Careers by Empowering Futures, Building Communities
Imagine going to work each day knowing that your efforts positively impact individuals and
communities. As a global movement and the nation's leading nonprofit organization
dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and
social responsibility, the YMCA of Greater San Francisco offers more than just a job—we
offer a career with a future and the opportunity to make a lasting difference in your
community. At the Y, you can uncover your passion and build a lifelong career addressing
some of the nation's most pressing social issues
Our Organizational Culture
At the YMCA of Greater San Francisco, we are committed to demonstrating values that aim to building strong communities where you can Be, Belong and Become. With Truth & Courage, we strive to understand and act on individual and societal truths. We ensure a safe and inclusive environment with Authenticity & Accessibility, allowing everyone to participate according to their needs. Our approach is Dependable & Creative, as we respond to community needs through strong partnerships. Above all, we embody Dignity & Empathy, treating everyone with respect and compassion, and recognizing the inherent dignity in all individuals.
- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, or related field — or equivalent professional experience.
- 6–10 years of progressive experience in communications, marketing, or integrated agency work, with at least 3 years at a senior Account Director, VP, or equivalent level.
- Demonstrated background in strategic communications, PR, or integrated agency account leadership — managing senior client or institutional relationships and delivering under deadline pressure at scale.
- Exceptional institutional writing and data-storytelling ability — able to produce or direct executive- and board-facing narrative to a standard that is ready to advance without revision. A portfolio of published formal work is required.
- Proven creative direction experience: has directly supervised a creative director, ACD, or senior art director. Understands the account director / creative director relationship — the brief sets the direction and the creative director elevates it.
- Demonstrated production portfolio management experience at scale: scoped and managed complex, multi-channel portfolios with precision and strategic instinct. Makes sound, independent trade-off decisions and arrives at every conversation equipped with solutions and clear recommendations.
- Demonstrated experience establishing and setting up vendor governance standards and visibility systems — ensuring contract compliance, deliverable accountability, and budget clarity across a complex portfolio of external relationships.
- Experience leading B2B or institutional communications for complex organizations — funders, partners, boards, or cross-sector stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to manage department budgets, vendor contracts, and procurement responsibly and transparently.
- Genuine commitment to the YMCA’s mission of strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
- Application requirement: Writing samples and a portfolio of published formal work are required with application.
- Nonprofit & Community Expertise: Deep familiarity with mission-driven organizations and the ability to tailor philanthropic storytelling to diverse community audiences.
- Operational Excellence: Experience applying lean methodologies or continuous improvement frameworks to streamline complex departmental structures.
- Strategic Brand Activation: A demonstrated track record of managing brand platform development and activation across distributed, multi-site networks.
- Inclusive Engagement: A strong commitment to accessibility, with a preference for candidates who are bilingual or have experience overseeing translation and localization for communications materials.
