Communications Specialist | School of Medicine | Neurology

Summary:

The purpose of this position is to help build and promote the Department of Neurology's reputation in its research, clinical, and teaching missions by providing project management and support of public relations, media relations, communications, marketing and advertising, social media, event promotions, and branding initiatives.

The Communications Specialist will be responsible for promoting and supporting the mission of the department by effectively communicating the activities and accomplishments of the department. This position will develop, implement and manage a strategic marketing, PR and communications plan for the department; develop a consistent and meaningful brand and message; develop and manage the department’s social media presence; direct and manage the content of the department’s website; and serve as a resource to the department’s faculty, and administrators to promote accomplishments, programs and interests.

Typical Duties

Assists in the Department of Neurology's online social media presence (35%)

• Develops/updates the Department of Neurology's strategic social media plan to complement ongoing marketing and communications efforts, prioritize and allocate social media resources, grow followers, increase engagement among the department’s multiple constituents, bolster its reputation as a leader in neuroscience research and care, and support the organizational objectives and strategic vision.
• Manages a system for planning and scheduling new and existing content for the department’s social media platforms. Seeks to engage and leverage external blogs and social media influencers to increase the reach of the department’s communications. Contributes to routine social media postings and maintenance: posts news and poses questions, screens and responds to user comments, engages users in dialogue, strategically “friends/”follows” and “likes” other users and user postings. Regularly tracks and analyzes metrics and monitors social media trends and best practices in order to develop strategies to improve social media engagement and reach target audiences.

Develops and maintains web content (20%)

• Develops content for the department’s website and affiliated sites, interviews, writes and secures approvals on content, and develops or obtains appropriate artwork, such as photos and videos. Maintains the department’s website and affiliated sites through a content management system (CMS) to ensure they stay up-to-date and accurate by editing content, such as articles, calendar event postings, news blog entries, directories, photos, videos and links.
  Serves as an approver of Web edits made by staff CMS editors and maintains a Web style guide to protect brand identity and positioning and ensure quality control, style and formatting consistency and fact-checking across the website. Helps webmaster brainstorm and implement new ways to keep the website fresh and optimal and to increase Web visitation and user satisfaction. Assists the webmaster with the website’s architecture to ensure navigation is user-friendly and content is easily found. Assists with other Web site projects, such as migration to new platform/system, Intranet development, usability testing, troubleshooting, etc., as needed.

Develops and disseminates a variety of communications (20%)

• Writes, edits and circulates articles, fact sheets, professional biographies, brochures, email announcements and other content as assigned. Designs and distributes a wide variety of promotional collateral as needed, including flyers, posters, pamphlets and e-communications. Coordinates the development of digital media, such as videos and photos.
  
  

Provides overall administrative communication support to the department (20%)

• Helps with routine requests for public information and photos. Interacts with staff at a variety of levels. Supports the department with a wide variety of other projects, including but not limited to event planning and other administrative-related activities. Manages the departmental email account and helps fulfill requests, answer questions and resolve reported issues. Manages the department’s communications database of clinical, research and administrative staff. Coordinates branding and ordering of promotional materials.

Manages Risk (5%)

• Demonstrates a commitment to risk assessment (considering cost, benefit and impact) -Helps ensure the department’s image, identity and branding standards are represented properly and positively at all times. Helps ensure high standards for the department’s website, blog and newsletter by practicing thorough proofing and copyediting of all communications prior to distribution or online posting; obtains all appropriate pre-approvals. Practices routine verification of the accuracy of data. Adheres to HIPPA policy and regulations related to patient interactions and confidentiality. Properly consents patients who agree to participate in videos and photos. Secures purchasing approval before incurring expenses utilizing the budget assigned appropriately and shrewdly.