UNITE HERE Local 26

Communications Director

Based in Boston, MA

 

Job Title: Communications Director
Location: Boston, MA
Reports to: President
FLSA Status: Exempt
Classification: Full-time, Permanent
Salary Range: $80,000 – $100,000 depending on experience

About UNITE HERE Local 26
UNITE HERE Local 26 is a member-led union representing hospitality and food service workers throughout Greater Boston and Rhode Island. We believe that powerful communications help build worker power and win strong contracts, better jobs, and a more just society.

Position Summary
UNITE HERE Local 26 is seeking a strategic, experienced, and creative Communications Director to lead our union’s communications work. The ideal candidate is a skilled communicator with a background in labor, advocacy, or community organizing, and who thrives in a campaign-driven environment. This person will lead all internal and external communications, shape our public voice, support our organizing and contract campaigns, and supervise communications staff and volunteers.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Communications & Campaign Support

• Develop and execute communications strategies that support the union’s organizing, bargaining, and public campaigns.
• Craft powerful messages that elevate workers’ voices and highlight union victories.
• Integrate communications planning with organizing and campaign teams.

Media Relations

• Build and maintain strong relationships with local and national journalists.
• Draft and pitch press releases, op-eds, media advisories, and talking points.
• Coordinate press conferences and prepare member and staff spokespeople.

Digital & Social Media

• Lead social media strategy and manage content creation across platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, TikTok, etc.).
• Create and deploy digital campaigns to increase member engagement and public support.
• Track engagement metrics and adjust strategies accordingly.

Design & Visual Storytelling

• Produce or oversee production of flyers, posters, banners, graphics, and newsletters.
• Ensure consistent visual identity across platforms and materials.
• Use tools such as Canva or Adobe Creative Suite to produce in-house materials.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Supervise and mentor communications staff while building a committee of volunteers and interns
• Train union members and leaders to serve as storytellers and spokespeople.
• Coordinate with external partners and vendors, including printers, designers, and media consultants.

Qualifications
Required:

• Minimum 5 years of communications experience with a union, worker center, or advocacy organization including experience managing staff
• Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience with media relations and earned media.
• Familiarity with social media tools and digital strategy.
• Basic design skills (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar).
• Experience leading teams and managing multiple projects.
• Strong commitment to labor, racial, and economic justice.

Preferred:

• Fluency in a second language, especially Spanish, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, or Cantonese.
• Experience with union organizing, bargaining, or campaign fieldwork.
• Skills in video, photography, or website content management. 

To Apply:
Send a cover letter, résumé, and references to Jeff Nelson at Jnelson@unitehere.org