JOB TITLE: Communications Specialist FLSA STATUS: Non Exempt
DEPARTMENT: Membership and Communications PREPARED DATE: March 2024
REPORTS TO: Director of Communications
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Communications Specialist is responsible for developing content across WSHA and implementing internal and external communication strategies that advance the work of the WSHA’s strategic plan. This position is responsible for managing and creating content for WSHA’s communication vehicles, tracking current events in health care and member news, monitoring consistency in staff communications, coordinating responses to media inquiries, implementing proactive media relations, managing WSHA social media profiles and leading Safety & Quality communications initiatives.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Strategic:
- Enhance the public perception of hospitals through the effective deployment of high-quality digital content and media response.
- Assist in long-term communications strategy and development of strategic communications plan to follow industry trends and best practices and establish departmental work plan.
- Monitor daily media and public perception of WSHA and WSHA members to provide adjustments and responses as needed.
- Assist in maintaining WSHA’s brand identity and integrity.
- Lead development of WSHA’s editorial communications calendar.
- Communications Development and Oversight
- Assist with events as needed.
- Lead outreach to membership to identify opportunities to highlight member news to WSHA audiences and broader public ensuring that members feel prioritized by WSHA.
- Develop compelling and appropriate content across various media, maintaining WSHA standard and credibility, using senior staff as an as-needed resource for confirmation and verification.
- As manager of the WSHA Weekly Report and CustomScoop newsletters, produce and distribute newsletters to general and specialty audiences, serving as a ghost writer for association executives to highlight WSHA voices to broader membership.
- Serve as lead communications staff member supporting WSHA’s Safety & Quality communications needs to advance strategic plan.
- Work with WSHA colleagues to ensure they follow brand standards for external communications.
- Assist in onboarding of new employees to explain how the communications department functions and how we can support their work.
- Serve as key resource for proof reading and communication advice.
- Proactive Media Relations and Marketing
- Identify new and emerging technical and communication tools and tactics for conveying WSHA messages in ever-shifting digital landscape, and work with the Director of Communications to evaluate the potential value proposition for WSHA.
- Monitor media landscape and public perception of WSHA and WSHA members to identify opportunities for proactive media relations and recommend adjustments and responses as needed.
- Manage media inquiries, identify opportunities for proactive media pitching and coordinate media interviews with staff experts to gain ongoing earned media on priority issues.
- Explore new opportunities for proactive digital marketing of WSHA messages and events.
- Respond to public inquiries for information.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
This position has no supervisory responsibilities.
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Education/Experience:
Bachelor’s Degree and two-to-five years related experience and training in journalism, communications, or public relations, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience in health care communications a plus.
Skills & Abilities:
- Ability to exercise sound professional judgement and awareness of cultural and political sensitivities due to the independent nature of this position when representing WSHA in written communications to members of the public and media.
- Ability to think strategically about goals, identify appropriate tactics and resources, involve other staff or members as appropriate.
- Ability to be flexible and creative, while still exercising sound judgment and recognizing constraints.
- Ability to work independently or in a team environment while managing competing time-sensitive demands.
- Ability to work effectively with a variety of stakeholders and competing agendas, including members, staff, media and other external partners.
- Ability to learn and communicate technical details about health care quality, policy, delivery and finance.
- Ability and willingness to seek out and learn new platforms and methods of communications for WSHA to leverage.
- Ability and willingness to learn new software applications as needed.
- Comfortable giving and receiving feedback in a constructive manner to colleagues and supervisors.
- Proficiency with Associated Press style and keen attention to detail in editing printed materials.
Computer Skills:
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, required. Experience required with mainstream social media platforms. Experience with Adobe Creative Suite, specifically InDesign and Photoshop, a plus. Experience with HTML a plus.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The physical demands and work environment described below represent the activities and surroundings of the positions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The work is typically performed in an office environment, with a moderate noise level. The position requires working in an office environment with the usual office equipment, including copiers, and computers. The employee is frequently required to talk and hear on the telephone and in person with individuals and groups. The incumbent may carry materials/equipment weighing up to 25 lbs on occasion. The incumbent is required to read and respond to documents in hard copy and electronic form. The position requires frequent or occasional travel within Washington State to member facilities, and on occasion, overnight travel is necessitated.
