Title:  Associate Director of Communications & Marketing 

Org Level: Associate Director 

Salary / Salary Range: $75K – $85K  

Employment Status:  Full-time, exempt    

Supervisor: Director of Strategic Advancement 

 Office: ASHwell Headquarters, 3208 Red River St., Suite 300, Austin, TX 78705 

Target start date: March 9th 2026 

 

To apply please submit a resume and cover letter in PDF format 

Incomplete applications will not be considered 

 

About the Organization:  

ASHwell is a sexual health and wellness center established in Austin, TX, in the late 1980s.  We are passionately committed to diversity, equity, and belonging. We strive to provide a safe discrimination-free space for all and predominantly serve LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities. Our approach to sexual health and wellness is rooted in being proudly sex and kink positive, pro-sex worker, pro-harm reduction and anti-stigma. We are a growing organization looking for values-aligned, pro-sexual health and wellness people to join our team! 

 

Position Overview: 

 

The Associate Director of Communications is an inaugural role responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive strategy that elevates the visibility, reputation, and engagement of ASHwell. The Associate Director will build foundational systems, guide organizational messaging, and ensure consistent, mission-aligned communications and marketing across all platforms and audiences. They develop and oversee the implementation of a comprehensive communications plan including strategic narrative, brand recognition, marketing, media relations, and communications engagement strategies with staff, partners, and donors. They ensure that all ASHwell internal and public facing communications maintain the organizational voice, are reflective of our values and Harm Reduction principles and are inclusive and accessible. They collaborate closely with the Director of Strategic Advancement and Associate Director of Development to ensure communications and marketing goals are on track and aligned with ASHwell’s mission, vision, and values. The Associate Director of Communications reports to the department’s Director of Strategic Advancement and collaborates with the Associate Director of Development to drive awareness, engagement, and donor support through compelling campaigns, creative storytelling, and cross-department collaboration. 

 

 

Core Responsibilities 

 

 

Communications Strategy & Leadership - 30% 

  • Co-develop and implement the organization’s first comprehensive communications and marketing strategy. 

  • Develop storytelling and narrative strategies rooted in mission, values, and impact that are inclusive, accessible, and culturally relevant. 

  • Strengthen internal communications channels and staff awareness of organizational priorities. 

  • Build communications systems, processes, and standards that support long-term organizational needs. 

  • Serve as a strategic partner to executive leadership and program teams on messaging, positioning, and visibility. 

  • Lead and coordinate rapid-response communications in collaboration with leadership. 

  • Lead storytelling strategies that highlight impact, community partnerships, and organizational milestones. 

  • Contribute to staff training around communications, branding, and social media best practices. 

Digital Strategies and Online Engagement - 30% 

  • Oversee the strategy, scheduling, and analytics of ASHwell’s social media and email platforms. 

  • Oversee the organization’s website and digital presence update including researching and vetting contractors / agencies, acting as main point of contact and coordinating communication between stakeholders.  

  • Implement & manage SEO, email marketing, and engagement tools to optimize performance, ensuring consistent tracking of strategic data. 

  • Oversee the creation and planning of digital campaigns to drive engagement and promote ASHwell’s services & programs. 

  • Oversee the growth and innovation of the organization’s digital strategies 

  • Ensure strong user experience and storytelling across the website and coordinate updates and content refreshes. 

  • Utilize digital tools and analytics to measure performance, track engagement trends, and optimize campaigns. 

  • Collaborate with Strategic Advancement and program teams to ensure alignment between messaging, fundraising, and impact reporting. 

  • Collaborate with program and development teams to build integrated campaigns that advance fundraising, program, and service goals. 

  • Support event marketing and communications for fundraisers, outreach activations, and community partnership. 

Content, Brand and Marketing Oversight  - 20% 

  • Strengthen brand identity and ensure consistency across all print, digital, and experiential touch points. 

  • Oversee the creation of multimedia campaigns (digital, social, video, print, radio, etc.) to drive engagement and visibility. 

  • Develop and manage cohesive brand strategy across a hierarchy of service and program branding including tone, visual style, and messaging framework. 

  • Develop brand guidelines ensuring consistent use across the organization including efforts to organize, archive and consolidate brand use internally. 

  • Supervise and collaborate with internal creative staff, contractors, and vendors for photography, video, and design. 

  • Draft, copy edit and review or obtain approval for written content as needed across high level and routine communications. 

  • Oversee creation of high-quality, mission-aligned content for multiple channels  

  • Develop and manage an editorial calendar for organization-wide communications. 

  • Support program teams with messaging, success stories, and materials. 

  • Lead organizational visual design initiatives such as logo and brand design, promotional video, print, and digital content. 

  • Develop and lead process for collection of program data and stories into compelling narratives for external audiences. 

  • Ensure all organizational content is structured to reach a range of target audiences 

Media & Public Relations - 10% 

  • Serve as lead for ASHwell’s public-facing voice through social media, website, newsletters, and press. 

  • Build and maintain relationships with media outlets, journalists, and partner communications teams. 

  • Draft and distribute press releases, talking points, and media advisories. 

  • Prepare leadership and staff for interviews and public appearances. 

  • Draft and edit content for press releases, media kits, talking points, and executive statements. 

  • Manage media relations, including proactive outreach, interview coordination, and tracking earned media. 

  • Support leadership in crisis communications and reputation management. 

 

Baseline - 10% 

  • Participate in all required staff meetings and events. 

  • Maintain up-to-date calendar and work plan. 

  • Utilize – agency-wide systems and protocols for all agency business. 

  • Offer at least 24 hours' notice for internal meeting cancellations/rescheduling. 

  • Maintain Chain of Support for internal communications. 

  • Other responsibilities as assigned. 

 

Required Qualifications  

  • 5+ years experience leading Communications or Marketing in a nonprofit or direct service organization 

  • 3+ yrs experience in Communications and or Marketing leadership role 

  • 3+ yrs direct supervisory / people management experience 

  • 3+ years experience working in close collaboration with Development teams 

  • 2+ years experience project management or leadership executing fundraising events 

  • 1+ yrs of budget management experience 

  • Previous experience developing or executing strategic communications plans 

  • Strong copywriting and editing experience 

  • Previous experience standardizing / implementing internal communication systems 

  • Cultural proficiency in communications for audiences from marginalized communities based on race, sex, gender, and sexual orientation 

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite - Teams, Word, Excel, OneDrive, PowerPoint 

  • Lives in Austin, TX or within the greater Austin Metro Area or within 50 miles of ASHwell headquarters at 3208 Red River 

  • In depth understanding of gender and sexual orientation spectrums  

  • High comfort level working in a pro-pleasure, pro-sex, pro-kink and pro-queer environment 

  • Baseline understanding of Harm Reduction and need for HIV de-stigmatization  

  • Alignment with ASHwell values of race and gender justice, sexual and reproductive health equity 

Preferred Qualifications 

  • Prior experience in a junior director or director of communications role 

  • 4-5 years experience overseeing creative and social media staff 

  • Experience developing strategic narratives and campaigns related to sexual health and wellness, issues that impact ASHwell’s served communities (QTBIPOC), or public health in general 

  • Bilingual English and Spanish copywriting or heritage Spanish speaker