Communications Specialist - Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

University of Washington • Seattle, WA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences within the University of Washington School of Medicine is hiring a Communications Specialist to lead communications across the Center for Suicide Prevention and Recovery (CSPAR) and Suicide Care Research Center (SCRC), with particular focus on the Suicide Care Team (SCT) initiative. Reporting to the Research Manager, this role will implement communications strategies that raise the centers’ visibility among healthcare organizations, policymakers, funders, and healthcare providers in the United States and abroad. The position will expand marketing and dissemination for online and live trainings, mailing lists, and other initiatives, supporting departmental work in research and innovation, education and professional development, and clinical care and consultation. The position is hybrid-eligible.

The Department is the School of Medicine’s third-largest department, with more than 330 full-time faculty members, 460 courtesy faculty members, and 350 staff. Its annual operating funding exceeds $150 million and supports clinical services, residency training, research, and other work. This is a regular, 100% FTE position on the first shift. The annual pay range is $60,780 to $91,164; placement within the range depends on job-related skills, experience, and expertise. UW offers benefits and opportunities for professional growth. The University is committed to an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming community and is an equal opportunity employer.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Health, or a related field, and at least three years of relevant experience.
• Expertise in written communications for internal and external audiences across 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 for specific audiences.
• Proficiency with WordPress, Adobe Creative Suite, and Canva.
• Comfort using technology for collaboration, communication, and tracking, including Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and project-management platforms such as Basecamp.
• Knowledge of fair use and copyright law in academic and research settings.
• Comfort with discussions of suicide and mental health, and working with distressed patients experiencing suicidality, their family members, and the clinicians and staff who treat them.
• Strong understanding of WCAG 2.1 accessibility requirements and how to implement them across digital mediums.
• Ability to track and prioritize tasks across multiple electronic systems and quickly synthesize information.
• Ability to work effectively on an interdisciplinary team and independently with minimal supervision.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent verbal and interpersonal skills for interacting positively with a wide range of people.
• Attention to detail, strong 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 people 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 plans. (15%)
• Develop and maintain websites. (15%)
• Manage digital communications and contact lists. (15%)
• Develop written and visual content to support center work and outreach and marketing efforts. (25%)
• Ensure communications products reflect brand identity and quality standards and meet accessibility requirements. (15%)
• Represent SCRC and CSPAR programming at conferences, meetings, and events. (10%)
• Perform other communications duties as assigned. (5%)

Benefits

• The job posting directs applicants to the University of Washington staff benefits website for information about benefits.
• Opportunities for professional growth.

What This Job Offers

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