Senior Communications Officer

The target starting salary for the newly hired Senior Communications Officer is $162,000-$167,000 per year. The full salary range for the role is $140,000-$210,000 per year.

Final date to receive applications

01/23/2026

Location

Oakland (preferred) or Los Angeles, CA

Description

The California Wellness Foundation (Cal Wellness) seeks a skillful, creative, and strategic communications professional to serve as a Senior Communications Officer focused on proactively elevating the voice of the Foundation and its partners to expand visibility, influence, engagement, and impact. This role requires the skills and experience to develop, execute, and manage strategic communications across a full range of tools and tactics that advance the mission of the Foundation.

The Senior Communications Officer will report directly to the Director of Communications and serve on the strategic communications team. They will be part of the Programs & Public Affairs Department, which integrates communications, government relations, community engagement, and grantmaking. The ideal Senior Communications Officer will bring a breadth of relevant experience and skills inclusive of writing, digital and social media, and storytelling through photos and videos;

deep commitment to the mission; and a spirit of inquiry and positivity which allows them to contribute and thrive through moments of growth and transition.

THECALIFORNIAWELLNESS FOUNDATION

Cal Wellness is a private, independent foundation established in 1992 with a mission to protect and improve the health and wellness of the people of California. As one of the largest health-focused foundations in California, with over $1 billion in assets, Cal Wellness is a nationally recognized leader for its strategic core operating support for grantees; public policy grantmaking; and a focus on violence as a public health issue.

The Foundation’s current Advancing Wellness grantmaking strategy includes four interrelated portfolios . Since its founding, Cal Wellness has awarded nearly 12,400 grants totaling more than $1.3 billion. In addition to its grantmaking, the Foundation has committed to using its voice, influence, and endowment dollars to advance its mission.

Cal Wellness has a diverse staff of approximately 50 people located in its Los Angeles and Oakland offices and a diverse 13-member Board located throughout the state of California. The Foundation’s work underscores a belief that wellness requires social justice, a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and sustained efforts to eliminate systemic barriers that prevent access to health care, education, employment, and safety.

Cal Wellness is entering an exciting period of transformation as we are preparing to operate under a new strategic framework in 2026. As we continue to push the boundaries of traditional philanthropy, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing racial and social justice and improving health and wellness across California. The Senior Communications Officer will play a pivotal role in amplifying this work—crafting strategic narratives;

elevating our voice and influence; and collaborating across the organization to shape communications for both transitioning and emerging program areas. This leader will also partner closely with executive leadership to develop compelling messaging and prepare for high impact speaking opportunities while collaborating with the communications team to support and strengthen our social media presence in ways that clearly communicate our vision, strategy, and impact.

The ideal candidate is committed to the mission, values-aligned, and social justice-oriented; is able to work effectively in both a highly collaborative environment as well as autonomously as a self-starter; possesses superior interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills; has the ability to anticipate needs and adapt and respond thoughtfully to emerging issues; and has honed the advanced organizational and prioritization skills needed to work quickly within a dynamic team.

THE PROGRAMS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT

The Programs & Public Affairs Department integrates grantmaking,…