Alliance of Health Care Unions

Alliance Communications Director

Based in San Dimas or Oakland, CA

 

The Alliance of Health Care Unions seeks an experienced individual to fill the position of Communications Director based in California.

The Alliance of Health Care Unions (Alliance) is a labor federation made up of 22 local unions from nine International Unions representing 57,000 workers at Kaiser Permanente in California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Georgia, and Maryland/Virginia/District of Columbia. We are committed to a workplace that reflects the diversity of America defined broadly and where the talent, skills and uniqueness of each staff member is respected. We are committed to a policy of equity for all employees.

The Alliance has a Labor Management Partnership Agreement with Kaiser Permanente (KP). This partnership has been recognized as the most successful, longest standing labor management partnership in the United States. Traditional union-management labor relationships and tactics have been replaced with the principles of mutual respect, the use of interest-based problem solving to address disputes, and multi-union solidarity.

The Alliance negotiated a successor national collective bargaining agreement in 2021, where we reaffirmed our commitment to continuing and improving our partnership with Kaiser Permanente, to give union leadership the opportunity to engage in national, regional and local decisions of concern and interest to our members, to give workers a voice at work, improve patient care and service, promote racial justice, support the growth of union membership and of KP, and make KP the best place to work. Applicants must be comfortable advocating for members within the framework of a “non-traditional, non- adversarial” union/management environment.

The individual that fills this position will be a self-directed strategic leader with a clear vision and strong leadership skills. They must have demonstrated high proficiency in a range of social, visual and print media. They can train and counsel senior leaders as well as frontline workers in basic communications skills. They are successful in a complex, matrixed environment, building relationships with union leaders, other Alliance staff located across the country, Labor Management Partnership Staff and with Kaiser Permanente’s management team. They will work to advance the strategy and goals of the Alliance at a national, regional and local level.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement communication strategies tactics and messages based on an understanding of strategic campaign needs.
• Write, report, and edit articles, fliers, blog/web posts and presentations.
• Create, land and execute website strategy using content management systems.
• Produce and edit mobile phone photography and video.
• Tell the union’s story via social media.
• Design social media, e-mail and web graphics
• Interact with media/reporters including framing/pitching stories to online and offline media.
• Collaborate with Alliance staff, contribute input from a communications perspective on overall strategic advancement of union in the partnership context.
• Collaborate with Alliance local union staff to build a communications network.
• Co-lead joint Labor Management Partnership Communications team; provide vision, strategy, direction, and team building.
• Develop strong working relationships with managers at all levels of Kaiser Permanente to lead and advance the Labor Management Partnership.
• Comfortable learning and using “interest-based” approaches to build consensus among unions and between unions and management.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of experience in advocacy communications, with track record of increasing responsibility
• Demonstrate innovative strategic thinking and ability to drive results
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities
• Experience working in a union or progressive advocacy environment where diverse interests are at play.
• Skilled in collaboration, teamwork, and partnership
• Internet and technology proficient, including but not limited to mass email/texting systems, social media platforms and website content management systems. Proficiency in Adobe InDesign and Photoshop preferred. Ability and willingness to learn additional technology as necessary to fulfill job duties
• Media relations experience including framing/pitching stories to online and offline media.
• Ability to be professional and assertive
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Skill in collaboration, teamwork, and partnership

Location: This position is based in Oakland or San Dimas, California. In addition to Southern and Northern California, the Alliance has members in Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, the Maryland/DC/Virginia area and Georgia. This position involves regular travel within California and as needed, to other regions in which the Alliance operates.

Salary: Based on experience the salary range is $120,000 to $130,000. Comprehensive benefit package including defined benefit pension, health insurance, dental, paid vacation.

Application Information:
Interested persons should submit a résumé and a letter of application that describes their qualifications for the specific position to: resumes@ahcunions.org. The position is open until filled.

AHCU is an equal opportunity employer, and, as such, does not discriminate against an employee or applicant on the basis of race, creed, color, age, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, disability, or any other classification protected from discrimination under applicable law.

Please note that AHCU requires all staff to be fully COVID vaccinated and boosted unless granted a medical or religious exemption.

More Information: www.ahcunions.org, www.LMPartnership.org