La Cocina
DIRECTOR OF IMPACT & STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
La Cocina's mission is to elevate Latine-centered knowledge that heals and transforms, always in partnership with those most impacted by trauma and systemic inequity.
REPORTS TO:
CEO & Founder DEPARTMENT:
Executive FLSA STATUS:
Full-time, Exempt EFFECTIVE DATE:
January 12, 2026 ABOUT LA COCINA
La Cocina is a nationally recognized nonprofit incubator and multilingual community mental health institute that leads with healing-centered care, clinical excellence, community organizing, and social justice values. We are a "teaching clinic" where multilingual clinicians, advocates, and community-based organization (CBO) leaders grow alongside community partners. Through our co-design incubator, La Cocina develops original, culturally affirming interventions that respond directly to the lived realities of the families we serve.
THE OPPORTUNITY
We seek a
Director of Impact & Strategic Communications (DISC)
to partner with the CEO & Founder and Incoming President on communications, evaluation oversight, and development strategy. This role shapes La Cocina's narrative, visibility, and fundraising ecosystem, advancing a nationally recognized Latine innovation institute grounded in dignity, rigor, and healing justice. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 6+ years in strategic communications, development/fundraising, evaluation, or related leadership roles in mission-driven or social-justice settings. Experience in media relations, leader preparation, press materials, and journalist relationship management. Proven ability to lead organizational communications, including messaging, narrative development, donor communications, and high-stakes writing. Strong grant writing, prospect research, donor stewardship, and development systems experience with demonstrated funding success. Experience overseeing equitable evaluation processes and producing accessible data reports. Exceptional writing, storytelling, editing, and communication skills for diverse audiences. Ability to collaborate across teams with strategic judgment and confidentiality. Experience supervising staff. Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities. Proficiency with digital communications tools, CRM systems, and content platforms. Alignment with La Cocina's mission, values, and healing justice frameworks. Ability to work flexible hours and travel between Denver and Northern Colorado offices. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bilingual fluency in Spanish and English with strong writing and translation skills. 8-10 years of senior-level experience in communications, narrative strategy, development, or evaluation. Experience with evaluation frameworks, dashboards, and mixed-methods reporting. Familiarity with data equity frameworks and participatory research/evaluation methods. Experience in multilingual, multicultural environments and with communities navigating inequity and health disparities. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Lead strategic communications to ensure all public-facing materials reflect mission, values, and liberatory frameworks. Oversee impact and evaluation workflows; ensure ethical, culturally grounded data practices; synthesize findings into reports and dashboards for learning and fundraising. Identify, write, and manage grants, LOIs, and funder communications. Design and manage donor stewardship systems, CRM processes, donor communications, and philanthropic pathways. Plan and execute fundraising events and campaigns, including messaging, materials, and partner engagement. Develop and steward La Cocina's organizational voice through messaging frameworks, talking points, and brand-aligned language. Manage media presence, press inquiries, press kits, statements, and relationships with journalists and narrative partners. Oversee website content strategy to ensure it remains compelling, accessible, and current. Supervise the Communications & Impact Design Specialist, providing mentorship and priorities. Partner with the Incoming President to align communications, data, and development workflows with operations. Collaborate across departments to generate content, uplift community narratives, and share program stories with dignity. Support national visibility through publications, presentations, speeches, and thought leadership. Uphold cultural humility, narrative integrity, and community-centered practices across all communications and fundraising. WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS Full-time position with two optional remote days per week. Occasional evening/weekend hours. Requires effective communication, mobility within office environments, and ability to lift up to 20 lbs. CLASSIFICATION, BENEFITS & SALARY Full-time, exempt position with benefits after 60 days. Benefits include 401(k) with employer match, health/vision/dental insurance, PTO, FlexTime, and three annual office closures. Relocation reimbursement may be available. Salary: $95,000-$125,000 annually. HOW TO APPLY Submit cover letter and Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume to this portal . In your cover letter, respond to this reflective prompt:
This role is deeply relational and requires leadership grounded in cultural humility, narrative integrity, and social justice values. In your cover letter, please share how your personal or professional journey has prepared you to tell stories-and steward data-in ways that honor the dignity and complexity of Latine, immigrant, or multilingual communities.
La Cocina is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and strongly encourages applications from BIPOC, immigrants, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and underrepresented groups.
La Cocina's mission is to elevate Latine-centered knowledge that heals and transforms, always in partnership with those most impacted by trauma and systemic inequity.
REPORTS TO:
CEO & Founder DEPARTMENT:
Executive FLSA STATUS:
Full-time, Exempt EFFECTIVE DATE:
January 12, 2026 ABOUT LA COCINA
La Cocina is a nationally recognized nonprofit incubator and multilingual community mental health institute that leads with healing-centered care, clinical excellence, community organizing, and social justice values. We are a "teaching clinic" where multilingual clinicians, advocates, and community-based organization (CBO) leaders grow alongside community partners. Through our co-design incubator, La Cocina develops original, culturally affirming interventions that respond directly to the lived realities of the families we serve.
THE OPPORTUNITY
We seek a
Director of Impact & Strategic Communications (DISC)
to partner with the CEO & Founder and Incoming President on communications, evaluation oversight, and development strategy. This role shapes La Cocina's narrative, visibility, and fundraising ecosystem, advancing a nationally recognized Latine innovation institute grounded in dignity, rigor, and healing justice. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 6+ years in strategic communications, development/fundraising, evaluation, or related leadership roles in mission-driven or social-justice settings. Experience in media relations, leader preparation, press materials, and journalist relationship management. Proven ability to lead organizational communications, including messaging, narrative development, donor communications, and high-stakes writing. Strong grant writing, prospect research, donor stewardship, and development systems experience with demonstrated funding success. Experience overseeing equitable evaluation processes and producing accessible data reports. Exceptional writing, storytelling, editing, and communication skills for diverse audiences. Ability to collaborate across teams with strategic judgment and confidentiality. Experience supervising staff. Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities. Proficiency with digital communications tools, CRM systems, and content platforms. Alignment with La Cocina's mission, values, and healing justice frameworks. Ability to work flexible hours and travel between Denver and Northern Colorado offices. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bilingual fluency in Spanish and English with strong writing and translation skills. 8-10 years of senior-level experience in communications, narrative strategy, development, or evaluation. Experience with evaluation frameworks, dashboards, and mixed-methods reporting. Familiarity with data equity frameworks and participatory research/evaluation methods. Experience in multilingual, multicultural environments and with communities navigating inequity and health disparities. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Lead strategic communications to ensure all public-facing materials reflect mission, values, and liberatory frameworks. Oversee impact and evaluation workflows; ensure ethical, culturally grounded data practices; synthesize findings into reports and dashboards for learning and fundraising. Identify, write, and manage grants, LOIs, and funder communications. Design and manage donor stewardship systems, CRM processes, donor communications, and philanthropic pathways. Plan and execute fundraising events and campaigns, including messaging, materials, and partner engagement. Develop and steward La Cocina's organizational voice through messaging frameworks, talking points, and brand-aligned language. Manage media presence, press inquiries, press kits, statements, and relationships with journalists and narrative partners. Oversee website content strategy to ensure it remains compelling, accessible, and current. Supervise the Communications & Impact Design Specialist, providing mentorship and priorities. Partner with the Incoming President to align communications, data, and development workflows with operations. Collaborate across departments to generate content, uplift community narratives, and share program stories with dignity. Support national visibility through publications, presentations, speeches, and thought leadership. Uphold cultural humility, narrative integrity, and community-centered practices across all communications and fundraising. WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS Full-time position with two optional remote days per week. Occasional evening/weekend hours. Requires effective communication, mobility within office environments, and ability to lift up to 20 lbs. CLASSIFICATION, BENEFITS & SALARY Full-time, exempt position with benefits after 60 days. Benefits include 401(k) with employer match, health/vision/dental insurance, PTO, FlexTime, and three annual office closures. Relocation reimbursement may be available. Salary: $95,000-$125,000 annually. HOW TO APPLY Submit cover letter and Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume to this portal . In your cover letter, respond to this reflective prompt:
This role is deeply relational and requires leadership grounded in cultural humility, narrative integrity, and social justice values. In your cover letter, please share how your personal or professional journey has prepared you to tell stories-and steward data-in ways that honor the dignity and complexity of Latine, immigrant, or multilingual communities.
La Cocina is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and strongly encourages applications from BIPOC, immigrants, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and underrepresented groups.