Principal Consultant – Communications, Experience

Granicus

. Serve as principal strategic adviser to executive stakeholders on program direction, operating models, communications governance, and customer experience transformation .

Posted 9/23/2026full-timeSacramento • California • United StatesLead💰 $129,000 - $160,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in strategic program delivery, stakeholder engagement, and digital communications within government frameworks. Proven ability to lead complex initiatives, optimize content strategies, and drive innovation in regulated environments.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Strategic Program DeliveryStakeholder Engagement StrategiesDigital Communications ExpertiseProject Management for Communications CampaignsExecutive-Level Communication Skills

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Digital StrategyJourney Mapping FrameworksContent StrategyPerformance OptimizationGovernance CheckpointsSystems-Level Solutions DesignData AnalysisAudience Intelligence ModelsMultichannel EngagementRegulated Environment Standards

Soft Skills

Cross-Functional LeadershipWorkshop FacilitationExecutive PresenceStrategic ThinkingProblem-Solving

Tools & Technologies

Digital ToolsCommunication PlatformsProject Management SoftwareData Privacy TechnologiesContent Management Systems

Industry Keywords

Government Program DeliveryHealth and Human ServicesSocial Care ProgramsPublic ServiceCitizen Engagement

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serve as principal strategic adviser to executive stakeholders on program direction, operating models, communications governance, and customer experience transformation
Lead a complex multichannel strategic program for California's Medi-Cal program
Manage project scope, timelines, requirements, risks, resources, and deliverables
Lead innovation in program delivery to improve transparency, auditability, and stakeholder outcomes
Establish discovery methodologies, journey mapping frameworks, audience intelligence models, and engagement strategies
Define and evolve enterprise-scale communications, engagement, and customer experience frameworks
Plan, develop, report on, optimize, and continuously improve content and campaigns across email, SMS, web, and related channels
Translate executive goals, policy priorities, audience needs, constraints, and data into strategic decisions and actionable recommendations
Operate autonomously as the on-site authority for communications and experience strategy
Guide senior customer and Granicus stakeholders through high-impact decisions, risks, trade-offs, and opportunities
Coordinate project team members throughout the project lifecycle from discovery through delivery and ongoing optimization
Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, deliverables, governance artifacts, and management processes
Analyze roadmaps for conflicting tasks, timeline consolidation, risks, resource allocation, and critical paths
Ensure delivery systems operate effectively at scale and solutions are durable, scalable, and transferable
Serve as final functional authority for the quality and strategic integrity of assigned communications and experience deliverables
Act as primary client feedback conduit to the Granicus Experience Group
Keep abreast of Granicus product enhancements and future product development
Represent Granicus Experience Group in speaking engagements, panels, webinars, workshops, client outreach, and industry conferences throughout the U.S. as needed
Maintain information security and data privacy in accordance with company policies

Requirements

What you’ll need

12+ years of consulting or digital strategy experience, preferably in a digital/social media company serving government or at a government agency
7+ years influencing or leading enterprise-scale or multi-program initiatives
Demonstrated success shaping delivery methodologies or operating models across large organizations
Must be located in or around Sacramento, CA to be onsite with the customer daily
Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant professional experience
Expert knowledge of government program delivery and stakeholder engagement strategies
Proven ability to define and scale methodologies across complex agency environments
Hands-on experience with project management for communications campaign development, stakeholder engagement activities, and/or digital content creation
Expertise designing systems-level solutions across people, process, policy, and technology
Experience influencing senior state agency stakeholders and shaping program direction
Understanding of vendor-led or hybrid delivery models
Ability to drive innovation and establish new standards in regulated environments
Expertise with documentation, governance checkpoints, and external oversight
Executive-level written and verbal communication skills
Expertise in digital communications, customer experience, multichannel engagement, journey design, content strategy, audience intelligence, and performance optimization
Strong presentation, workshop facilitation, and cross-functional leadership skills in a client-facing capacity
Experience digesting data and deriving actionable insights
Ability to use digital tools, technologies, and trends for client success
Executive presence and advisory skills
Advanced strategic thinking, business judgment, and problem-solving skills
Ability to connect communications strategy to program, customer, operational, and business outcomes
Ability to manage simultaneous projects in a fast-paced environment
Experience and/or enthusiasm for working with government
Experience with health and human services or social care programs preferred
Passion for public service, citizen engagement, and digital communications
Awareness of government and California news and relevant industry developments
Responsible for preserving the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of company information assets
Responsible for ensuring employee and customer data privacy and completing required privacy training

Benefits

Comp & perks

Flexible Time Off
Company-Wide Wellbeing Days
Work From Home Reimbursement
Multiple Health Plan Options, including a 100% employer-paid plan
Employer HSA Contributions when enrolled in a High-Deductible Health Plan
Fitness Reimbursement Program
On-Demand Mental Health Support, including Headspace and other wellness tools
Paid Parental Leave for birthing and non-birthing parents
Traditional & Roth 401(k) with a generous company match
Life & AD&D Insurance with 100% employer-paid coverage
Online Learning Platforms
Competitive Salary & Bonuses
Employee Resource Groups
Coffee with Mark sessions
Microsoft Teams communities focused on wellness, art, furbabies, family, parenting, and more
Special guest discussions on issues impacting employees