OHP Member Communications Specialist (Public Affairs Specialist 2)

State of Oregon • Salem, OR

1d • $71,856 - $110,292 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Oregon Health Plan (OHP) Community Engagement & Communications unit builds and maintains pathways to prioritize community and partner voice throughout Medicaid and Oregon Health Plan policy and operations while supporting communications with members, providers, and partners. The unit collaborates closely with OHA and state agency teams engaged in Community Engagement and Communications, particularly around Medicaid. Its work includes design, coordination, and consultation for Medicaid Community-driven Advisory Bodies, OHP Community Engagement, OHP Community Communications, Medicaid (Chapter 410) Rules Coordination, and policy and program areas requiring community input.
In this position, you will oversee, advise, research, review, and provide public affairs support to ensure OHP member communications are equity-centered, culturally responsive, accessible, and compliant with federal and state requirements. You will lead the development, review, and continuous improvement of member-facing materials, coordinate with internal teams and contractors, engage communities to incorporate diverse perspectives, advise leadership on communication strategies, and establish processes that strengthen clear, consistent, and inclusive communications across the organization.
In this position it will be your responsibility and privilege to collaborate with diverse populations most harmed by social injustice and inequities and will demonstrate the ability to build and steward positive, collaborative and partnership-based relationships with diverse community groups including communities of color, immigrant groups, the disability and neurodivergent communities, veterans, older adults, individuals identifying as LGBTQIA2S+ and other communities that have been traditionally marginalized.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's Degree in Business or Public Administration, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, the Behavioral or Social Sciences or related degree and two years professional level experience in Public Relations or Affairs
• OR
• Five years experience directly related to the position under recruitment; two of the five years must have been at the professional level.

Nice To Haves

• Experience developing, reviewing, and editing public-facing communications using plain language, accessibility standards, and culturally responsive communication practices.
• Experience creating communication materials that explain complex policies, programs, or technical information in a way that is clear and easy for a variety of audiences to understand.
• Knowledge of health equity principles and experience incorporating the perspectives of communities most impacted by health inequities into communications, engagement, or policy work.
• Experience collaborating with multiple partners, including leadership, subject matter experts, contractors, community organizations, and cross-functional teams to develop or coordinate communications and outreach.
• Knowledge of federal and state laws, regulations, or policies related to public communications, accessibility, or public programs, with the ability to apply those requirements to written materials.
• Experience planning, organizing, and managing multiple communication projects with competing priorities while meeting deadlines and maintaining attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to build positive working relationships, facilitate discussions, gather feedback, and respond effectively to diverse audiences.
• Ability to read, write, and speak English and Spanish, or one of these common languages in Oregon other than English (Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Arabic, Somali) with full proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Oversee, advise, research, review, and provide public affairs support to ensure OHP member communications are equity-centered, culturally responsive, accessible, and compliant with federal and state requirements.
• Lead the development, review, and continuous improvement of member-facing materials.
• Coordinate with internal teams and contractors.
• Engage communities to incorporate diverse perspectives.
• Advise leadership on communication strategies.
• Establish processes that strengthen clear, consistent, and inclusive communications across the organization.
• Collaborate with diverse populations most harmed by social injustice and inequities.
• Build and steward positive, collaborative and partnership-based relationships with diverse community groups including communities of color, immigrant groups, the disability and neurodivergent communities, veterans, older adults, individuals identifying as LGBTQIA2S+ and other communities that have been traditionally marginalized.

Benefits

• Excellent, low-cost medical, vision, and dental coverage for you and your family.
• Optional benefits like life insurance, disability coverage, deferred compensation, and FSA options for health and childcare.
• Generous paid time off: 11 holidays, 3 personal days, monthly sick leave, and vacation accrual starting at 8 hours/month.
• Potential eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Retirement security through Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP).
• Training and development opportunities to grow your career with the State of Oregon.

What This Job Offers

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