Blue Shield of California

Job Description

Your Role

We’re seeking a strategic, dynamic, and experienced Communications Leader (Principal) to elevate how we connect, inform, and inspire our employees. This role is pivotal in shaping our internal narrative, fostering employee engagement, and driving alignment across teams and leadership. You’ll be the voice behind the scenes—crafting compelling messaging, building communication frameworks, and ensuring our people feel informed, valued, and connected to our mission.

In addition to leading internal communications, this role will support select external communications efforts in partnership with agency partners—ensuring consistency of voice, amplifying our brand story, and helping shape how we show up in the world.

Responsibilities

Your Work

In this role, you will:

• Strategy & Leadership
  • Develop and execute a comprehensive internal communications strategy aligned with business goals and company values.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on messaging, change management, and employee engagement.
  • Lead change communications with clarity, empathy, and precision in partnership with Human Resources Business Partners.
• Content & Channels
  • Own the editorial calendar for internal communications across email, intranet, enterprise meetings and more. This includes overseeing the implementation of a new intranet platform.
  • Craft clear, engaging, and inclusive messaging for company-wide announcements and leadership updates.
  • Support ongoing IT/program-related communications in partnership with outside vendors.
• Employee Engagement
  • Design and deliver initiatives that foster transparency, trust, and two-way dialogue.
  • Measure communication effectiveness through surveys, analytics, and feedback loops.
  • Champion storytelling that celebrates employee achievements, team wins, and company culture.
• External Communications Support
  • Collaborate with agency partners to support external messaging, media relations, and brand storytelling.
  • Ensure alignment between internal and external narratives, especially during major announcements or campaigns.
  • Contribute to thought leadership, executive visibility, and reputation-building initiatives.
• Team Management & Collaboration
  • Provide oversight and leadership for other communications team members.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with other Family of Companies resources to ensure consistency and impact.

Qualifications

Your Knowledge and Experience

• Requires a college degree or equivalent experience and minimum of 10 years of prior relevant experience in internal communications, corporate communications, or employee engagement
• Requires proven success in leading communications for large, complex organizations, especially during periods of growth or transformation
• Requires exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills
• Requires strong executive presence and ability to influence senior stakeholders
• Requires experience with digital communication tools (e.g., intranet platforms)
• Requires empathy, creativity, and a deep understanding of organizational dynamics

ABOUT US

About Stellarus and the Ascendiun Family of Companies

Stellarus, launched in January 2025, is designed to scale innovative healthcare solutions that support customers in creating a health care experience deserving of their family, friends, and neighbors.

Stellarus is part of a family of organizations that is overseen by a nonprofit corporate entity named Ascendiun. The Ascendiun Family of Companies also includes Blue Shield of California and its subsidiary, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan and Altais, a clinical services company.

Stellarus’ vision is to empower its customers to create a healthcare experience that is worthy of their family, friends, and neighbors. Stellarus’ objective is to offer innovative, modern, scalable solutions that challenge the health care status quo. This very closely aligns with Blue Shield of California’s vision by using innovation to improve quality, affordability, and experience for members.

To achieve our mission, we foster an environment where all employees can thrive and contribute fully to address the needs of the various communities we serve. We are committed to creating and maintaining a supportive workplace that upholds our values and advances our goals.

Our Values:

At Stellarus, our core values of agility, trust, drive, courage and service shape our approach to developing innovative product offerings.

Our Workplace Model:

At Stellarus and the Ascendiun Family of Companies, we believe in fostering a workplace environment that balances purposeful in-person collaboration with flexibility. As we continue to evolve our workplace model, our focus remains on creating spaces where our people can connect with purpose – whether working in the office or through a hybrid approach – by providing clear expectations while respecting the diverse needs of our workforce.

Two Ways of Working:

• Hybrid (Default): Work from a business unit-approved office at least two (2) times per month (for roles below Director-level) or once per week (for Director-level roles and above). Exceptions:

o Member-facing and approved out-of-state roles remain remote.

o Employees living more than 50 miles from their assigned offices are expected to work with their managers on a plan for periodic office visits.

o For employees with medical conditions that may impact their ability to work in-office, we are committed to engaging in an interactive process and providing reasonable accommodations to ensure their work environment is conducive to their success and well-being.

• On-Site: Work from a business unit-approved office an average of four (4) or more days a week.

Physical Requirements:

Office Environment - roles involving part to full time schedule in Office Environment. Based in our physical offices and work from home office/deskwork - Activity level: Sedentary, frequency most of work day.

Please click here for further physical requirement detail.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

External hires must pass a background check/drug screen. Qualified applicants with arrest records and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with Federal, State and local laws, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status or disability status and any other classification protected by Federal, State and local laws.

Pay Range for California $136400.00 to $204600.00 Pay Range for Bay Area $153760.00 to $230640.00 Please note that this range represents the pay range for this and many other positions at Blue Shield that fall into this pay grade. Blue Shield salaries are based on a variety of factors, including the candidate experience, location (California, Bay Area, or outside California), and current employee salaries for similar roles.