Apple Health Communications Consultant 3 (CC3/COM)

State of Washington • Thurston County – Olympia, WA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Apple Health Communications Consultant 3 role offers an opportunity to make health care information clear and accessible for nearly 2 million Washington residents. This detail-oriented position focuses on creating and managing outreach and marketing materials, web content, and both targeted and mass communications that help people understand and access free or low-cost health care coverage. Based in Olympia, Washington, this position is ideal for a strategic communicator who enjoys reaching diverse audiences with messaging that is easy to understand and act upon. All HCA employees will apply an equity lens to their work, which may include but is not limited to all analyses of core business and processes. The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is a leader in ensuring Washington residents have the opportunity to be as healthy as possible. There are three pillars to our work: Apple Health (Medicaid); the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) and School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) programs; and behavioral health and recovery. Under these pillars, HCA purchases health care, including behavioral health treatment for more than 2.7 million Washington residents and provides behavioral health prevention, crisis, and recovery supports to all Washington residents. The Communications Division provides strategic leadership and operational support for external and internal communications on agency business and strategic initiatives for HCA. Under the direction of the Apple Health Communications Manager, this position implements outreach and marketing for Washington Apple Health clients and stakeholders, including the Apple Health Expansion program. This position plans, develops, coordinates, and implements communications for Apple Health and Apple Health Expansion programs. This role advises program managers and agency leadership to help ensure communications are understandable, actionable, and convey consistent, clear agency messages. This position uses strategic thinking to anticipate potential communications challenges and public reactions, evaluate proposed actions and timelines, align actions with the agency mission and goals, and develop strategies to ensure HCA’s messaging reaches a diverse audience. This position is eligible to telework but is occasionally required to report onsite to meet business needs. The default assigned work location of all Health Care Authority (HCA) positions – both on-site and telework eligible positions – is within the State of Washington. This position reports to Olympia, WA. Frequency of onsite work will vary based on business and operational needs. All agency employees are required to report on-site in Olympia on their first and last days of employment to pick up and return state-issued equipment, regardless of telework status or location.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field and three (3) years of the required experience below
• Associate degree in a field identified above, and five (5) years of the required experience below
• Seven (7) years of the required experience below
• Professional experience in communications, journalism or related public relations/community information positions that included writing, editing, and planning.
• Demonstrated ability to clearly communicate complex technical information (verbally and in writing) to a non-technical audience, including the application of plain language principles to legally precise documents.
• Excellent writing and proof-reading skills.
• Curiosity about and enthusiasm for telling an organization’s story to internal and external audiences.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Nice To Haves

• Strong understanding of and ability to implement plain talk principles for complex health care eligibility, policy, and clinical communications.
• Demonstrated ability to plan strategically, identify communications needs, and develop goals and comprehensive work plans for achieving those goals.
• Ability to work independently and in groups.
• Experience working with diverse populations and understanding of culturally and linguistically appropriate communications practices.
• Experience working with government agencies, health care providers, health care insurers, or public/private health care stakeholders and customers.
• Knowledge of state health care programs, commercial health care insurance, and current health care issues.
• Understanding of health equity principles and how to apply them to communications strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to use social media tools to communicate with multiple audiences.
• Experience with professional photography and video equipment and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Use plain talk principles to write, edit, and review, and plan Apple Health and Apple Health Expansion communications materials, including forms, infographics, publications, fact sheets, FAQs, letters, and more.
• Manage day-to-day Drupal web updates for assigned sections of hca.wa.gov, including client, provider, and stakeholder pages.
• Plan, organize, schedule, and carry out comprehensive, data-driven outreach plan to promote Apple Health and Apple Health Expansion programs statewide and with hard-to-reach populations.
• Review managed care organizations’ Apple Health marketing materials for accuracy, consistency, and accessibility.
• Coordinate translation requests on behalf of the Medicaid Programs Division, Apple Health Services & Operations, and the Office of the Medicaid Director.
• Write and edit targeted and mass emails for clients, billers, providers, and stakeholders.
• Write and produce outreach toolkits, including messaging, materials, and logistical information.
• Collaborate with HCA visual communications team to complete annual review of Apple Health and Apple Health Expansion publications.
• Support the Apple Health client team with the quarterly Apple Health Managed Care Communications Council, including managing the agenda, scheduling presenters, determining content, drafting slide decks, and facilitating.
• Coordinate internal communications relating to Apple Health and the Apple Health Expansion program, including writing stories, producing Apple Health content for agency meetings, and drafting talking points for call center staff on emerging issues.
• Support occasional on-site photo and video requests at HCA’s studio in Olympia, Washington.
• Provide social media support, including drafting content and monitoring social media inboxes for questions from clients, providers, and stakeholders.

Benefits

• Meaningful work with friendly co-workers who care about those we serve
• A clear agency mission that drives our work and is person-centered
• A healthy work/life balance, including alternative/flexible schedules and mobile work options.
• A great total compensation and benefit package
• WA State Government Benefits
• A safe, pleasant workplace in a convenient location with restaurants, and shopping nearby.
• And free parking!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree