Communications Manager

Position Title: Communications Manager—Writing & Editorial
Organization: The Surplus Line Association of California
Reports To: Director of Communications
Location: San Ramon, CA (full time, on site)
Salary: $90,000–$105,000 annually

About Us:

At the Surplus Line Association of California (SLACAL), we don’t sell insurance—we protect access to it. As the only organization overseeing California’s nearly $25+ billion surplus lines insurance marketplace, we help keep coverage available for businesses—from film studios to freight haulers—when risks are too novel, too complex or too difficult to place in the standard market.

Each year we review more than 1 million policy transactions, equip insurance brokers with compliance tools and continuing education courses, monitor the financial stability of global insurers and deliver data-driven insights that help the industry stay ahead of emerging risks. That impact—combined with our strong employee culture—has earned us recognition by Fortune as one of the Bay Area’s best places to work.

Position Overview:

SLACAL seeks a skilled and proactive Communications Manager to support and elevate our expanding communications efforts. This role is ideal for a professional with 3–5 years of experience in communications, editorial or content marketing who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can independently execute deliverables with speed, clarity and alignment to department objectives.

This position will contribute to high-quality writing, editing, campaign execution and project management. The ideal candidate will bring strong editorial judgment, a commitment to accuracy and style and the ability to confidently move content from idea to publication. A background in stakeholder communications or editorial production is a plus. The ability to translate current events and industry developments into relevant insurance insights is also valued. This role offers portfolio-building opportunities through management of SLACAL’s annual report and involvement in thought leadership initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Write and edit content for a range of audiences and formats, including email campaigns, executive memos, newsletters, web content and reports.
• Support end-to-end content production, including research, drafting, copyediting, design collaboration, stakeholder input and approval routing.
• Help manage communications campaigns and special projects that support departmental priorities and SLACAL initiatives.
• Apply AP style, brand voice and internal editorial standards across all communications.
• Coordinate production of the SLACAL’s annual report, including content tracking, contributor coordination and production timelines.
• Support publishing of content across the SLACAL’s digital platforms, ensuring timely and accurate distribution.
• Maintain and update internal messaging resources.
• Contribute to the organization’s LinkedIn and member communications strategies.

Qualifications:

• 3–5 years of professional experience in communications, journalism or editorial.
• Excellent writing, editing and project management skills.
• Experience applying AP style and editing for clarity, grammar and tone.
• Comfort handling multiple projects and deadlines with minimal oversight.
• Familiarity with CMS, email marketing and content publishing tools.
• Strong judgment, organizational skills and a solutions-oriented mindset.
• Background in insurance or the ability to quickly develop expertise in the surplus lines market.
• Bachelor’s degree required.

Benefits Include:

• Medical, dental and vision insurance.
• 401(k) matching and Roth IRA.
• Wellness program.
• Employee rewards program.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• Educational assistance.
• Generous PTO accrual.
• Paid holidays.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Flexible or hybrid working arrangement may be available for the right candidate.

How to Apply:

To apply, please submit your résumé and cover letter.

Quick Clarifier: We are not insurance agents or a government agency—and we won’t be quoting your car or life insurance. We oversee a multibillion-dollar market that primarily serves businesses with hard-to-place risks. It’s niche, essential and surprisingly interesting.

This job description is not intended, and should not be construed to be, an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with the job. It is intended, however, to be an accurate reflection of those principal job elements essential for making decisions related to job performance, employee development and compensation. SLACAL reserves the right to change, modify, amend, add to or delete from any section of this document as it deems, in its judgment, to be proper.

SLACAL is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

The Surplus Line Association of California (SLA) operates as a private, 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization governed by a plan of operation approved by both the California Department of Insurance (CDI) and the SLA Board of Directors. Appointed by the Commissioner in 1994, the Association serves as the statutory surplus line advisory organization to the CDI and facilitates the state’s capacity to monitor and direct surplus line brokers’ placements of insurance with eligible surplus line insurers. Working with its members and the CDI, the Association assists its members’ compliance with California laws and regulations; helps maintain a healthy, fair, and competitive surplus line marketplace in California; and strives to protect the interests of California insurance consumers.