Communications Manager, Vaccine Equity Access Program (VEAP)

Join a national organization committed to advancing a movement to race equity and health justice.

Community Catalyst is a leading non-profit national health advocacy organization dedicated to advancing a movement for health equity and justice. We partner with local, state and national advocates to leverage and build power so all people can influence decisions that affect their health. Health systems will not be accountable to people without a fully engaged and organized community voice. That’s why we work every day to ensure people’s interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and health care are made: in communities, state houses and on Capitol Hill. Learn more about our vision for the future in our five-year strategic plan.

POSITION SUMMARY

Community Catalyst is looking for a strategic and thoughtful communications partner to develop strategy and related materials centered in race equity and health justice. Specifically, the Communications Manager’s priority will be to lead communications strategy and execution on behalf of the Vaccine Equity and Access Project (VEAP), a national program that supports community-based organizations led by and working with people of color to facilitate information about and increase access to vaccines as a part of a broader effort to reduce vaccination disparities. As we approach the second phase of this program, the Communications Manager will play a critical role in shaping the work for the year/s ahead, including overseeing the priorities and day-to-day activities of a designated communications agency partner.

The Communications Manager will also support the larger Community Catalyst communications team on various activities to ensure best practices as well as consistent voice and tone that centers the organizations commitment to race equity and health justice.   

About VEAP:
In partnership with 90 community-based organizations (CBOs) led by and working with communities of color VEAP aims to: 

• Increase vaccination opportunities within BIPOC communities and enhance provider relationships with the communities they serve to boost vaccine confidence;  
• Equip influential and trusted messengers within the community to become ambassadors for COVID-19 and influenza vaccine information; and  
• Establish and/or build upon partnerships with state and local health departments to support vaccine access in both the short and long term.  

VEAP is also in partnership with three national non-profit organizations including LeadingAge, the Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition, and Young Invincibles, which conduct vaccine confidence-building and vaccination access strategies focused on important segments of the targeted populations – older adults, young adults, and immigrant communities.  

This position is included in a collective bargaining unit represented by a staff union, Community Catalyst United, and specific employment terms may be subject to a future Collective Bargaining Agreement.

This is a full-time grant-funded position that will begin immediately.

Supervision: The Communications Manager’s supervisor of record will be the Senior Director of Communications and will serve as a core member of the communications department. However, the Communications Manager will work closely with the VEAP Associate Director and team in a collaborative, team-centered manor to develop and execute best-practice communications strategies.  

RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizational transformation and programmatic leadership:

• Serve as communications lead for the VEAP project, building visibility for the program amongst internal and external audiences, and bridging the gap to larger organizational priorities as defined in the organizations five-year strategic plan. Tactics might include partner webinars, internal convenings, fact sheets, newsletters, and social media content. 
• Oversee and direct designated communications agency partner to ensure clear and consistent messaging, define strategic communications priorities, as well as metrics to evaluate communications impact.
• Work in partnership with VEAP program team and national partners to identify common themes and develop impactful narratives and communications materials that deepen learning and understanding about the project’s goals, outcomes, and lessons for the field.
• Serve as an internal champion for the program, looking around corners for ways to engage colleagues in the work and how it can inform cross-programmatic support of CBOs on a variety of race equity and health justice issues.
• Develop a thought leadership platform for VEAP Associate Director to build awareness and momentum about the programs impact to date and how it is informing the organizations work moving forward – including though opinion pieces and blogs, social media platforms, and conferences and events.
• Provide support to Community Catalyst’s Communications department and other program teams within the DEI Department when needed.
• Undertake related duties as assigned.

Technical assistance (TA) in service of community-based organizations (CBOs) and partners:

• Bring forward and execute new and creative ideas for elevating the work of the project’s sub-grantees amongst priority audiences, including national and state media, health/public health stakeholders, race equity and health justice advocates, the philanthropy sector, and key opinion leaders.
• Oversee relationships with priority CBOs, including for storytelling opportunities, as well as overseeing and directing ad hoc support from agency partners.
• Work with communications consultant to plan, create and disseminate impactful content to support CBOs in reaching target populations and empowering trusted voices in the community. This might include:
  • Development of community-based, culturally appropriate messaging for use by CBOs to reach target audiences. This includes message testing and identification of trusted messengers.
  • Integration of messaging into education and outreach materials, including impactful visual and digital assets (social media assets, ads, radio, video, print).
  • Development of culturally appropriate visual assets, including assets designed for digital distribution (such as memes, gifs, videos, and ads) across a range of platforms (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube) and print materials (signs, flyers).
  • Design, development and execution of social media and ad campaigns.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Bachelors’ degree plus 3 years related work experience or 5 years of relevant work/educational experience
• Commitment to race equity and/or experience in health justice communications
• Strong foundation of communications experience, including development and execution of strategies, tactics and messaging, activities, and events, for public health or public education campaign/s
• Strong adherence to ensuring content and messaging are culturally appropriate and reflect the experiences of diverse people and communities
• Excellent writing, editing and presentation skills, including for lay audiences
• Experience working with media and developing media materials, including developing, writing and pitching stories, as well as drafting and placing op-eds
• Experience leveraging digital communications and social media in communications campaigns and solid knowledge of social media platforms
• 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
• Ability to set realistic timelines, communicate clearly about challenges and opportunities, and when necessary, respond to tight timelines
• Collaborative team player

Preferred:

• Familiarity with race and culture media and platforms
• Experience providing training and technical assistance to community-based organizations
• Experience managing multi-channel content (social, digital, video, graphics/infographics, print) for public health or public education campaign/s
• Experience managing and working with outside communications consultants and/or firms
• Experience with e-CRM (constituent management) software
• Bilingual/Bicultural background

BENEFITS & SALARY

• Salary Range: $55,000—$68,000 dependent on experience
• Generous paid time off policy
• Robust benefits package
• Location: Flexible/remote

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 “Vaccine Equity and Access Program Communications Manager” in the subject line.

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.