Manager, Issues & Brand Management Job in Oakland, California Us

Assists in leading the development, execution and monitoring of comprehensive plans and programs to effectively manage and respond to critical issues, crises and media stories with an integrated, consistent and proactive communications strategy that gives voice to the Kaiser Permanente story and is aligned with Kaiser Permanente's mission, vision, values, brand and reputation.

Essential Functions:
- Develops and executes an issues communication management program that is a responsive, pro-active, well-coordinated and provides consistent handling of and response to crises and issues across the region that could adversely affect Kaiser Permanente's brand image and reputation.
- Provides advice and develops messages that address critical issues and stories across the region.
- Develops tools to effectively position messages by working in collaboration with the Director of Communications and Brand Management, Program Office, legal and compliance professionals and union/labor partners, and by participating in issues management discussions.
- Ensures that tools, templates, archives and resources are available to support leaders in handling issues and brand management.
- Creates a proactive brand and reputation management plan for the Kaiser Northern California region in collaboration with Media Relations.
- Provides expertise in managing information from media channels.
- Informs managers and leaders of opportunities, threats and strategies related to social media and other sources of information.
- Ensures that region wide issues and brand management are positioned under one common theme that is well-integrated with all stakeholders.
- Develops systems to help foresee impending crisis situations that threaten Kaiser's brand and reputation, in order to prepare and proactively deal with such situations and prevent or minimize any damaging impact to the organization.
- Supports the work of the regional Issues and Brand Management Council.
- Backs up the Director in disaster situations and assists with planning and drilling for both operations and health plan.

Qualifications:
Basic Qualifications:
- Seven (7) years substantial experience in the communications field, in a corporate, nonprofit, agency or health care setting.
- Experience in crisis communication and issues management.
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in public relations, communications, journalism or related field.
- Master's degree preferred.
- Demonstrated success in developing and managing strategic communications programs in a large, diverse organization requiring effective consultation with and advising of senior leaders and collaboration with communications colleagues at various levels.
- Strong critical-thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills.
- Demonstrated ability to build consensus on strategies and messages among peers and across different reporting structures; and to work with executive teams and multidisciplinary groups.
- Adept at project management and broad-based communication planning.
- Knowledge of health care industry and issues.
- Strong working knowledge of the news media and its various elements (print, broadcast, digital).
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Knowledge of KP medical center environment, particularly in Northern California preferred.
- Working knowledge of the medical center management structure and proficiency in working with both medical and administrative leadership preferred.
- Established and effective relationships with communications colleagues at the medical center level in Northern California preferred.
- Must be able to work in a Labor/Management Partnership environment.