THE WEST OAKLAND HEALTH COUNCIL is Hiring a Communications Manager Near Oakland, CA

Responsibilities:

DEPARTMENT:    Strategic Communications & Development
POSITION:                    Communications Manager
REPORTS TO:                Director, Strategic Communications and Development
SALARY:                        $80 - $95k

Summary of Position/Key Questions:

• Do you see the connection between history, politics, culture, and healthcare?

• Are you passionate about treating all people with dignity, respect, and compassion?

• Can you speak to audiences ranging from elected officials, executives, and physicians to staff and patients (esp. communities of color across all socio-economic levels)?

• Are you adept at managing multiple communications platforms with timely, cohesive, inclusive, and engaging messaging?

Background

Over fifty-five years ago, four Black mothers, aided by 25 volunteer Black physicians, launched West Oakland Health amid the Civil Rights and Black Power movements.  It immediately became an anchor for the Black communities in West Oakland, East Oakland, and Berkeley for healthcare, health education, food and housing programs, and voter registration. The clinic became a spark that transformed healthcare advocacy in California and the nation.

West Oakland Health’s purpose is to be the trusted hub advancing the Bay Area Black community’s health and dignity.  We work to do this by providing culturally concordant high-quality, comprehensive adult and family medicine, pediatric health care, dental care, optometry, podiatry, behavioral health services, and pharmacies at two locations. And while medical care is our central but not our sole aim, we are also a place where community members can also receive assistance on things that make our community socially, economically, and physically healthy.

The Communications Manager plays a critical role in the success of West Oakland Health in realizing this purpose. The Communications Manager coordinates strategic storytelling to enhance the visibility of West Oakland Health both to internal and external audiences. Reporting to the Director, Strategic Communications and Development, the Communications Manager collaborates with West Oakland Health clinical departments, leadership, internal and external audiences, and other community partners to create and distribute high quality content across digital platforms. The Communications Manager builds relationships with colleagues across the regional community health centers and advocates for policies that support the health of the Bay Area’s Black community. This is a hands-on role that requires solid strategic communications tactical expertise, including storytelling content production and distribution.

The successful candidate will:

• Write strategic communications plans and support comms across various sites

• Support the Director and staff with the launch of West Oakland Health’s new brand and identity campaign

• Partner with staff to announce new and ongoing health initiatives and opportunities. Interview key physicians, staff, and members to tell their stories in the newsletter. Support the Director in contributing to Townhalls, All Hands, and related events.

• Develop and distribute key messaging documents, work plans, fact sheets and annual reports, newsletter copy and press releases, web articles, social media content, video scripts, and email communications.

• Produce presentation decks and related materials to support the organization’s strategic comms and reputation management goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leads/Manages the implementation of communication efforts by consulting with stakeholders on change management and implementation strategies, assessing effectiveness of communications and making modifications as necessary.

• Monitor key performance indicators and ongoing effectiveness of communications; ensuring communication plans are implemented on time, on budget, and within agreed upon specifications; and performing strategic issue management on a 24-hour/on-call basis as needed.

• Leads communication activities by providing support to internal and/or external stakeholders; managing and maintaining vendor relationships; defining and communicating the West Oakland Health brand to ensure positive reputation and recognition; ensuring communications align with West Oakland Health standards; and ensuring communication activities and performance metrics are documented and tracked.

• Manages communications by writing, editing, and producing complex content for West Oakland Health communications programs and projects; proofreading and coordinating production of communications materials; ensuring final placement and distribution of materials; updating content on client-specific and internal/external channels; and ensuring content is consistent with our brand and editorial guidelines in terms of tone, manner, and messaging.

• Manage multiple projects as a writer/editor/thought partner responsible for making strong connections with key audiences through strategic storytelling and digital marketing, including producing employee newsletter, health education and related communications, campaigns, maintaining comms work plans, production schedules, etc. and aligning to senior-level direction on edits, feedback for all communications channels.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 5 years of related experience in journalism, public relations, or marketing.
• At least three years of content management experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information in a clear and concise manner.
• Up-to-date understanding of social media landscape and track record of managing multiple social media channels.
• Proficient with WordPress, Microsoft Office.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Experience working with non-profit, community organizations.
• Commitment to providing culturally concordant, high-quality communications generally and to the Black community specifically.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to multi-task and work effectively in a high-stress, fast-moving environment.
• Demonstrated flexibility and willingness to work on an as-needed basis.
• Ability to travel across Oakland and the San Francisco Bay Area, including offsite visits.
• Proven track record of developing and executing successful communication strategies, particularly in diverse and underserved communities.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams, including clinical staff, administrative personnel, and community partners.
• Strong leadership and decision-making skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Experience in crisis communication and reputation management is a plus.
• Commitment to upholding principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in all communication efforts.
• Valid driver's license or state I.D.
   

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or relevant field; master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in communications or public relations, with at least 2 years in a managerial or leadership role
• Strong understanding of the healthcare industry, particularly in community health centers and the unique needs of the Black/African American community
• Demonstrated ability to write and think about comms strategically; demonstrated delivery of successful comms and marketing campaigns.

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The pace of Work: High stress, very rapid, and demanding
• Concentration: Constant
• Standing and Walking Time Required: At least 20% of the time.
• Sitting and typing: 60% - 70%  
• Environmental and Health Hazards: Frequent exposure to communicable diseases and other conditions common to a clinic environment. 

An employee must meet the physical demands described here to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee must frequently use hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and telephone keyboard and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally bend, lift, and move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

POSITION DESCRIPTION REVISIONS

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, or working conditions associated with these roles.  While this is intended to reflect the current position accurately, management reserves the right to revise the job or require other or different tasks to be performed when circumstances change.  This position description replaces all previous position descriptions for this position.

Job Summary