Communications Specialist - Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

University of Washington Medical Center•Seattle, WA

3d•$60,780 - $91,164•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences within the UW School of Medicine currently has an outstanding opportunity for a Communications Specialist to join their team. Reporting to the Research Manager, the Communications Specialist is responsible for leading the communications across CSPAR (Center for Suicide Prevention and Recovery) and SCRC (Suicide Care Research Center) programs, projects, and related initiatives, with a special focus on a new initiative called the Suicide Care Team (SCT). This position will be responsible for implementing a comprehensive communication strategy for both Centers that is visible to healthcare organizations, policymakers, funders, and healthcare providers throughout the United States and abroad. This position will also be responsible for expanding the marketing reach of online and live trainings, mailing lists, and other CSPAR and SCRC dissemination efforts, further contributing to the visibility of our departmental work relating to 1) Research & Innovation, 2) Education & Professional Development, and 3) Clinical Care & Consultation. This position is hybrid-eligible.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Public Health, or related field, and a minimum of three years of relevant experience.
Expertise in written communications, both internal and external, for a variety of audiences and mediums.
Experience creating strategic communications and marketing plans.
Experience developing, uploading, and managing web content.
Experience with technical writing, especially guides and similar tools targeted to specific audiences.
Proficiently use communications tools including WordPress, Adobe Creative Suite, and Canva.
Comfort using technology for collaboration, communication, and tracking, including the Microsoft Office suite, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and project management platforms (e.g. Basecamp).
Knowledge related to fair use and copyright law in academic and research settings.
Comfort being around discussions of suicide and mental health as well as comfort working with stressed and distressed patients experiencing suicidality, their family members, and/or the clinicians and staff who treat them.
Strong understanding of WCAG 2.1 Accessibility requirements and how to implement them across various digital mediums.
Ability to appropriately track on and prioritize tasks across many different electronic systems and quickly synthesize information.
Ability to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team while also working independently with minimal supervision.
Comfort working in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent verbal and interpersonal skills to interact positively with a wide range of people.
Demonstrated attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and creative problem-solving skills.

Nice To Haves

Formal project management training or certification.
Training and experience in graphic design.
Experience and understanding of mental health and/or medical research and settings.
Experience interacting professionally with individuals with lived experience of mental health conditions, especially suicidality.
Experience supporting development of manuscripts for peer-reviewed publications or grant proposals.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement communications strategic plan(s). (15%)
Develop and maintain website(s). (15%)
Manage digital communications and contact lists. (15%)
Develop written and visual content to support center’s work and outreach/marketing efforts. (25%)
Ensure communications products reflect brand identity, quality standards, and meet accessibility requirements. (15%)
Represent SCRC and CSPAR programming at conferences, meetings, and events. (10%)
Other communications duties as assigned. (5%)