Communications Specialist & Staff Writer (Sacramento, CA) - United Domestic Workers

UDW Overview: 
United Domestic Workers of America, UDW/AFSCME Local 3930 is a statewide labor union that represents more than 170,000 home care and family child care providers in 45 counties in California. Founded in 1979, UDW is a diverse, progressive labor organization that seeks dynamic, committed individuals who will support our members and those for whom they care locally, statewide and at the national level. 

UDW is one of California’s largest labor unions. We consistently support and lead important social justice initiatives like fighting for racial justice, income inequality, and affordable health care for all. We are committed to respect and dignity for seniors, people with disabilities, and the children in our care.  We fight for better working conditions and fair pay for home care and child care providers, and full funding for life-saving programs like In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and subsidized family child care. For more information about UDW, please visit our website at www.udw.org. 

Job Information 
Job Title: Communications Specialist & Staff Writer
Job Type:  Exempt (Salary) 
Department: Communications
Reports to:  Communications Manager 
Job Location: Sacramento, CA
Schedule: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Hybrid (In office/remote)
Starting Salary Range: $66,560.00 to $85,000.00/year    

Job Summary 
The Communications Specialist & Staff Writer plays a crucial role in amplifying the stories of home care providers, family child care providers, and the dedicated families they serve. In this position, you will craft compelling internal and member-to-member communications that champion racial, economic, and social justice principles. You will create impactful communication pieces and projects using strong storytelling abilities and a profound commitment to advance social justice causes. Your responsibilities will encompass creating diverse communication materials, interviewing union members and leaders, supporting social media content, and working closely with the Communications and different departments to develop unified communication strategies.

Duties and Responsibilities:
•    Draft all written internal and member-to-member communication for UDW including blog posts, email and text message blasts, newsletters, brochures, leaflets, flyers, post cards, letters, social media content, member stories, video scripts, and general talking points.
•    Interview workers, member leaders, and union leaders and document their stories and perspectives in writing.
•    If bilingual, interview workers in their first language and translate their stories into English.
•    Update and write engaging content for UDW’s social media accounts and online communities.
•    Attend UDW-Child Care planning meetings and assist with various communications needs, including member-to-member communications (newsletters, email blasts, text messages, website messaging, etc.) and external communications (press, talking points, etc.), as well as developing content for social media and the web. Relay UDW Child Care communications needs to other department staff who will assist you with these projects.
•    Assist the communications team with press-related and event communications, including press outreach, prepping workers for interviews, and other speaking engagements as needed.
•    Create and maintain UDW’s worker story bank. 
•    Create and obtain content for marketing materials such as member profiles and photos.
•    Research and obtain background information to support the creation of written materials.
•    Tailor written content to different audiences.
•    Communicate complex material in a manner that is easily understood.
•    Maintain message consistency across a variety of platforms.
•    Proofread marketing and outreach materials.
•    Track project timelines and tasks.
•    Help coordinate the translation of materials into multiple languages.
•    Support other activities related to UDW’s internal and external communications programs.
•    Attend and cover UDW events as needed, including taking photos and video, talking to members, and posting to social media. 
•    Assist with other communications projects such as video editing, prepping members for interviews and public speaking, and more.
•    Assist with and/or lead communications trainings for UDW members and/or staff. 
•    Support other activities related to UDW’s internal and external communications programs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 
•    Strategic mindset: The ability to think strategically and develop communication plans that align with organizational goals and objectives.
•    Strong storytelling abilities: Capacity to capture and convey the stories and perspectives of workers and union members effectively.
•    Excellent editing and proofreading skills: Proficiency in reviewing and refining written content for accuracy, clarity, and consistency.
•    Social media expertise: Knowledge of best practices for creating and managing content on social media platforms to engage audiences effectively.
•    Excellent communication skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential. Proficient in crafting compelling messages, writing/editing content, and delivering presentations, adapting communication styles to different audiences and channels.
•    Organizational Skills: Ability to manage multiple tasks, projects, and teams simultaneously while maintaining accurate records and documentation.
•    Strategic Thinking: Capacity to develop long-term communication strategies that align with organizational goals and effectively promote union membership and engagement.
•    Passion for Social Justice: A genuine passion for labor rights, social justice, and advocating for workers' rights and dignity to effectively communicate the value of union membership and engagement.
•    Problem-Solving and Conflict Resolution: Ability to analyze issues, identify concerns, and work collaboratively with stakeholders to find resolutions.
•    Analytical and Research Skills: Ability to gather, analyze, and interpret data related to union membership and engagement to inform communication strategies.
•    Technological Proficiency: Comfortable using various digital tools and platforms for communication, data management, and member engagement, including social media platforms and specific union-related software.
•    Public Speaking and Presentation Skills: Ability to confidently deliver presentations to various audiences, including union members, leadership, and external stakeholders.
•    Cultural Competence and Diversity Awareness: Sensitivity to diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives within the union membership to create an inclusive environment.
•    Project Management Skills: Ability to plan, organize, and execute multiple communication projects simultaneously.
•    Flexibility and Adaptability: Openness to change and ability to thrive in a dynamic work environment, adjusting strategies as needed and embracing innovation in communication approaches.

Preferred Qualifications, Education, and/or Experience:
•    A bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or a related field.
•     years of experience in communication or public relations roles.
•    3-5 years of experience in managing communication campaigns, writing and editing content, media relations, social media management, and event planning.
•    3-5 years of experience in developing and executing communication strategies, messaging frameworks, and targeted campaigns is highly valued.
•    Proficiency in digital communication tools and platforms. 
•    Strong interpersonal skills: The ability to build and maintain relationships with stakeholders, both internal and external.
•    Demonstrated experience in stakeholder management, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and working effectively in a diverse environment is preferred.
•    3-5 years of experience in using analytics tools to track communication performance metrics and measure the effectiveness of campaigns is advantageous. 
•    Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret data to inform decision-making and optimize communication strategies are valued.
•    Be adaptable and able to thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. Creativity in developing innovative communication approaches, problem-solving, and finding new ways to engage audiences is highly desirable.
•    3-5 years of experience with conflict resolution and mediation.
•    Knowledge of labor laws, union operations, and workers' rights.
•    Understanding of the challenges facing union members and strategies to address these issues.
•    Strong organizational and project management skills.
•    Cultural competency and experience working with diverse populations.
•    Political acumen and ability to navigate complex organizational structures.

Preferred Bilingual Language(s) in either:
•    Spanish 
•    Vietnamese 
•    Korean
•    Tagalog
•    Russian 
•    Assyrian
•    Somali
•    Mandarin Chinese 
•    Cantonese
•    Arabic

Requirements: 
•    Flexibility and ability to work from a UDW office, 3 days/week
•    A willingness to travel as needed and a reliable vehicle for business use.
•    Valid driver's license

Employee Benefits:
•    Health Insurance
•    Dental Insurance
•    Vision Insurance
•    Life / AD&D
•    Long Term Disability (LTD)
•    401(k) Savings Plan
•    Pension Plan
•    Paid Vacation Days
•    Paid Sick Leave
•    Personal Day
•    16 Paid Holidays
•    Floating Holiday

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement:
UDW has adopted a COVID-19 vaccination policy to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees. As a condition of employment, our employees are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a reasonable accommodation is approved or as otherwise required by law.

Physical Demands: 
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.  While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

Work Environment: 
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. 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 primarily exposed to an office-type environment. The employee will frequently work on or around office equipment and furniture. The noise level in the work environment is low to moderate. The employee will frequently work with deadlines under pressure and will occasionally be required to work alone. The employee is occasionally exposed to outdoor environments, which may include exposure to vehicles, moving mechanical parts; vibration; odors, fumes, gasses, smoke, dust, or airborne particles; and outside weather conditions.

Equal Opportunity Employer:
UDWA is an equal opportunity employer, and, as such, does not discriminate an employee or applicant based on 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.

Notice of E-Verify Participation: 
This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that your employer has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact DHS (888) 897-7781, dhs.gov/e-verify. 

Women, people of color, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community are strongly encouraged to apply.

To apply for this position, please visit UDW’s career page and submit your application.
UDW’s career link →   https://udwa.hiringplatform.com/list/careers