Communication Specialist #2664 - Health Promotion - Health & Social Services Division

Hamilton County • Chattanooga, TN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision, serves as a point of contact for internal and external communication, and ensures consistent, accurate, and timely messaging across all communication channels. The Hamilton County Health & Social Services Division has a responsibility to respond quickly and efficiently when public health emergencies occur. All Hamilton County Health & Social Services Division employees are responsible for ensuring their contact information is current and they are accessible should a public health emergency arise. The Hamilton County Health & Social Services Division maintains a call down system to store contact information and mobilize staff in the event of an emergency. During a public health emergency, all staff are required to respond should a call to mobilize be made. During a public health emergency, work hours for any and all Hamilton County Health & Social Services Division employees are subject to modification to meet the needs of the community.

Requirements

• Knowledge of professional journalism methods, practices, and procedures.
• Knowledge of local and state politics.
• Knowledge of public relations methods, practices, and procedures.
• Knowledge of research, analysis, and interpretation of information.
• Knowledge of computer hardware, software, and peripherals.
• Knowledge of educational methods and practices.
• Knowledge and ability to maintain a professional media image.
• Skill in multitasking.
• Skill in photography.
• Skill in taking pictures and videos to use for social media.
• Skill in writing compelling copy, managing blogs, and producing short-form video and design assets using tools like Canva or the Adobe Creative Cloud.
• Skill in creatively producing content to keep the public informed on County Government work.
• Skill in technical equipment needed to shoot and edit pictures and videos (Adobe, Canva, etc.)
• Skill in graphic design for social media.
• Skill in utilizing verbal and written communication in the development of responses, correspondence, and media releases.
• Skill in developing public information and publicity plans.
• Skill in providing information, resources, and referrals to reporters, media, and the public.
• Skill in providing guidance to public officials and employees related to responding to media inquiries.
• Skill and experience in conducting media interviews.
• Skill in researching, analyzing, and interpreting information.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Skill in effectively communicating in both oral and written form with coworkers, County employees, and the public.
• Skill in copywriting.
• Skill in tracking campaign performance, understanding metrics, and utilizing reporting tools like Google Analytics, Tableau, and Excel.
• Ability to evaluate situations, make decisions, and express thoughts/ideas clearly and concisely.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment
• A Bachelor’s Degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a closely related field plus three (3) years of direct work experience in media/public relations.
• A valid driver’s license is required.
• OR An Associate’s Degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a closely related field plus five (5) years of direct work experience in media/public relations.
• OR The equivalent of a high school diploma and seven (7) years of direct work experience in media/public relations.
• This position is deemed essential/situational during inclement weather situations and must report to or remain at work, even when administrative closings are announced, as determined by the Department Head
• Prior to operating a County-owned vehicle, all employees are required to complete the HC Defensive Driving course and/or or an Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) provided at the department level.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual – English/Spanish is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a media liaison and assist with developing press releases, media advisories, and public statements.
• Respond to media/press inquiries in a timely, accurate, and professional manner.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets.
• Monitor media coverage.
• Collaborate with departments to communicate facility and program updates, policy changes, and emergency information internally and externally.
• Represent the County and assist with coordinating public engagement opportunities, including events, meetings, town halls, focus groups, and community surveys.
• Write, edit, and produce content for the website, social media platforms, newsletters, and publications.
• Create compelling multimedia campaigns and content, including graphics, videos, and photography, to support communication goals.
• Assist with creating talking points, speeches, and presentations.
• Ensure all content aligns with brand standards and compliance with policies, protocols, and procedures.
• Assist with marketing campaigns by ensuring objectives are achieved, analyzing campaign data, and making data-driven adjustments to optimize performance.
• Support the development of multilingual communication materials to serve diverse populations.
• Monitor analytics and metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of digital communications and recommend improvements.
• Prepare media reports for leadership as needed.
• Maintain department records, archives, and communication records.
• Serve as a member of the Public Information Officer (PIO) team and provide on-call availability as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Work may require irregular hours when providing on-call coverage and/or responding to public health threats or emergencies, as determined by the Department Head

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level