Communications Specialist at United American Indian I Inc – Los Angeles, California

United American Indian Involvement (UAII) is the only Urban Indian Organization in Los Angeles County, proudly serving as a home for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Through our healthcare facility and culturally centered programs, we provide essential physical, behavioral, and spiritual health services—helping individuals stay connected to their Tribal heritage and traditions.

For over 50 years, UAII has grown to become the largest nonprofit provider of health and human services for American Indians and Alaska Natives in Los Angeles, home to the nation’s largest Urban Indian population. Our dedicated team delivers compassionate care that supports daily healing, resilience, and the continued strength of our communities. UAII is committed to uphold Indigenous values in all aspects of our work. It guides our actions, relationships, and responsibilities, ensuring that we serve our communities with integrity, respect, and accountability.

Core Principles

• Respect for Relatives – I will honor the dignity of all people, recognizing that every individual is a relative deserving of respect, compassion, and care.
• Community Responsibility – My work is not only for individual benefit but for the collective well-being of our communities, present and future.
• Cultural Integrity - I will safeguard and uplift Indigenous languages, traditions, and cultural practices, ensuring they remain central to our organizational life.
• Reciprocity - We give back in balance with what we receive, fostering mutual trust and accountability in all relationships.
• Stewardship – I will act as a caretaker of our communities, resources, and environment, mindful of the impact of our decisions on future generations.
• Truth and Transparency – I will communicate honestly and openly, ensuring clarity in our commitments and accountability in our actions

Job Summary

The Communications Specialist will assist with internal and external communications (including main website content and social marketing), media relations, and events support. Collaborate with Communications Team to develop content topics, coordinates with others to obtain information, writes, edits, designs, and sends to staff, community partners, Tribal Nations, and business contacts. Collaborates with Communications team and leadership on the production of press releases, announcements, brochures, event materials, photographs, newsletters, etc.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop, schedule, and manage social media content across platforms, ensuring an engaging and consistent presence that reflects our mission and values.
• Coordinate with the website master to manage and implement website updates as part of digital and print communications, including newsletters, press releases, and promotional materials.
• Manage incoming requests for the Communications Team, ensuring timely and effective responses.
• Submit monthly reports to the Board of Directors, including updates on communication initiatives, analytics, and key outcomes.
• Support the Communications Team with a variety of requests and tasks to ensure smooth operations and collaboration.
• Support leadership with project management tasks, including coordinating timelines, tracking progress, and assisting with reporting.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to ensure culturally appropriate messaging and authentic representation.
• Draft internal and external newsletters that communicate key updates, initiatives, and organizational priorities with clarity and consistency.
• Write, edit, and develop engaging content for print and online.
• Promote United American Indian Involvement (UAII) content through email, social media, and in-person events/networking.
• Respond to public questions and information requests via email and social media.
• Support the Communications Team with the development of presentations for meetings and public outreach events.
• Assist with UAII events and field projects as necessary.
• Monitor and analyze the effectiveness of communication strategies, making necessary adjustments.
• Ability to work some weekends and evenings.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Education & Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or related field and at least three to five years of related work experience or equivalent experience, or a comparable combination of education and professional experience.
• Proven experience in a communications role.
• Demonstrated communication and storytelling skills, both written and oral, including the ability to write, edit, and proof written materials.
• Proficiency with Adobe design products like Photoshop and InDesign.
• Proficiency in Asana, Microsoft Office and G Suite (Google Apps).
• Experience using social media as an outreach tool.

Preferred Qualifications (Education & Experience)

• Experience in organizing or advocacy preferred.
• Photography and/or Videographer skills a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Dedication to UAII’s mission and vision.
• Must be self-motivated, take initiative, be dependable, work with minimum supervision, and be a team player. Must maintain strict client confidentiality and use good judgment when making decisions.
• Must have the ability to develop and maintain an effective working relationship with personnel and the public. Maintain a professional attitude, be responsible, and demonstrate a commitment to excellence.
• Strong organizational abilities.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

As a Communications Specialist, this individual demonstrates critical competencies in the following broad categories:

1. Communication: The Communications Specialist needs to be able to communicate professionally and in a timely manner with the Board of Directors, Executive Leadership, Senior Management, staff, and external partners. They also need strong interpersonal skills to collaborate well, resolve conflicts, and build a professional network.

2. Time Management: The Communications Specialist needs to be able to juggle many different tasks, such as answering phones, organizing files, managing requests, preparing presentations, social media content, updating the website, etc.

3. Problem Solving: The Communications Specialist needs to be able to solve problems and answer client questions, and they need to be able to make decisions on their feet.

4. Attention to detail: The Communications Specialist needs to pay close attention to detail.

5. Organization: The Communications Specialist needs to be able to effectively manage calendars, appointments, meetings, and other events to keep communications running smoothly.

6. Adaptability: The Communications Specialist needs to be able to adapt to new priorities, procedures, and technologies as they arise.

7. Critical Thinking: The Communications Specialist needs to have critical thinking skills and tact to handle potentially delicate situations. The individual must be trustworthy and intuitive.

Conditions of Hire

· Eligibility to work in the U.S.

· Fingerprint clearance and post-offer drug test.

· Proof of hepatitis B vaccination and TB screening.

· UAII strongly encourages COVID-19 and Influenza vaccinations; in the absence of the recommended vaccinations, employees are advised to wear a mask while in the clinic areas.

Benefits

· Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage

· Voluntary Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance Plans

· Company-paid Short-Term & Long-Term Disability

· Company-paid Basic Life Insurance and AD&D

· HSA, FSA

· 403(b) Retirement Plan with 4% Employer Match

· Employee Assistance Program

· Bereavement and Jury Duty Paid Leave

· Employee Wellness Program

· Paid Vacation - 12 days (first 2 years)

Working Conditions

The work environment characteristics described here represent those employee encounters while performing the primary functions of this job.

This is a fully on-site position with occasional field work as needed, and the successful applicant will be expected to work on-site daily.

Normal office conditions exist, and the noise level in the work environment can vary from low to moderate. Because of occupational exposure to aerosol transmissible diseases, employees are strongly encouraged to receive annual influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations to not only protect their health, but also the health of our colleagues and the community. In the absence of the recommended vaccinations, employees are advised to wear a mask at all times while in the clinic areas as a precautionary measure to help prevent the spread of illnesses.

Potential occasional exposure to low dose radiation hazards, hazardous chemicals and body fluids and waste. Personal protective equipment provided. May be exposed to infectious and contagious diseases. Work may be performed in a health clinic setting. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate. This job routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, telephones, photocopiers, and fax machines. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Conditions

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and/or sit. The employee is occasionally required to walk, sit and climb or balance. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.

United American Indian Involvement, Inc. (UAII) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected status under federal, state, or local law. UAII is a drug-free workplace and complies with ADA regulations. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

UAII is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, in accordance with applicable law.