Lead Public Affairs and Communications Coordinator

About CIR

The Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) is the largest housestaff union in the United States. We are a local of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), representing more than 41,000 resident physicians who are dedicated to improving residency training and education, advancing patient care, and expanding healthcare access for our communities. CIR’s mission is to empower our nation’s interns, residents and fellows to fight for excellence for our patients.

Job Summary

The Committee of Interns and Residents, the largest resident physicians’ union in the country, is looking for a Lead Public Affairs and Communications Coordinator for our Western region. This position will be responsible for developing and executing strategic communications, media relations, digital campaigns, and public affairs strategies that advance our political, legislative, and community affairs campaigns.

Working closely with the Political, Community Affairs and Communications teams, this position leads media relations, messaging, digital communications, storytelling, and content creation to build public support and elevate the voices of CIR members. The role also supports legislative and electoral work through political analysis and strategic communications planning. The ideal candidate is a strategic communicator with strong writing, media relations, and interpersonal skills who is committed to advancing healthcare justice and the labor movement.

What You’ll Do

Strategic Communications

• Develop and execute strategic communications plans that support CIR’s political, legislative, and community affairs campaigns.
• Create political messaging and strategic communications plans that include earned, paid, shared, and owned media tactics across a range of public affairs campaigns.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Political and Community Affairs team, helping shape campaign strategy and plans.
• Provide guidance on communications risks, media inquiries, and sensitive public affairs issues.

Press, Influencers, and Community Voices

• Develop and maintain relationships with influencers, community leaders and reporters covering labor, healthcare, politics, and other relevant beats at the national and regional levels.
• Draft press releases, media advisories, statements, op-eds, talking points, and other communications materials.
• Identify and create opportunities to elevate the voices of CIR members in traditional and new media.

Narrative and Storytelling

• Develop strategic narratives and messaging that advance CIR’s political, legislative, and community affairs priorities.
• Identify and cultivate member stories that align with legislative and advocacy campaigns, translating personal experiences into compelling public narratives.
• Prepare and coach members for media interviews, legislative testimony, public events, digital media, and other storytelling opportunities.
• Create compelling digital content, including videos, Reels, graphics, and social media content, to amplify campaigns.

Copy Editing

• Translate complex policy, healthcare, and legislative issues into clear, accessible communications for members, the media, policymakers, community partners, internal audiences, and the general public.
• Review and edit a wide range of communications materials, including letters, statements, petitions, emails, web copy, and campaign materials, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and consistency.
• Draft memos, op-eds, talking points, messaging documents, strategic communications plans, and other written materials in support of organizational priorities.

Electoral and Legislative Work

• Provide support to Community and Government Relations staff in the following:
• Planning electoral organizing campaigns including matters such as candidate screening, endorsements, and member education
• Maintain apprised of the political climate and ongoing major debates
• Assist in developing relevant reports for CIR National Executive Committee

Additional Responsibilities

• Provide support for contract campaigns, organizing campaigns, and other strategic organizational priorities as needed.
• Perform other departmental and organizational duties as assigned

What Makes a Great Candidate

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Political Science, Public Policy, Journalism, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience required.
• Experience in political communications, public affairs, advocacy, labor organizing, healthcare, government, or issue-based campaigns. Experience in union labor organizing is a must.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with demonstrated experience producing high-quality communications materials, including press releases, op-eds, talking points, speeches, strategic messaging documents, and digital content.
• Excellent communicator with the ability to translate complex policy, healthcare, and legislative issues into clear, compelling messages for a variety of audiences.
• Experience developing and executing communications strategies for advocacy, political, legislative, or issue-based campaigns across earned, digital, and social media.
• Strong understanding of political communications, earned media, message development, crisis communications, and rapid-response strategy.
• Experience creating compelling digital content, including social media campaigns, videos, graphics, and other multimedia content. Proficiency with Canva or similar design tools.
• Demonstrated understanding of storytelling, audience engagement, and maintaining a cohesive organizational identity across platforms.
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with members of the media. Existing relationships with political, labor, or healthcare reporters are a plus.
• Strong research, analytical, project management, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to think strategically, exercise sound judgment, and work independently while collaborating effectively across departments.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends, and travel as needed to support campaigns and organizational priorities.
• Commitment to social justice, the labor movement, and CIR’s mission, with a strong commitment to fostering a collaborative, values-driven workplace.
• Must be based in California, Washington (Seattle area), or New Mexico. This is a remote position with the ability to travel throughout the Western Region and nationally as needed to support campaigns and organizational priorities.
• Must be fully vaccinated for Covid in accordance with CDC guidelines, subject to any laws of the state in which the applicant resides.

CIR is committed to equal opportunity for all employees and applicants and encourages applications from all qualified candidates. As a proud Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE), we do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, religion, sex, sexual stereotyping, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, pregnancy (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), or any other protected category recognized by state, federal or local laws. CIR provides reasonable accommodations, in accordance with applicable law, for qualified individuals with disabilities, for individuals’ religious beliefs and practices, and on any other basis required by law. If, to apply for this job or to participate in a job interview, you require a reasonable accommodation, please let us know. Please visit our website for more information: www.cirseiu.org.

Excellent benefits package including health, dental, and vision coverage with no employee contributions; generous paid leave time including four weeks’ vacation within the first calendar year of employment, paid holidays, personal days, and sick days; short and long-term disability insurance; 401(k); defined benefit pension plan; and mileage reimbursement.