Health Communiation Specialist

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

17d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Health Communication Specialist manages, plans, develops, executes, and evaluates HIV/STD Section Communications and Policy Group (CPG) projects, primarily planning, coordinating, and conducting meetings and events. This position also prepares reports, guidelines, procedures and policies; develops and monitors project budgets; secures and manages contracts; responds to information requests; develops printed/web products; and participates in workgroups, as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Arts, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in independently leading and executing projects from conception through successful completion, consistently meeting deadlines and objectives.
• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite applications (Photoshop, Animate, Illustrator, and InDesign)
• Knowledge of Microsoft Suite applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint)
• Skill in Adobe Creative Suite applications (Photoshop, Animate, Illustrator, and InDesign)
• Skill in Microsoft Suite applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint)
• Skill in effectively managing projects and or events from conception to completion.
• Ability to communicate professionally with stakeholders and resolve issues promptly.
• Ability to confidently and proactively track and manage projects from start to completion, involving the necessary stakeholders as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Strong proficiency in reading, writing, and communicating effectively in Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Plans, develops, implements, evaluates, and monitors public health follow-up HIV/STD information, including printed materials, digital, audiovisual presentations, website content, conferences, and workshops.
• Performs needs assessments and works with HIV/STD Program staff to prioritize public information/education activities.
• Reviews research to ensure informational and educational materials are scientifically accurate and culturally competent.
• Prepares proposals and justifications for new HIV/STD information and education program initiatives.
• Provides technical assistance and consultative services to HIV/STD Program staff, DSHS regional staff, other state agencies, on education, public information and social marketing activities.
• Plans, implements and monitors effective agency HIV/STD information and education initiatives.
• Conducts regular reviews of agency and contractor program activities to ensure compliance with state and federal guidelines.
• Recommends best practices and coordinates staff development activities to optimize prevention education outcomes.
• Designs, creates, updates and maintains assigned web pages for the HIV/STD Program website on an accurate and timely basis.
• Works closely with the webmaster to organize and facilitate the HIV/STD Program Web Workgroup.
• Assists staff in preparing written material for public dissemination.
• Plans, develops, and implements marketing campaigns to increase partner services interventions and activities among external stakeholders, including professional groups, aimed at reducing the burden of infections in high-morbidity areas in Texas.
• Develops strategies to improve information content to stakeholders and works with DSHS program staff to implement improvements.
• Assists with coordinating meetings and events.
• Helps secure and manage meeting planning contractors and partners to provide services for HIV/STD meetings and events (conferences, seminars, summits, symposiums, orientations, trainings, capacity building sessions, special events, etc.).
• Develops and manages meeting and event budgets, including developing annual and biennial state/federal forecasts.
• Develops and implements program (content) planning guidelines and processes.
• Writes meeting and event specifications, goals and objectives.
• Assists with providing oversight and guidance to grant writers, staff, contractors and other DSHS programs on meeting and event program planning, logistics and budgeting.
• Helps procure, manage, and monitor meeting and event-related contracts.
• Helps manage and coordinate meetings and events for staff, contractors and other stakeholders.
• Actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.

Benefits

• Insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).

What This Job Offers

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