Communications Specialist

Fairview Health Services•Minneapolis, MN

About The Position

The Communications Specialist, External Communications supports Fairview’s external reputation and enterprise priorities through media relations, issues response, enterprise storytelling, and digital communications. As part of an integrated External Communications team, the specialist identifies and develops stories, supports proactive and reactive media relations, drafts external communications, creates content for Fairview’s external channels, and provides support during emerging issues and crises. The role also contributes basic photography, video, and multimedia capabilities. This communications generalist shifts execution capacity according to enterprise priorities and emerging needs. During high-risk or high-volume periods, the specialist may provide monitoring, research, drafting, coordination, and execution support, while providing backup capacity for managers and senior communications professionals. The successful candidate is a strong writer and curious storyteller with sound judgment, initiative, and the ability to work quickly in a complex organization, moving among media relations, writing, digital content, and basic multimedia work in collaboration with colleagues with deeper expertise. This is a full-time, salaried position with a flexible mobile work environment, some onsite and weekend coverage requirements, and eligibility for candidates located in Minnesota or willing to relocate.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
At least 3 years of professional experience in communications, public relations, journalism, media relations, digital communications, or a related field.
Strong writing and editing skills, including the ability to translate complex information into clear, accurate, engaging communications for external audiences.
Experience developing communications content such as media pitches, news releases, articles, digital content, or social content.
Strong interviewing, research, and information-gathering skills.
Ability to manage multiple assignments and changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Sound judgment and attention to detail, particularly with sensitive or time-critical information.
Basic photography, video, or multimedia content-development skills and willingness to continue building capability.
Proficiency with standard Microsoft productivity tools and ability to learn digital publishing, monitoring, and communications platforms.

Nice To Haves

Experience in media relations, corporate communications, healthcare communications, or journalism.
Experience working in a large, complex, or highly matrixed organization.
Experience supporting issues management, crisis communications, or other high-visibility situations.
Experience with content management systems, social media platforms, media monitoring, or social-listening tools.
Experience creating basic photo and video content for digital channels.
Experience using AI-enabled communications tools appropriately for research, drafting, synthesis, or workflow efficiency.

Responsibilities

Develop story ideas, research potential angles, and identify subject matter experts with media relations leadership.
Draft media pitches, news releases, statements, talking points, background materials, Q&A, and other external communications.
Respond to and coordinate routine reporter requests under the direction of media relations leadership.
Coordinate interviews, media visits, photography, and reporter logistics across Fairview hospitals and clinics.
Build and maintain productive relationships with reporters and other external stakeholders.
Maintain media contacts, background materials, and other media relations resources.
Support emerging issues and crisis response through monitoring, fact gathering, research, drafting, and coordination.
Assist with developing and updating holding statements, Q&A, timelines, background materials, and rapid-response communications.
Monitor media and digital channels during significant issues and escalate relevant developments according to established protocols.
Provide surge and backup support when multiple issues occur simultaneously or External Communications team members are unavailable.
Use sound judgment with sensitive, confidential, and rapidly changing information and escalate concerns appropriately.
Identify, report, and develop human-centered stories demonstrating Fairview’s expertise, community impact, and enterprise priorities.
Interview patients, employees, clinicians, leaders, and other stakeholders for external storytelling.
Draft and edit newsroom and blog stories, web content, executive or thought-leadership support materials, and other external content.
Adapt stories and communications for different channels and audiences with media, digital, and social colleagues.
Support proactive storytelling related to priority clinical programs, academic medicine, research, community hospitals, and enterprise initiatives.
Develop digital content in partnership with the Manager, Digital Strategy & Reputation and Senior Specialist, Social Media.
Assist with publishing and updating content across Fairview’s external digital platforms.
Capture basic photography and video for media, newsroom, and social storytelling.
Edit or prepare basic multimedia assets for digital use according to brand and quality standards.
Support digital amplification of priority earned-media and enterprise storytelling opportunities.
Support routine media monitoring and identify emerging coverage, trends, and potential reputation issues.
Track media relations and content outcomes and contribute to regular External Communications reporting.
Maintain organized story, media, and content resources to support timely team responses.
Use approved AI, automation, and communications tools to improve efficiency while maintaining human review, accuracy, and judgment.
Identify opportunities to simplify recurring work and improve External Communications processes.
Collaborate with media relations, digital communications, social media, internal communications, marketing, and other partners on integrated storytelling.
Coordinate with Fairview subject matter experts to gather accurate information and execute communications.
Shift execution support among media relations, issues response, enterprise storytelling, and digital content based on team priorities and capacity.
Contribute to cross-training and backup coverage to maintain essential External Communications capabilities during absences or elevated demand.