Jessica McKinley

Building bridges between ideas and impact.

About Me

I’m the strategist behind the scenes who makes teams work.

When communication breaks down, projects stall and opportunities slip away. That’s where I come in. I specialize in diagnosing what’s really going wrong and designing solutions that get everyone back on track.

What drives me is knowing that good communication creates real opportunities, especially for people who need them most.

I bring strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and a genuine belief that the right message at the right moment can change everything.

  • "Jessica is endlessly resourceful, incredibly organized, and always thinking two moves ahead. Every team needs someone like her."

    Rachel Cheney, Strategic Communications Team Lead

  • "Jessica has that rare, intangible quality that makes her vital to the team. She is resourceful, perceptive, and talented. She is the best hire."

    Susan Malandrino, Communications Senior Principal

  • "I hear nothing except how great it is to have Jessica on the team. She does excellent work."

    Erin Wasiak, Deputy Program Manager, Communications Team Manager

Communication Architecture

Campaign Management

Process Development & System Management

Graphic Design

Communication Architecture

I specialize in breaking down complex communication problems and rebuilding them into clear, actionable systems. When stakeholder engagement is low, it usually means the message isn’t meeting people where they are. I approach that as a solvable design problem

In the Prevention Initiative, I faced limited stakeholder buy-in and varying levels of understanding across audience segments. I responded by developing a tiered stakeholder engagement strategy that treated buy-in itself as a strategic communication challenge. By segmenting stakeholders into four distinct groups, I crafted tailored messaging and engagement plans for each, transforming scattered opposition into coordinated support.

When the right message reaches the right people at the right time, alignment becomes possible. That’s what I build: systems that support understanding, consistency, and trust.

The result? Over 30 targeted media products delivered each month, each one strategically aligned with a defined audience and mission goal.

Campaign Management

I bring order to complexity. I know how to map out the moving parts of a campaign, align the right message with the right moment, and adjust in real time as political or organizational conditions shift. I don’t just keep things on schedule. I make sure they land.

When faced with conflicting agendas and unclear timing, I created a Strategic Messaging Considerations System. This framework combined political landscape mapping, stakeholder readiness analysis, and internal climate assessment to guide both message timing and delivery. It turned reactive messaging into proactive, strategic processes that helped us stay ahead of challenges instead of chasing them.

In mission-driven work, clarity and timing are everything. A good message at the wrong time can fall flat. I make sure the message not only reaches people, but reaches them when they are ready to hear it.

Process Development & Campaign Management

I see patterns in chaos. Where others see disorganization, I see systems waiting to be built. I focus on designing processes that are not only functional, but repeatable, scalable, and easy for teams to use without constant oversight.

When the client was overwhelmed by fragmented operations and information overload, I mapped out every workflow, defined clear decision points, and build step-by-step procedures that teams could follow independently. I paired this with training programs to ensure smooth knowledge transfer across departments.

Process Optimization

I identify inefficiencies and gaps in existing workflows, then redesign them for clarity and consistency.

I transform scattered information into organized, accessible systems that teams can actually use and follow.

Knowledge Architecture

I bridge the gap between policy and practice by creating sustainable frameworks that stick.

Change Implementation

Graphic Design

Strategic communication isn’t just about words. It’s about how ideas are delivered, absorbed, and remembered. My design skills make messaging more cohesive, more accessible, and more human; turning abstract concepts into something people can immediately connect with.

Skills

Strategic Communication • Crisis Communication • Client Management • Stakeholder Engagement • Cross-Sector Fluency • Workflow & Process Development • Campaign Planning • Mental Health Pedagogy • Trauma Informed Communications • AI Fluency • Visual Storytelling • Graphic Design (Canva, Adobe)

Certifications

Integrated and Strategic Communications Campaigns Course Certificate

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) In Progress

Strategic Vision.

Human Impact. 

Email

jessicamckinley297@gmail.com

LinkedIn

Phone

630.741.1632