Program Manager – Communications & Digital Media
Pay: $70,720 annually (equivalent to $34.00/hour)
Type: Full-time, Exempt
Benefits: Paid holidays, sick leave, PTO, medical, dental, and life insurance, 401 (k)
About HYPU
Founded in 2008, Hmong Youth and Parents United (HYPU) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering underserved communities in the Greater Sacramento Area, with a primary focus on the Hmong community. HYPU offers culturally responsive educational, social, and economic programs for youth, adults, and seniors. Guided by values of youth empowerment, community commitment, wellbeing, and cultural preservation, HYPU works to build a resilient and inclusive community where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.
Work Description:
The Program Manager – Communications & Digital Media works under the Director of Programs and serves as HYPU’s lead for communications, digital storytelling, and cultural media. This position is responsible for developing and managing HYPU’s overall communications strategy and annual communications plan, overseeing core channels such as social media, website, email, and print, and supervising communications staff, interns, and volunteers. The Program Manager leads fundraising and donor‑facing storytelling in partnership with the Executive Director and program leadership, ensuring that campaigns and materials clearly reflect HYPU’s impact with youth, seniors, and families. Over multiple years, this position will also design and build a digital archive of Hmong community stories, traditional music, and cultural practices—capturing, producing, and organizing high‑quality media in collaboration with elders, youth, cultural practitioners, and artists.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Core communications leadership
Develop and maintain an annual communications plan that measurably supports HYPU’s program participation, fundraising, and community engagement goals.
Create and manage a communications calendar covering social media, website updates, newsletters, and major campaigns and events.
Work closely with program staff to translate program information, outcomes, and youth/senior stories into accessible, plain‑language content for multiple audiences.
Write, edit, and publish content for social media, the HYPU website, email newsletters, flyers, and other outreach and informational materials.
Produce digital media assets, including graphics, short videos, reels, photos, and simple layouts using tools such as Canva or other media/design platforms.
Capture photos and video at HYPU programs and events and ensure proper media consent, respectful representation of youth, seniors, and families, and alignment with HYPU values.
Maintain and update HYPU’s website to ensure information about programs, events, and resources is timely, accurate, and easy to navigate.
Track basic communications metrics (social media engagement, email open/click rates, and website visits) and prepare brief summaries to inform strategy and improvement.
Coordinate with community partners, schools, and youth‑serving agencies to share information about HYPU programs and maintain open, consistent communication.
Provide basic training and guidance to staff, youth, and volunteers on communications practices, storytelling, social media use, and media consent.
Supervise communications staff, interns, and volunteers as assigned, including delegating tasks, providing feedback, and supporting professional growth.
Establish clear workflows and expectations for staff and volunteers involved in communications activities, ensuring high‑quality, culturally responsive storytelling.
Responsibilities require work beyond typical content creation work, including project management, planning, and coordination across programs.
Manage small communications‑related budgets and expenses, ensuring compliance with HYPU policies and grant requirements, and supporting reporting as needed.
Fundraising & donor storytelling
Lead storytelling‑based fundraising and donation drives, including developing campaign themes, messaging, and content that center on youth, senior, and community impact.
Coordinate and track outreach to donors and supporters during fundraising campaigns, ensuring consistent follow‑up, thank‑you communications, and basic stewardship activities.
Collaborate with the Executive Director and program leadership to align communications and fundraising goals, including supporting individual giving, events, and online campaigns.
Support grant opportunities and funder relations by preparing impact stories, visuals, and communications materials that highlight program outcomes and community impact.
Cultural media & Hmong story archive (phased over multiple years)
Lead a multi‑year digital storytelling initiative to document Hmong community stories through video, audio, and photography, with a focus on elders, youth, and families.
Design and maintain a digital archive of Hmong stories and cultural practices, including clear systems for file organization, backups, and respectful long‑term storage.
Capture, edit, and produce high‑quality videos that highlight traditional Hmong music, instruments, and performance (such as qeej, kwv txhiaj, and cultural ceremonies), as well as contemporary Hmong creative work.
Collaborate with Hmong cultural practitioners, musicians, youth, and community leaders to plan and record performances, interviews, and behind‑the‑scenes content.
Develop short films, highlight reels, and media pieces that can be used in HYPU programs, community events, and fundraising campaigns while honoring cultural protocols and media consent.
Create opportunities for youth to learn media production skills by involving them in filming, sound, editing, and storytelling related to Hmong culture and community history.
Work with the Director of Program and Program Manager – Youth, Senior & Cultural Programs to identify key cultural events, senior activities, and youth projects that should be documented each year.
Establish guidelines for media consent, cultural sensitivity, and community review for all Hmong story and music recordings, ensuring that participants understand how their stories and performances will be used.
Responsibilities require work beyond typical content creation work, including project management, planning, and coordination across programs.
Manage small communications‑related budgets and expenses, ensuring compliance with HYPU policies and grant requirements, and supporting reporting as needed.
Other related duties may also be performed; not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual holding this classification.
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Bachelor’s degree or 4 years of equivalent experience.
Minimum of 2 years of work experience in communications, digital media, marketing, public relations, or a similar field.
Must have a valid California Driver’s License with current auto insurance and reliable transportation.
A complete understanding and strong desire to support the mission of HYPU and the Hmong community.
Physical and Emotional Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Excellent planning, communication, and leadership skills, including the ability to manage a communications calendar and multiple projects.
Demonstrated experience managing social media, email, and/or web content for an organization or project.
Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills with the ability to tailor tone and content to youth, parents, partners, and funders.
Comfort creating digital media assets (graphics, short videos, photos) using tools such as Canva or simple video‑editing applications.
Knowledge of community youth issues and an understanding of how communications can support youth development and educational equity in underserved and marginalized communities.
Familiarity with youth development, mentorship programming, and culturally responsive storytelling is strongly preferred.
Working knowledge of the functions and services of local agencies and community organizations in the Greater Sacramento Area.
Project Management – Develops project plans; coordinates projects; communicates changes and progress; completes projects on time and within budget; manages project‑related tasks and activities.
Ability to analyze information, reflect program impact in stories and visuals, and prepare basic reports on communications activities.
Adaptability – Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent changes, delays, or unexpected events.
Ability to prioritize multiple assignments and meet conflicting deadlines within a dynamic environment.
Ability to handle sensitive and confidential materials in a professional manner.
Will be required to attend community events/meetings on weekends and in the evening.
Demonstrated technology skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive), and comfort learning new communications tools.
TO APPLY
Submit resume with three references, cover letter, and two work samples (these may include writing samples, social media content, digital media pieces, or professional letters) to hr@hypu.org. Position immediately available. Open until filled. Submissions are reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Hmong Youth and Parents United is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any applicant or employee because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, or military or veteran status in accordance with federal law. In addition, Hmong Youth and Parents United complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every jurisdiction in which it maintains facilities. Hmong Youth and Parents United also provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws.