Harm Reduction Communications Lead, Los Angeles County

Vital Strategies, headquartered in New York City, is an international public health organization. Our programs strengthen public health systems and address the world’s leading causes of illness, injury, and death. We currently work in 73 countries, supporting data-driven decision-making in government, advancing evidence-based public health policies, and mounting strategic communication campaigns. Vital Strategies’ priorities are driven by the greatest potential to improve and save lives. They include non-communicable disease prevention, cardiovascular health promotion, tobacco control, road safety, obesity prevention, epidemic prevention, environmental health, vital statistics systems building, and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis treatment research. Our programs are concentrated in low- and middle-income countries and cities in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific. Please visit our website at www.vitalstrategies.org to find out more about our work.

Vital Strategies is committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive (DEI) organization. We believe our programs are strengthened when they are developed and supported by individuals with diverse life experiences, whose understanding of social and cultural issues can help make our work and workforce more inclusive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, gender, national origin, ancestry, actual or perceived age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, marital status, sexual orientation, predisposing genetic characteristics, alienage or citizenship status, gender (including gender identity or expression), partnership status, arrest or conviction record, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws.

Read about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Vital Strategies: https://www.vitalstrategies.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-at-vital-strategies/

Job Purpose:

Based on the strength of its experience in communications and social marketing and its expertise in the area of harm reduction, Vital Strategies has been contracted by the government of Los Angeles County to support communications, marketing, and advertising efforts to build support for the roll-out of harm reduction services across the county. This position will be responsible for guiding, implementing, coordinating, and managing multi-tiered media and communications strategies and activities, on behalf of Los Angeles County Department of Public

Health and Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (LA County), to reduce stigma against people who use drugs and to promote support and integration of harm reduction services. Working with and managing a Harm Reduction Communications Specialist on the ground working with the department, this team of two will lead and manage the work to support and amplify the LA County harm reduction strategy, with integrated support from communications and program content experts at Vital Strategies. This team will be responsible for managing all aspects of the five-year effort, including PR, research firms, local media, and community mobilization to further campaign objectives. Specifically, campaign objectives are focused on growing public support for harm reduction among people who use drugs, health professionals, and law enforcement in LA County.

This is a  full-time position, based in Los Angeles County (Alhambra, CA) where a hybrid work schedule is in place. Highly qualified candidates in the New York City area may also be considered. This position is funded through March 2029, with the possibility of an extension.

Vital Strategies offers highly competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits. The salary range for this position is $134,000 USD – $145,000 USD. The candidate must have authorization to work legally in the US at the time of hire.

Duties and Responsibilities:

· With Vital OPP and LA County Departments of Public Health and Health Services leadership, conceive of, execute, and manage a multi-year marketing and advertising campaign to grow the target audience's awareness of the benefits of harm reduction and availability of options, including:

• Manage the development of key campaign messages and themes along with LA County leadership and community members;
• Oversee the development of marketing materials by agencies, partners, and vendors including social media content;

· Lead the planning, implementation, and evaluation of multi-media strategic social marketing campaigns in the county, including vendor selection and management for marketing research and creative media, respectively;

· Ensure project integration and alignment with county harm reduction strategy and activities, in coordination with the county Harm Reduction Director;

· Work closely with LA county DHS and DPH harm reduction and communications teams to ensure alignment, coordination, and integration;

· Generate positive press and media attention for LA County anti-stigma and harm reduction work, including:

• Manage and promote earned media opportunities, including press relations and strategy;
• Develop talking points and messaging materials to support press conferences and community engagements by Department leadership;
• Provide strategic communications advice to leadership around the timing and placement of messages, and engaging with different media outlets;

· Lead campaign engagement within communities for the dissemination of communication materials and messages, particularly those disproportionately impacted by overdose, people who use drugs, health care professionals, and law enforcement including:

• Guide and support the development, implementation, improvement, and evaluation of coordinated community mobilization strategies and activities;

· At the request of county leadership, provide crisis communications in response to events, press, and other situations;

· Serve as a core member of the Overdose Prevention Program, and as a contracted partner to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health;

· Supervise, and guide the Harm Reduction Communications Specialist for Los Angeles County, including for community engagement and campaign activities;

· Manage all project data and reports on activities and milestones;

· Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education and Degree - 

· Bachelor’s degree, preferably in communications, journalism, public policy, public health, public relations, or marketing.

Skills and Abilities - 

· Self-starter with the ability to work independently and in cross-functional teams;

· Demonstrated mastery of project management, including managing budget, vendors, and contractors;

· Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills, and ability to think creatively;

· Excellence in developing and adapting messages for use across multiple formats such as presentations, talking points, social media messages, fact sheets, and press releases;

· Superb interpersonal skills, ability to work with diverse teams such as government officials, technical experts, and community groups, and ability to actively listen and build consensus amongst multiple groups;

· Strong oral and written communication skills;

· Ability to build strong, ongoing, impactful relationships at all organizational levels and across a diverse range of cultural, generational, ethnic, racial, educational, and social backgrounds;

· Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.

Experience:

Required - 

· Minimum 10 years experience in communications and/or advocacy working to build public support through media for public health or social justice issues;

· At least 5 years of progressive management and leadership experience in communications and public relations, preferably within the public health and/or human services sector;

· Experience managing marketing and/or paid media campaigns including message development, evaluating dissemination plans;

· Experience generating earned media including managing press relations, supporting spokespeople, spotting proactive messaging opportunities and responding to breaking news;

· Strong track record of successful media placement, and demonstrated expertise in targeting media strategies and social marketing campaigns;

· Experience in managing a budget.

Preferred - 

· Extensive successful writing and editing experience (internally and externally focused) with a variety of print and online communications media;

· Demonstrated experience and comfort in proactively building relationships with top-tier reporters and editors, and in successfully positioning subject matter with the media to achieve high-impact placements;

· Experience in supervising community-based staff, and in providing mentoring, and coaching;

· Experience working in harm reduction, drug policy, or related topics;

· Proficiency in the Spanish language is a plus.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

·  Travel to program or event sites throughout LA county at least 30% of the time. In addition, the position will require travel to Vital’s New York City headquarters approximately 10% of the time.