Manager, Strategic Communications

Job Summary

The Manager, Strategic Communications leads and implements L.A. Care’s strategic communication initiatives to ensure alignment with the organization’s strategic vision, business goals, and regulatory standards. This position oversees communications and public relations campaigns, media relations, executive messaging, internal communications, sponsorships, corporate events, issues management, and thought leadership efforts. This position plays a critical role in shaping L.A. Care’s reputation, supporting executive leadership with messaging and talking points, driving awareness of organizational priorities, and fostering meaningful connections with members, providers, employees, and community partners.

The Manager also supports communications for Community Resource Centers, ensuring localized outreach efforts are aligned with broader organizational strategies. This position is expected to maintain a strong presence in the community, representing L.A. Care at events, activations, and outreach initiatives. The Manager ensures alignment in messaging, coordination of on-the-ground engagement, and consistent support for local partnerships and member-facing activities. The Manager manages all aspects of running an efficient team, including hiring, supervising, coaching, training, disciplining, and motivating direct reports.

Participates and makes recommendation on the department's strategic planning and/or long-term decision-making.

Duties

Develop and implement strategic communications plans to support organizational goals, public health priorities, and community engagement. Provide leadership and strategic counsel to executive leadership on messaging, positioning, and public engagement. Ensure all communications meet regulatory guidelines. Stay ahead of industry trends, media landscapes, and stakeholder expectations.

Manage leadership strategy, including speaking engagements, authored content, executive visibility, and strategic positioning across industry forums and media platforms. Lead development of messaging frameworks, talking points, speeches, and executive communications. Oversee creation of content for internal and external audiences. Ensure consistent messaging across all channels.

Manage media relations strategy. Serve as a key point of contact for journalists and media outlets. Support crisis communications and public health emergency planning and execution, ensuring timely, accurate, and coordinated responses. Monitor public sentiment and manage reputation risks.

Oversee internal communications strategy to engage and inform employees across the organization. Oversee daily internal newsletter, intranet content, and employee-facing campaigns. Collaborate with key stakeholders to support organizational change, culture, and employee experience.

Manage sponsorship program strategy, partnerships, and performance tracking. Ensure events and sponsorships align with strategic vision, community priorities, and business objectives. Lead planning and execution of corporate events.

Support Community Resource Centers with localized messaging, media opportunities, and event communications. Collaborate with departments to amplify health initiatives and community programs. Foster authentic relationships with members, providers, and community partners through strategic communications. Represent L.A. Care on internal and external workgroups, coalitions, taskforces and initiatives that support L.A. Care’s program’s goals and objectives.

Monitor performance metrics across communication channels and translate insights into actionable improvements. Report on campaign impact, media coverage, audience engagement, and stakeholder feedback.

Manage staff, including, but not limited to monitoring of day-to-day activities of staff, monitoring of staff performance, mentoring, training, and cross-training of staff, handling of questions or issues, etc. raised by staff, encourage staff to provide recommendations for relevant process and systems enhancements, among others. Oversee strategic communications support for Community Resource Centers to ensure strategic alignment and localized impact.

Manage complex projects, engaging and updating key stakeholders, developing timelines, lead others to complete deliverables on time and ensure implementation upon approval.

Responsible for reporting, budgeting, and policy implementation.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Duties Continued

Education Required

Education Preferred

Experience

Required:
At least 5 years of experience in strategic communications, public relations, media relations, or corporate communications.

At least 3 years leading staff or supervisor/management experience, managing high-stakes communications initiatives.

Experience leading teams, projects, initiatives, or cross-functional groups.

Experience developing and executing communications strategies that support business objectives, public health, member education, or community outreach—preferably in healthcare, nonprofit, or government settings.

Experience supporting executive leadership with messaging, talking points, speeches, and thought leadership content.

Experience in media relations, crisis communications, and reputation management.

Experience supporting communications for community-based programs or resource centers.

Experience ensuring projects meet stated objectives and are completed on time and within budget.

Equivalency:  Completion of the L.A. Care Management Certificate Training Program may substitute for the supervisory/management experience requirement.

Preferred:

Experience managing internal communications, employee engagement, and organizational storytelling.

Experience managing sponsorship programs, and planning and executing corporate events and community-facing initiatives.

Skills

Required:

Strong writing, editing, and digital storytelling skills to craft compelling, audience-focused content across platforms.

Ability to develop and implement integrated communications plans that align with organizational goals and public health priorities.

Skilled in crafting speeches, talking points, authored content, and strategic positioning for stakeholders.

Expertise in managing press outreach, media monitoring, and coordinated crisis communications.

Ability to engage employees through newsletters, intranet content, and organizational messaging that supports culture and business goals.

Ability to manage sponsorship program and planning and executing corporate events that are aligned with strategic vision and community needs.

Familiarity with project tracking tools such as Podio or Jira.

Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment, adapt to shifting priorities, and lead with resilience and clarity.

Deep understanding of healthcare communications, campaign management, thought leadership, media relations, and cultural competency to connect with diverse audiences and support L.A. Care’s commitment to improving health outcomes across Los Angeles County.

Familiarity with regulatory communications requirements.

Ability to manage high-volume workloads and multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced environment.

Strong interpersonal skills for building relationships, fostering teamwork, and creating a positive work environment to achieve communications goals. Ability to guide and support team members.

Excellent ability to set clear goals, develop strategic plans to achieve those goals, and inspire others to work towards a shared vision.

Skilled in mediating disputes and resolving conflicts in a fair and constructive manner.

Deep understanding of financial principles.

Ability and excellent knowledge in developing and managing budgets, forecasting future financial outcomes, and making informed decisions about resource allocation.

Ability to make informed decisions.

Strong verbal, written communication and presentation skills.

Deep understanding of the industry, market dynamics, and organizational operations to identify opportunities and navigate challenges.

Strong ability and knowledge to analyze market trends, anticipate future changes, and develop long-term strategies that align with the company's goals.

Licenses/Certifications Required

Licenses/Certifications Preferred

Required Training

Physical Requirements

Additional Information