Vice President, Communications

At Mercy Housing , the nation's largest affordable housing provider, we believe that business and mission are not competing values. Our core values of Respect, Justice, and Mercy guide how we serve our residents, support our employees, and work together to create stable, vibrant communities. The Vice President of Communications will lead Mercy Housing’s national communications strategy and team, setting the vision, standards, and operating model that advance the organization’s mission, brand, and influence nationwide. This role is responsible for building and leading a proactive, high-performing communications function that positions Mercy Housing as a trusted national voice, thought leader in affordable housing, and reliable steward of philanthropic and public resources. Serving as a strategic advisor to the Executive Leadership Team, this role shapes Mercy Housing’s brand narrative, strengthens internal and external communications, and supports long-term organizational goals including increased visibility, the ability to secure transformational philanthropic investments, recognition as an employer of choice, and deeper trust and collaboration between national and regional teams. This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule. Location: Denver, CO Pay: $160-175k annually, depending on experience. Benefits Several Healthcare plans to choose from, dental (free basic dental option) and vision Early close Fridays (3 paid hours each Friday), early close prior to a holiday (3 paid hours) 15 days of earned PTO your first year, 12 company holidays + 2 floating holidays Paid time off between Christmas and New Year's Day Paid time-off to volunteer Paid parental and caregiver leave 403b + match Employer paid Life Insurance Access to free Employee Assistance Plan Pet insurance options Duties and Responsibilities Lead communications intake, planning and prioritization processes to ensure resources are aligned with the organization's highest-priority initiatives and stakeholder needs. Translate enterprise communications strategies into annual and quarterly communications plans that drive organizational alignment, measurable outcomes, and effective resource allocation. Establish editorial calendars and reporting mechanisms that improve visibility, accountability, coordination, and execution across the organization. Partner with executive leaders across the enterprise to shape communications strategies that advance organizational priorities, strengthen alignment, and support effective organizational decision-making. Lead Mercy Housing's internal communications strategy and work collaboratively with partners to support employee communications, leadership communications, strategic plan communications, organizational announcements, and change management efforts. Build communications capability across the organization by providing counsel, tools, standards, and coaching that enables leaders to communicate consistently, effectively, and in alignment with Mercy Housing's mission and strategic priorities. Lead and develop communications staff responsible for media relations, internal communications and related communications functions, fostering a culture of accountability, responsiveness, collaboration, and high-quality execution. Lead Mercy Housing's earned media and storytelling strategies to strengthen the organization's reputation, visibility, and influence while supporting fundraising, advocacy, and strategic priorities. Partner with the Senior Vice President on high-risk or high visibility matters and reputation management Lead and collaborate on the development and production of executive communications supporting key organizational initiatives and leaders. Manage communications budgets, agency relationships, and external vendor expenditures, ensuring resources are allocated effectively and aligned with organizational priorities. Establish communications performance measures and reporting processes that demonstrate impact, inform decision-making, and support continuous improvement. This role requires regular travel and presence across Mercy Housing’s geographic locations. Supervisory Responsibilities Recruit, hire, develop, and retain a high-performing communications team aligned with Mercy Housing’s mission, values, and future-state aspirations. Provide coaching, feedback, and professional development to team members, fostering a culture of accountability, learning, and continuous improvement. Minimum Qualifications 12 years of progressively responsible experience in enterprise communications leadership, including internal and external communications, media relations, and brand stewardship. Preferred Qualifications Bachelor's degree in communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field. Five years of experience managing and developing professional staff. Experience working in a national nonprofit, affordable housing, or mission-driven organization with regional operations. Experience leading communications in complex, highly matrixed environments. Knowledge and Skills Proven ability to design and lead strategic communications functions that drive measurable outcomes related to brand, reputation, trust, engagement, and philanthropy. Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex topics into clear, compelling messages for diverse audiences. Strong proactive and reactive media experience across earned media, media relationships and issues and crisis management. Strong understanding of internal communications, change communications and workforce engagement across varied roles, languages, and technology access. Working knowledge of print and digital communications with an emphasis on strategic use rather than tactical execution. Demonstrated success leading communications teams in a complex, fast-paced environment with competing priorities. Ability to balance strategic leadership with operational execution, including prioritization and decision-making under pressure. Mercy Housing is a fair chance employer; while we conduct background checks for all positions, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.