Organization: The Lincoln Institute of California Location: Irvine, CA — Hybrid (weekly in-office team meetings required)
Job Type: Full-time
Start Date: August 24, 2026 Pay: $75,000 per year, plus performance bonus of up to $6,000.
About the Lincoln Institute:
The Lincoln Institute of California is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops the next generation of student leaders through civic engagement, leadership training, and career connection. Our programs — Future Leaders of California, Project 307, and Institute Connect — serve students across California's community colleges, universities, and high schools, with a concentration in Orange County. We are a small, fast-moving team where your work is visible, your ideas get built, and the audience you're speaking to is a generation of students deciding what kind of leaders they want to become.
The Opportunity
We're looking for a Creative Marketing Director to own the Lincoln Institute's brand and social media presence from the ground up. This is a build role, not a maintenance role. You will define how the Institute looks, sounds, and shows up across every channel — and you'll be the person accountable for growing an audience that actually converts into student participation. If you want a role where you set the creative direction rather than execute someone else's, this is it.
The Brand We're Building
Our vision is to build far more than a traditional political organization—we are building a California lifestyle brand and movement for the next generation of leaders. We want our social media presence to celebrate everything that makes California extraordinary: its beaches, mountains, surfing, snowboarding, entrepreneurship, faith, family, freedom, and spirit of adventure. Rather than leading with politics, our goal is to create a brand that young Californians are proud to identify with—a community that makes loving California, serving others, and embracing timeless values feel authentic, aspirational, and culturally relevant. At the same time, this brand exists for a greater purpose: to bring together young Californians who are passionate about preserving what makes our state great and inspiring them to take an active role in shaping its future. Through compelling storytelling, premium branding, engaging events, leadership development, and meaningful community, we aim to recruit, connect, and develop the next generation of Californians who are committed to keeping California a place where freedom, opportunity, and strong communities can thrive. We are looking for someone excited to help build this movement from the ground up and redefine what a modern California brand can become.
What You'll Do:
Build and own the Lincoln Institute's brand identity — voice, visual system, messaging, and brand standards across all programs and materials, rooted in a distinctly Californian sense of place and possibility
Develop and execute the organization's social media strategy across Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, and X, with a focus on reaching collegiate and high school audiences in California.
Produce and direct content: short-form video, graphics, photography, and copy — both hands-on and by managing contractors, interns, and student ambassadors.
Design branded collateral for programs, events, board and donor materials, recruitment campaigns, and fundraising.
Lead marketing campaigns for program recruitment, events, and the Institute's voter registration and civic engagement initiatives.
Establish and report on performance metrics — audience growth, engagement rate, reach, content output, and conversion into student signups.
Partner with program staff and campus leaders to capture stories and content in the field
Maintain and improve the Institute's website presence and email marketing
What We're Looking For:
3+ years of experience in marketing, brand management, content creation, or social
media strategy
A portfolio that demonstrates strong visual and creative judgment — we want to see
work you've shipped
Proven ability to grow a social media presence and back it up with numbers
Hands-on production skills: video editing and graphic design (Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, CapCut, Figma, or equivalent)
Strong writing and an instinct for platform-native voice, especially with Gen Z audiences
Self-directed and organized — comfortable owning a function without a large team behind you
A genuine feel for California — its regions, its culture, and what makes it a place worth building in
Bachelor's degree preferred, or equivalent professional experience
Reliable transportation and willingness to travel to campuses and events across Southern California
Bonus points for: nonprofit or advocacy experience, familiarity with California higher education, motion graphics, paid social management, or experience building a brand from scratch.
●Compensation & Benefits
Base salary: $75,000 per year (Salary is negotiable.)
Health and dental insurance
Performance bonus: up to $6,000 annually, tied to social media growth and branding benchmarks
Hybrid schedule: flexible remote work with required weekly in-office team meetings at our Irvine office
Paid time off and holidays
Meaningful, high-visibility work with direct impact on students across California
Pay: From $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
