Health Communication Specialist

Lucas County•Toledo, OH

About The Position

Serve as the primary Public Information Officer for the Health Department. This position will develop, implement, and manage communication and marketing programs, projects and initiatives for various audiences, coordinate internal and external communications, and serve as the principle liaison between the department and key media and community stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with major coursework in communications, planning, community development or closely related field and a minimum of one (1) years’ experience with B2C (Business to Consumer) social media marking, graphic design, and content development OR Three (3) years’ experience in a position providing communications, B2C (Business to Consumer) social media marketing, organizational branding, graphic design, press release and relations, and content development
Demonstrated skills, knowledge and experience in the design and execution of marketing, communications, and public relations activities
Knowledge and direct experience with social media (B2C), graphic design, and web based tools
Experience with Adobe Acrobat Professional or equivalent
Proficiency with video and photo editing tools, digital media formats, etc.
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Must have and maintain throughout employment a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and be insurable under the Lucas County Commissioners Risk Management.
This position is classified as Office -2 setting and performs a wide range of functions for the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department. Further information may be obtained from Human Resources.

Responsibilities

Serves as the Public Information Officer for the department; coordinates the development and distribution of press releases, media interviews, and health alerts; ensures that internal and external communications are aligned; plans and promotes communication and marketing campaigns with internal and external stakeholders; serves as the official spokesperson for the agency.
Identifies, develops, and executes communications strategy for key media contacts, social media platforms, and target audiences; builds media relations program and targets key stakeholders in order to build understanding and support for the role of public health, convey TLCHD’s mission and programs, and support health promotion throughout Lucas County and Northwest Ohio.
Aligns TLCHD marketing efforts with current industry trends to promote extensive media outreach across all platforms (journals, news casts, social media platforms, etc.).
Develops and implements annual communication plan focusing on meeting organizational goals, grant and programmatic objectives to expand the reach and impact of TLCHD.
Formulates and implements communication strategies and policies that support the agency's priorities and overall strategic plan. Measure the effectiveness of the plans.
Identifies and utilizes appropriate social media platforms and other web based tools in the promotion of each program and service within the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department.
Participates on an emergency preparedness and response team to support TLCHD’s emergency preparedness plans. Required to be ‘on-call’ from time to time to help respond to emergencies. Additionally participates in regional Public Information Officer Group and preparedness exercises.
Assists with development and maintenance of the organization’s website.
Collaborates with staff to produce a variety of communication materials (press releases, social media posts, speeches and message points, reports, presentations, fact sheets, etc.), digital content and/or develop strategies for enhanced PR. targeting specific audiences Utilizes these materials to engage with external sources and increase TLCHD reach within the community.
Collaborates on, prepares, and provides presentations to various community groups and organizations.
Oversees the design and production of promotional materials (digital and print), marketing campaigns, and branding strategies used to promote the agency and its programs; create company literature and other forms of communication.
Compiles community and TLCHD into a calendar and alerts staff about the events to provide an opportunity to attend.
Maintains and oversees the Speaker’s Bureau by identifying speakers, sorting speaker requests, and ensuring that TLCHD’s Communication Plan is adhered to. Coordinate media scheduling and logistics; coordinate conferences and press interviews; Prepare agendas and conduct research.
Adheres to PHAB core competencies including, but not limited to: T1: 1.2.1 - 1.2.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.5, 2.4.5, 3.1.1-3.2.4, 3.2.6- 3.3.6, and 4.1.4. Participates in quality improvement efforts and achieving PHAB accreditation requirements.
This position will be responsible for using quality improvement (QI) processes and/or techniques to improve the effectiveness of the assigned public health program.
Attends and participates in conferences, seminars, trainings, or related education classes as assigned.
The essential duties and responsibilities defined within this position description are not an all-inclusive list, but a general summary of purpose and primary function of the position. An individual employed in this position may be asked or assigned to perform a wide-range of related tasks, within the scope of the position, department/division, union affiliation, etc. as deemed appropriate by management.