Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications - Denver

Mercy Housing is one of the nation's largest affordable housing organizations. We participate in the development, preservation, management and/or financing of affordable, program-enriched housing across the country · The Senior Vice President of Communications will lead Mercy Hou ...

Job description

Mercy Housing is one of the nation's largest affordable housing organizations. We participate in the development, preservation, management and/or financing of affordable, program-enriched housing across the country

The Senior 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 builds and leads a proactive, high-performing communications function that positions Mercy Housing as a trusted national voice in affordable housing.

This leader will oversee enterprise-wide communications and marketing initiatives, with a primary focus on strategy, messaging, storytelling, and reputation management. They will design and steward a hybrid national-regional model that balances centralized standards with strong local execution, while clarifying responsibilities and strengthening regional capability through training and partnership.

As a strategic advisor to the Executive Leadership Team, the SVP will shape Mercy Housing's brand narrative, strengthen internal and external communications, and support key goals including increased visibility, transformational philanthropy, and stronger alignment between national and regional teams.

This is a hybrid position in Denver, CO. Some regional and national travel required.

Pay: $210-218,000, dependent on experience.

Benefits

• Health, vision, and dental (incl. free basic dental plan) options
• 15 days of earned PTO your first year, 12 company holidays + 2 floating holidays.
• 403b + match
• Early close Fridays (3 paid hours each Friday), early close prior to a holiday (3 paid hours)
• Paid time off between Christmas and New Year's Holiday
• Paid time off to volunteer
• Paid parental and care giver leave
• Employer paid life insurance
• Free Employee Assistance Plan
• Pet insurance options

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of Mercy Housing's enterprise-wide communications strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, brand standards, and long-term mission outcomes.
• Establish and steward national communications standards, messaging frameworks, and storytelling approaches that strengthen Mercy Housing's voice, reputation, and influence across all regions and platforms.
• Design and lead a hybrid national–regional communications operating model that balances centralized strategy, standards, and systems with strong regional execution and local relevance.
• Clearly define, document, and maintain lines of demarcation between national and regional communications responsibilities, including decision rights, escalation protocols, and service expectations.
• Lead and manage the Communications and Marketing team, including strategic planning, budgeting, staffing, performance management, and professional development, with a focus on building a proactive, high-performing team.
• Establish transparent intake, prioritization, and planning processes that align communications work with enterprise priorities and reduce reactive, last-minute requests.
• Serve as the national lead for media relations and reputation management, including oversight of press strategy, spokesperson preparation, executive communications, thought leadership, and crisis or high-priority issues.
• Build and maintain relationships with national and regional media outlets and external communications and service partners to increase the quality, consistency, and strategic impact of media coverage.
• Oversee the development and execution of internal communications strategies that effectively reach a diverse workforce across roles, languages, and levels of technology access, including frontline staff without regular digital access.
• Oversee the development and execution of internal and external communications and marketing strategies that support timely and efficient real estate development and property operations activities.
• Partner closely with the Executive Leadership Team, Business Center leaders, People and Culture, Real Estate Development, Property Operations, and Philanthropy to ensure communications support leadership priorities, organizational change, fundraising, and employee engagement.
• Guide marketing efforts that support communications strategy by extending reach, engagement, and consistency across digital channels, social media, web platforms, and campaigns.
• Ensure brand consistency and quality across all organization-wide communications, campaigns, and events, and intervene when standards are not met.
• Lead the continuous improvement of communications systems, tools, templates, and workflows to increase adoption, efficiency, and quality across the organization.

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 of Position

• 15 years of progressively responsible experience in enterprise communications leadership, including internal and external communications, media relations, and brand stewardship.

Preferred Qualifications of Position

• 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, matrixed environments.

Knowledge and Skills

• Proven ability to design and lead strategic communications functions that drive measurable outcomes related to brand, reputation, trust, and engagement.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex topics into clear, compelling messages for diverse audiences.
• Strong understanding of internal communications, change communications, and workforce engagement across varied roles, languages, and technology access.
• Working knowledge of digital communications, web platforms, email strategies, social media, and analytics, with an emphasis on strategic use rather than tactical execution.
• Demonstrated success leading creative and 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.