DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Overview

​ ABOUT US

 

At the forefront of building the nation’s labor movement, 32BJ SEIU is changing the narrative around important social and economic issues facing working families. Founded in 1934, 32BJ is the largest union of property service workers in the nation. We have a powerful and important mission: To build and grow a diverse, effective, politically independent and democratic organization of workers to change our lives for the better, improve our communities, and build a more just society for present and future generations.

 

With a commitment to building power for low-wage workers, 32BJ is engaged in winning strong contracts for members, organizing workers, supporting progressive candidates for elected office and moving a broad policy agenda, such as paid sick days, expanding access to health care and the Fight for $15.

 

The union has approximately 425 staff in sixteen offices from Boston to Miami. 32BJ SEIU represents over 175,000 property service workers including janitors, security officers, airport workers, and food service employees in 12 states and Washington, D.C. 32BJ is an affiliate of SEIU, the Service Employees International Union, which has 2 million members dedicated to raising industry standards and making life better for all working families and communities.

 

32BJ SEIU’s headquarters are in New York City.

 

Our communications work is central to the mission of the union – we move campaigns forward and win for workers using a variety of earned, paid and social media and member communications. We seek a thoughtful and dynamic Director of Communications to build upon a broad and robust communications program, and bring our work to the next level. The Director is a key member of the Union’s Senior Staff team, reporting to the Chief of Staff and leading a team of 17 staff across the organization’s jurisdiction. Candidates should be strategic, creative thinkers with deep campaign experience and strong management skills, who know how to utilize a range of communications strategies to engage members and advance campaigns.

Key Responsibilities:

·       Work closely with 32BJ President and Officers to create and implement forward-thinking, union-wide branding, messaging, and communications strategies to target diverse audiences, including members, allies, the media, policy makers, and political leaders, as well as shape influential public support to drive our campaigns;

·       Develop and direct campaign communications, media strategy, and member communications programs;

·       Oversee a member communications team; ensure that all of the union’s member communications—including text, emails, digital, printed materials and more—reflect the values and goals of the organization.

·       Partner with the Union’s organizing, political, field and research departments to develop campaign strategy;

·       Lead a national media relations program, including pitching, building reporter relationships, and managing crisis communications with local and national press;

·       Serve as a thought partner to Union officers on developing and executing communications strategies and setting benchmarks to track progress;

·       Recruit, inspire, develop and retain a diverse communications team;

·       Manage, supervise and evaluate 17 internal and external communicators across the Union’s geographies, maintaining message discipline and consistency;

·       Act as spokesperson for the Union when necessary;

·       Work effectively with other locals, SEIU International, and community groups;

·       Regularly update Union leadership on all progress, challenges, and successes of ongoing projects.

 

Qualifications:

 

·      Ten plus years of experience in communications or campaign management in labor, advocacy or related work;

·      High-level experience leading or directing contract, legislative and/or advocacy campaigns;

·      Experience in communications planning and capacity building in a large, multi-faceted organization;

·      Demonstrated experience as a project manager in a fast-paced, campaign-oriented work environment;

·      Demonstrated ability to develop and manage a large staff;

·      Strong interpersonal communication and relationship building skills;

·      Strong writing skills for print and online formats, strong sense of effective story-telling and proven ability to write quickly, concisely and persuasively;

·      Facility with new media tools and openness to expanding skills in this area;

·      Demonstrated commitment to social and economic justice, especially work with union members, low-wage and/or immigrant communities;

·      Experience in developing training materials and templates and in conducting trainings on communications skills;

·      Experience managing departmental and campaign budgets;

·      Ability to work independently, handle multiple priority projects, and meet deadlines; and

·      Demonstrated resourcefulness and flexibility in approach to project assignments and planning, and ability to pivot and reprioritize in order to respond to crises.

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

·       The position is a full-time position based in New York, NY.

·       This position occasionally requires time outside normal business hours, including some nights and weekends.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

This position is a full time position that occasionally requires long and irregular hours, including some nights, weekends and holidays.