Communications Manager, Community Solutions for Health Equity

Join an organization at the forefront of health advocacy across the nation.

Community Catalyst, a national advocacy organization, has been giving consumers a voice in health care for more than a decade. We provide leadership and support to state and local consumer organizations, policymakers and foundations that are working to guarantee access to high-quality, affordable health care for everyone. Our contributions, which range from policy analysis and strategic assistance to managing national campaigns, enable consumer groups to provide leadership in the hard work of transforming the U.S. health care system. Since 1998 in states and communities across the country, we have been a catalyst for collaboration, innovation, and action in health care reform. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Communications Manager will be responsible for providing strategic communications counsel and support for a Community Catalyst Program: Community Solutions for Health Equity (CSHE), funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The Community Solutions for Health Equity Program (CSHE) is a national program that supports community-based organizations to build power to improve health care delivery and address equity.

The program will pair funding resources for community organizations and a robust technical assistance program, equipping consumer and community organizations with the resources, strategies and partnerships needed to foster respectful relationships between consumers and local health systems based on honor and a commitment to equitable, positive care for consumers. In addition to supporting the programmatic needs of small, community-based organizations, the program will carry out a robust national communications strategy to influence the way the heath system responds to consumer needs and community demands.

Communications will promote the importance of consumer and community voice to produce more equitable health practices among philanthropy, opinion leaders, health care stakeholders and community advocates. We approach all of this work with the goal of lifting up the consumer voice, with particular attention paid to communities who face disproportionate health inequities and who are determined to be acknowledged in health care institutions.

CSHE Grantees may have a range of communication capacities --- from those experience the digital divide to others who are proficient with digital communication strategies. The right candidate for this position will need to be able to assess gaps in capacity and help steer communications counsel, support and training to meet the communications needs of grantees. They must also possess strong skills in cultural agility – a commitment to being open and responsive to the truth and traditions of others.

This is a full time grant-funded position that will begin immediately and is funded through March, 2024. 

SUPERVISION

The Communications Director will supervise the Communications Manager. However, the Communications Manager will also work closely with the CSHE Program Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage and lead development and implementation of all communications activity for the CSHE program, including overarching communications strategy structure, protocols, messaging and implementation plans.
• Provide communications technical assistance to nine CSHE grantee that is attuned to varying communications capacity levels of grantees. This includes guidance on developing and executing communications strategies and tactics such as story collection and sharing, generating earned media, social media, production of communications materials and message development
• Provide training as needed to support and elevate the knowledge base and communications strategies of the nine CSHE grantees and the CSHE network. 
• Identify common themes from the work of the project’s grantees and identify issues that can be elevated nationally through a strategic communications lens.
• Lead efforts to translate these themes to a national audience, including national and state media outlets, health care plans and other health stakeholders, the philanthropy sector, racial and social justice networks, and key opinion leaders.
• Work with Community Catalyst’s digital communications manager to advise grantees on their digital strategies to communicate with each other, share best practices, develop fresh, compelling and measurable web and social media content.
• Serve as primary liaison to any Public Relations agency/communications firm representatives supporting the work.
• Work with staff to develop and write reports and communications products. This includes providing assistance in translating complex health policy materials for grass roots community, coalitions and broader audiences.
• Provide support to Community Catalyst’s Communications department including trainings for staff and partners, content development, triaging press calls, and assistance with copyediting.
• Develop communications component of funder reports and other information relevant to stakeholders.
• Undertake related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelors’ degree plus 3 years minimum related work experience or 5 years minimum of relevant work experience
• Commitment to social and racial justice and experience in social change activism
• Excellent writing, editing and presentation skills, including journalism and/or public policy experience for lay audiences and policymakers
• Media relations experience including pitching and working with reporters
• Experience leveraging digital communications and social media in communications campaigns and solid knowledge of social media platforms
• Project management experience working with internal staff and external partners and/or vendors
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups of people in a variety of settings
• Strong organizational skills, detail oriented and able to manage many tasks simultaneously

Preferred

• Strong interest in and knowledge of health policy issues with health communications experience
• Experience providing assistance or other training in strategic communications to advocacy organizations.
• Experience with e-CRM (constituent management) software
• Experience with Canva, the Adobe suite or other graphic design software

SALARY & BENEFITS

• Salary Range: $55,167—$70,000
• Generous paid time off policy
• Robust benefits package

Applicants should submit a resume with a one-page cover letter briefly summarizing their interest in and qualifications for the position to: jobs@communitycatalyst.org. Please put “Communications Manager, CSHE” in the subject line. A Word document format is preferred

Community Catalyst is strongly committed to building a work environment that recognizes, respects, and encourages the unique contributions of a broad spectrum of qualified employees. We strive to make employment decisions that support inclusion to maintain a work atmosphere that is diverse, equitable and promotes family-friendly practices and work-life benefits so that people of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.

We do not discriminate in hiring based on age, color, ethnicity, race, national origin, primary language, religion, socio-economic status, family status, mental and physical disabilities, veteran status, gender identity characteristics and/or expression, sex, medical condition, sexual orientation or any other classification that is protected by federal, state, or local law.

Through all of our programs, Community Catalyst works to build a better future for all individuals by advancing health equity, focusing on people of color, immigrants, as well as disability, gender, sexual identity and socio-economic status.   It is important for our staff to reflect the diverse communities with which we work. People of color, LGBTQ identified people, gender-nonconforming people, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people who speak a language in addition to English are encouraged to apply.