Senior Health Communications Specialist
About The Position
The CDC Foundation is seeking a full-time Senior Health Communications Specialist to provide communications leadership, strategic support, and technical assistance to a team within the CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity. The team focuses on nutrition, diet, and related chronic disease topics affecting mothers, infants, young children, and their families. The position is based in Atlanta, Georgia, with a hybrid schedule, and is a grant-funded, limited-term opportunity contingent upon funding, ending September 29, 2027. The specialist will lead communication planning, message development, and materials development for the project team. The role includes building and maintaining relationships across DNPAO branches and with communications counterparts at the CDC and partner organizations to advance shared strategies and support program goals. The position also advises senior program leadership, supports issues management and urgent deliverables, and oversees communications product clearance and evaluation. Domestic travel of up to 5% annually is expected.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in journalism, communication, English, public health, public policy, or a related field.
- At least 7 years of professional experience in communications or health policy; public health experience is preferred.
- Demonstrated experience developing and executing a broad range of communications strategies.
- At least 3 years working on health policy and/or communications products and materials for government agencies, such as web content, briefing materials, press releases, promotion plans, and fact sheets.
- Demonstrated subject matter experience in maternal and child nutrition and infant and young child feeding.
- Ability to independently lead production of high-quality, error-free communications products, documents, and presentation materials.
- Experience working with diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership, subject matter experts, and external partners.
- Ability to collaborate as part of a team while independently managing tasks and timelines.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Strong understanding of communication theory and its application to strategy.
- Experience engaging community partners and recipients and providing capacity building or skills-based support.
- Experience translating scientific information into accessible language for nonscientific audiences.
- Ability to engage with, listen to, and learn from a broad range of partners, encourage meaningful participation, and develop productive working relationships.
- Strong project management skills and ability to prioritize, stay organized, and meet deadlines.
- Experience working in a virtual environment with remote partners and teams.
- Willingness to travel domestically up to 5% annually.
Nice To Haves
- Professional experience focused on public health.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute comprehensive strategic communication plans to advance program goals, collaborating with DNPAO branches, relevant CDC programs, and key partner organizations.
- Develop and implement communications strategies to elevate program visibility, amplify key messages, and increase engagement across earned and social media channels.
- Create and disseminate communications products and supporting materials for the program.
- Coordinate and support development of educational and promotional materials for DNPAO-authored publications, presentations, and products.
- Work with the team and contractors to develop audience research and material testing plans, creative briefs, and campaign dissemination plans.
- Advise senior program leadership and team members on communications strategies, message framing, media engagement, and related media topics.
- Assist with issues management, response development, and real-time tracking of deliverables with urgent deadlines.
- Write topical issue briefs on program-supported initiatives.
- Ensure documents conform to agency policies, branding, and style.
- Plan and execute evaluation of external communications messages and their impact.
- Coordinate health media production, publications for professional and public audiences, and electronic health communications activities.
- Manage clearance processes for communications products, research, evaluation, and publications.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
