Director Public Relations & Marketing

Job Details

Job Location
:
Northern CA - Santa Rosa, CA 95407

Position Type
:
Full Time

At Canine Companions
, we’re dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. As an employee, you’ll help provide independence to individuals, while also giving a dog a meaningful job. Our commitment to our mission is reflected in our equally strong dedication to our employees.

We believe in offering a comprehensive benefits package to ensure the well‑being and growth of our team:

• Employer‑Paid Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision benefits for staff
• Paid Time Off: 14 paid holidays annually, including an Inclusion Holiday, plus 17 paid days off (PTO) during your first year
• Retirement Savings: Employer‑matched 403(b) retirement plan
• Community Engagement: Additional paid hours to volunteer within your community
• Employee Assistance & Wellness Programs: Support for both professional and personal well‑being
• Inclusion and Diversity Committee dedicated to ongoing efforts to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace by setting actionable goals and evaluating progress

Employee Testimonial

"I love the team atmosphere and collaborative nature. Everyone is always willing to connect and help each other, even when they have a lot on their plate."
— Philanthropy Team Member

The Director Public Relations and Marketing is a key member of the marketing leadership team and is responsible for driving strategic marketing and media initiatives while ensuring integration across the organization. This role leads Canine Companions’ national media strategy and oversees field public relations and marketing staff to elevate brand awareness and impact. The Director develops and executes an integrated media plan that advances the mission and supports awareness, fundraising, and advocacy goals, while maintaining consistent messaging across national and local markets.

Acting as an organization spokesperson, this role cultivates strong relationships with journalists, media outlets, influencers, and partners to expand visibility and reinforce leadership within the service dog sector.

• Marketing and Media Strategy: Lead and execute an integrated national media and communications strategy aligned with organizational priorities. Drive outreach and campaigns to maximize reach, engagement, and impact.
• Integrated Campaigns and Content: Collaborate on integrated campaigns across web, social, email, and video to ensure consistent messaging and audience growth. Develop media pitches, creative briefs, and an annual pitch calendar.
• Media Relations and Spokesperson Duties: Secure earned media across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. Serve as an organization spokesperson and prepare leaders for interviews, speaking engagements, and public appearances. Manage crisis communications and rapid response.
• National‑to‑Local Engagement: Lead event marketing strategies and national‑to‑local outreach initiatives that strengthen community engagement while maintaining brand consistency.
• Leadership and Performance: Lead and mentor a distributed team of public relations and marketing staff. Set KPIs, manage budgets and vendors, and report on performance and impact to senior leadership and the board.

To be successful in this role, candidates should possess the following:

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Proven success developing and executing integrated marketing and media strategies that drive brand awareness and audience engagement
• Demonstrated ability to secure national earned media across broadcast, print, digital, and social platforms
• Strong strategic thinking, project management, and performance optimization skills
• Ability to manage priorities, solve problems, meet goals, and maintain attention to detail
• Strong organizational and record‑keeping skills with the ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to work effectively and professionally with diverse internal and external stakeholders
• Experience leading and mentoring distributed marketing and public relations teams

• Experience in nonprofit, advocacy, public interest, or mission‑driven…