Internal Communications Senior Specialist

About WestEd

As a community of over 1,000 researchers, practitioners, consultants, and administrative professionals from all backgrounds and life experiences, we are committed to making a qualitative difference in the lives of youth, children, and adults. We conduct and apply research, develop evidence-based solutions, and provide consulting services across the country in both rural and urban communities to improve equitable outcomes for individuals from infancy through adulthood. Serving as trusted partners in the areas of education, health, and justice, our teams enhance capacity within communities and school districts to prioritize impact — asking the right questions, customizing methodologies, developing relevant tools, and implementing best practices specific to a diverse range of stakeholder needs.

Throughout WestEd’s over 50-year history we have maintained a strong commitment to staff diversity. Individuals of different ethnicities, races, abilities, gender identities, and sexual orientations, as well as from different cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, work at all levels of the organization. We value the range of perspectives provided by this diverse workforce and the ways in which those perspectives enrich and inform our agency and the work we do. Read more about WestEd’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Come join us!

SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING THE WORK LOCATION OF THIS POSITION—Although WestEd provides the option of working at one of its facilities for employees, many roles allow employees to choose to work remotely for their own convenience. The decision to allow remote work at the employee's convenience is based on the requirements of the position or project in question

The Opportunity:

WestEd seeks an Internal Communications Sr. Specialist to help bring our mission, vision, and values to life. Using your storytelling skills, you will play a crucial role in helping inform, connect, and inspire our employees through the development and implementation of comprehensive internal communications plans.

In this role, you’ll collaborate with teams across the organization to translate agency goals into messages that engage staff at all levels. This position’s work is highly collaborative and requires someone who is adaptable and organized. The ideal candidate has a keen ability to develop creative content and communicate complex ideas clearly and concisely.

Responsibilities include:

• Track and measure internal communications activity
• Identifying new communication channels and ways to improve how we communicate with employees
• Help establish and maintain best practices, procedures, and tools to improve communication effectiveness, e.g., editorial calendar, templates, comms best practices, etc.
• Manage content and logistics for All Hands meetings and other events as needed
• Collaborate closely with teams across the agency to ensure consistency and alignment across all employee communications
• Manage internal communications channels and develop successful strategies that reach and inspire our employees
• Draft targeted content that supports agency change and transformation initiatives
• Create and maintain an editorial calendar that promotes key agency priorities
• Develop processes and templates to enable managers and leaders to communicate consistently and effectively with their teams.
• Craft impactful internal communications materials, including talking points, emails, videos, newsletters, FAQs, digital content, and presentations

Qualifications:

• Occasional travel may be required. (Occasional travel to attend internal meetings at WestEd office locations)
• Interest in conceptualizing and developing fresh and engaging communication, such as videos, podcasts, infographics, etc.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with strong attention to detail
• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, marketing, or a related field
• At least 5 years of experience in internal communications, employee engagement, or related fields.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the capability to work collaboratively and establish strong working relationships with key colleagues
• Comfortable learning and using new technologies to help improve the overall efficiency of the department’s processes and systems
• Ability to quickly grasp complex information and translate it into clear and concise language for a non-technical audience
• Proven project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Familiarity or curiosity about change management and change communication
• Proficient with basic design and video applications to create or edit compelling communications, e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, iMovie

• Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Successful candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The full salary range for this position, WestEd level G, is $85,440 to $128,200 but WestEd does not typically hire at or near the top of the salary range. The typical hiring range for this role is $85,440 to $106,800. The actual offer takes into account multiple factors including but not limited to education; experience; internal equity, and other organizational needs.

In addition to the base salary, benefits include:

• 15% contribution toward retirement effective day 1 of employment

• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts

• All health/welfare benefits are effective first of the month following hire date

• PTO: 3 weeks vacation (increases to 4 weeks beginning the 4th year of employment), paid holidays, and 12 days paid sick leave per year

• Life Insurance: value of 3x gross salary

• Opportunities for annual merit-based performance increases + annual incentives

• Professional development opportunities & mentorship program

For more detail about our benefits, go to:

https://www.wested.org/work-at-wested/benefits/

Committed to the diversity of race, ethnicities, perspectives, and opportunities, WestEd offers a variety of social and professional learning communities, such as Employee Resource groups, the Data Intelligence, Insights, and Innovation PLC, and the WestEd Parent Community, just to name a few. We hope you’ll consider joining us to build better schools, communities, learning pathways, and more! #LI-Remote #LI-Hybrid

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)