Director of Communications

About the Health and Reentry Project (HARP)

Access to health care is vital for successful second chances, yet many people returning to communities after incarceration cannot get needed care because the system serving them is fragmented and inefficient. The Health and Reentry Project (HARP) is a dynamic national nonprofit organization that builds safer, healthier communities by improving access to health care for people leaving incarceration.

HARP brings together diverse stakeholders including law enforcement, corrections, and health care leaders; community based organizations and advocates; and people directly impacted by the justice system; to drive collective progress. To learn more about HARP and our work, visit our website or read our fact sheet: Improving Public Health and Public Safety.

The Opportunity

HARP is seeking a Director of Communications to develop and execute a proactive communications strategy for the organization. HARP is growing rapidly, and needs a communications leader who can scale our strategy to match. The ideal candidate will craft clear and compelling communications that resonate across a wide range of perspectives and strengthen HARP's position as the go-to resource in the health and reentry policy space. This new position reports to HARP's Executive Director and is part of the senior leadership team.

Responsibilities

• Strategy and Leadership
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director on external positioning, branding, and narrative framing.
• Develop and execute a communications plan and supporting calendar aligned with HARP's mission and strategic priorities and evaluate and update it regularly.
• Build and maintain HARP's organizational voice, messaging, and visual identity across all platforms to advance HARP’s visibility and brand.
• Marketing
• Create compelling materials that clearly communicate HARP’s value to a wide range of audiences, including policy makers, state and federal agencies, local officials, advocates and stakeholders, and the public.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive marketing strategy for HARP's new State Technical Assistance Center (STAC) and other core areas of work.
• Communications Methods and Execution
• Enhance and manage HARP’s product development process from conception to publication, including oversight of external contractors and design vendors.
• Write and edit content across channels, including social media posts, newsletters, blogs, op-eds, and press releases.
• Expand HARP's digital presence, including the website, social media, and email communications; manage relationships with web and design contractors.
• Track and report on digital performance metrics to continuously improve reach and engagement.
• Support rapid-response communications around relevant policy developments and breaking news.
• Develop and maintain an editorial calendar that amplifies HARP's publications, policy work, and stakeholder engagement.
• Build and maintain HARP's media list; support HARP leadership and staff in direct engagement with reporters, managing external PR resources and relationships as needed.

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in communications, with a track record in policy, nonprofit, membership association, consulting, or government settings.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• Clear track record of developing and executing high-impact communications strategies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including launching or establishing communications processes (e.g., workflows, templates, shared standards) in a collaborative, results-oriented culture.
• Experienced with digital communications tools, content management systems, social media, and basic performance analytics.
• Exceptional strategic thinking capabilities with a ‘builder’ mindset; a proven ability to translate vision into concrete, scalable operational plans while spotting opportunities for replicability and increased impact.
• A collaborative leader and team player willing to “roll-up their sleeves.”
• A foundational learning orientation characterized by intellectual humility and curiosity; a leader who actively seeks diverse perspectives, values feedback, and thrives in a dynamic ‘learning while doing’ environment.
• Comfort operating in a nonpartisan environment that bridges multiple sectors and perspectives.
• Experience managing external contractors and vendors.
• Familiarity with health policy, criminal justice, or related fields, or the curiosity and skill to quickly learn complex policy issues.
• HARP is a small, but growing, team that values team members who: Are organized, detail oriented, results-focused and thrive in a work culture that prioritizes growth and learning.
• Maintain good humor and a positive attitude while juggling multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.
• Express ideas clearly and concisely both in writing and orally.
• Are self-motivated and able to work independently on a small team in a remote or hybrid work environment.
• Are committed to creating an inclusive environment that values sharing and learning from diverse perspectives and experiences.
• Location
• Remote within the continental United States.