Communications Organizer

General Description
The California Teachers Association (CTA) is a union of 310,000 educators across California, including K-12 and higher education educators. CTA’s mission is to protect and promote the well-being of its members; to improve the conditions of teaching and learning; to advance the cause of free, universal, and quality public education for all students; to ensure that the human dignity and civil rights of all children, youth and adults are protected; and to secure a more just, equitable, and democratic society.

The Communications Organizer develops communication strategies, tools, tactics, and trainings for CTA members and supports local chapter campaigns. This role requires a strong understanding of unions and the labor movement and how to advance our mission through a variety of communication channels and tools including but not limited to earned media and press strategy for local, statewide and national media, email, social media, and more.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Works under the direction of the Communications Manager.
• Develops communications strategies, tools, trainings, campaigns, and materials for CTA local chapters in Region 3.
• Leads on earned media strategy in assigned region including developing and maintaining ongoing relationships with local journalists and securing coverage to support local and statewide organization and campaigns.
• Creates drafts of print and digital materials for both public and member audiences including emails, leaflets, flyers, newsletter pieces, blog posts, talking points, letters to the editor, op-eds, fact sheets, videos, and social media posts for various campaigns. This also includes editing and revising others’ content as necessary.
• Utilizes digital advocacy tools and tactics to advance organizing, bargaining, and political campaigns.
• Prepares news releases and materials for media use.
• Supports CTA chapters with crisis communications.
• Initiates regional articles and other content for CTA.org and other publications.
• Writes talking points and speeches for leaders.
• Provides media relations, message development, legislative and political action communications, and other communications trainings at various CTA conferences.
• Performs other duties and projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or higher degree in communications-related field preferred.
• Skill and experience in working with journalists in traditional and crisis communications.
• Knowledge of Region 3 local media and journalists.
• Strong writing skills and experience as an advocacy writer.
• Skilled in using social media and digital communications to pitch news stories and monitor coverage and trends.
• Ability to work on several projects at a time, under pressure and with tight deadlines.
• Experience in working crisis situations, including strikes and political campaigns.
• Ability to work in a team environment as well as individually.
• Broad understanding of the issues facing public schools and the education profession.
• Experience working with coalition partners on high profile labor and governmental matters and campaigns.
• Ability to research and fact check data and materials for internal and external communications.
• Proficiency with Windows PC environment, Microsoft Office, and media databases; Meltwater, Canva, and Salesforce a plus.
• Understanding of membership-based organizations unions.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid California driver’s license.
• Ideal candidate will be a self-starter, resourceful and highly motivated.

• This position is in a bargaining unit represented by CSO. Salaries are established by a collective bargaining agreement. Step placement is also determined by the CTA/CSO Agreement.