Range: $190k – $240k

Essential Functions

• Define the enterprise internal communications strategy aligned to organizational priorities.
• Establish the operating model, governance, and decision rights for internal communications.
• Set clear priorities and trade‑offs to ensure focus on the highest‑impact work.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the leadership team on communication and alignment.
• Shape how priorities, changes, and decisions are communicated across the organization.
• Influence leadership behavior to improve clarity, consistency, and transparency.
• Own the design of the enterprise communication cascade and alignment model.
• Ensure leaders are aligned before communications are deployed.
• Drive consistency of messaging across functions and service lines.
• Define the strategy for building leadership communication capability across the organization.
• Ensure leaders are equipped to communicate effectively without overreliance on internal communications.
• Lead a team of 3–4 direct reports (Director + Communications Partners structure + Coordinator).
• Set performance standards and ensure clarity of roles and responsibilities.
• Build a high‑performing, business‑aligned internal communications function.
• Define success metrics tied to alignment, adoption, and leadership effectiveness.
• Use insights to continuously refine the strategy and operating model.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communication, Business, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Experience

• 15+ years of experience in internal or corporate communications leadership.
• Experience advising senior executives and influencing organizational decisions.
• Proven ability to design and lead communication strategies in complex organizations.
• Experience in nonprofit, healthcare, or mission‑driven environments is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strategic thinking and operating model design.
• Executive influence and advisory.
• Organizational systems thinking.
• Leadership capability building.
• Strong organizational and time‑management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; Smartsheet experience preferred.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and maintain compliance with privacy requirements.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Highly proactive and autonomous, with experience meeting deadlines and balancing competing priorities, developing and managing strategic plans and administering budgets.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a criminal record/fingerprint clearance from the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation, per ESSC and/or program requirements.
• Work is performed in a hybrid environment, both remotely and on‑site as needed. Associate must maintain a professional, safe, and secure workspace with reliable internet access to support virtual meetings and daily work.
• Must pass all required drug testing by ESSC.

Physical Requirements

• Carrying/Lifting: Occasional / Up to 30 lbs.
• Standing: Occasional / Up to 3 hours per day.
• Sitting: Frequent / Up to 8 hours per day.
• Walking: Occasional / Up to 3 hours per day.
• Travel: Travel to Easterseals So Cal locations and events, as needed.
• Repetitive Motion/Activity: Frequent keyboarding and writing.
• Visual Acuity: Ability to view computer monitors or handheld electronic devices and read printed materials.
• Environmental Exposure: Work is performed in a hybrid environment, on‑site and in a virtual setting as needed.