Career Center

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), a national organization representing nearly 3,000 local health departments nationwide has an immediate opening for a Communication Specialist.

Position Summary

The Communications Specialist is responsible for supporting the work of the Infectious Disease and Informatics Team and reports to the designated Senior Director. This position contributes to the advancement of local public health practice by performing a range of responsibilities related to the development and distribution of written materials (including print and electronic publications, web and social marketing content, and media templates).

The Communications Specialist understands policies, standards, and their application to their work (both internal to NACCHO and the various programs and their funders). The Communications Specialist may support and coordinate internal and external stakeholders at a level commensurate with the position’s duties and expectations. The Communications Specialist may have frequent contact with outside organizations, internal/external stakeholders, and others in the public health enterprise that may involve project coordination, information sharing, or the resolution of problems. The Communications Specialist may be required to capture and report for NACCHO at meetings, conferences, training programs, or other designated activities.

The Communication Specialist understands implications of internal and external policies that impact this position. The person in this position typically performs analysis, research, writing, or project management and can complete projects or components of large scale projects/programs with minimal supervision. A Specialist may also hold a very senior level administrative position requiring the ability to support and coordinate the office of a senior executive and communicate with internal and external stakeholders at a level commensurate with the position’s duties and expectations. Specialists may have frequent contact with outside organizations or internal customers that may involve project coordination, information sharing, or resolution of problems. They may be required to represent NACCHO at meetings.

The Communications Specialist is also responsible for providing communications support for programs and internal functional activities and typically performs tasks of moderate difficulty including research, writing, and analysis; proofreading, production and publishing; coordinating the collection of stories from the field and production schedules among various parties; and all related work associated under the direction of a Senior Program Analyst, Director, or Senior Director with minimal supervision. General responsibilities include substantive writing (creative and technical), editing, copyediting, and proofreading publications; developing and maintaining web pages; providing communications support at event s and conferences; and promoting the work of NACCHO’s Infectious Disease and Informatics programs using all forms of media including traditional and new media outlets. Responsibilities also include development of a comprehensive plan for marketing and distribution of NACCHO publications and identifying new opportunities to widen NACCHO messaging opportunities (articles, white papers, factsheets, customizable templates, videos, etc.)

COMPETENCIES AND EXPECTATIONS:

• Effectively transfers thoughts and expresses ideas orally or verbally in individual or group situations.
• Thoroughness in accomplishing a task through concern for all the areas involved. Monitors and checks work or information and plans and organizes time and resources efficiently.
• Demonstrates eagerness to acquire necessary technical knowledge, skills, and judgment to accomplish a result or to serve members’ needs effectively. Has desire and drive to acquire knowledge and skills necessary to perform job more effectively.
• Applies original thinking in approach to job responsibilities and to improve processes, methods, systems, or services.
• Builds a logical approach to address problems or opportunities or manage the situation at hand by drawing on one's knowledge and experience base and calling on other references and resources as necessary.
• Provides guidance and technical assistance through communications, project planning and coordination, and targeted marketing.
• Independently develops, prepares, and disseminates reports.
• Works collaboratively with others to support technical assistance activities.
• Represents NACCHO at external conferences and meetings with stakeholders.
• Acts as liaison with staff as needed in specialization area.
• Tracks and analyzes policies and best practices.

POSITION SPECIFIC DUTIES:

• Writes, edits, and proofreads editorial and technical material for publications, papers, reports, websites, fact sheets, talking points, news articles, media templates, etc.
• Conducts research and interviews subject matter experts for Infectious Disease and Informatics Team and NACCHO. Creates written materials including, but not limited to, newsletters and e-newsletters, issue briefs, case studies, fact sheets, blogs, and social media posts.
• Assists in developing written materials for members and volunteers serving as media spokespeople.
• Develops and enforces adherence with publication schedules and style guides for various products and programs,
• Serves as point person for specified Infectious and Informatics Team web pages.
• Ensures compliance with policies and procedures for team members to update their web pages on NACCHO.org.
• Monitors and captures statistics for e-newsletters and web pages and explores ways to increase readership
• Implements marketing strategies and activities using NACCHO’s programmatic communication vehicles.
• Interfaces with NACCHO personnel, members, committees, partner organizations, and vendors to develop articles and publications.
• Responds to publication inquiries from local health departments and other entities.
• Provides editorial assistance on project proposals, periodic reports to funding agencies, and other documents.
• Tracks information and communications of current local public health issues, emerging infectious diseases, emergency preparedness and response activities, workforce development, etc.
• Performs creative and technical writing; follows style guides; and adapts writing styles for different audiences.
• Proofreads using proofreader’s marks to fix to mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.
• Copyedits for style, voice, brevity, and tone.
• Substantively edits or rewrites to improve logical flow, clarity, or organization.
• Demonstrates customer service to variety of clients and audiences.
• Possesses advanced interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong skills in the use of social media e-marketing and web application software to achieve program, publications and marketing goals.
• Develops timelines and project milestones to meet deadlines.
• Effectively manages and coordinates multiple and conflicting priorities.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS:

Bachelor's degree in relevant professional field with a minimum of 2-5 years of relevant experience and/or advanced technical training; or equivalent combination of education (Communications, English, Journalism) and experience, including a relevant certification. An advanced degree may be substituted for work experience. On occasion, extensive practical experience may be substituted for formal education, particularly if the technical specialty is unusually complex or when long experience has a greater value to the organization than conceptual understanding. Master’s degree in a relevant field preferred.

• Ability to read and interpret technical and academic documents such as journal articles, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization
• Experience developing editorial and technical written materials is required. Interest in public policy is preferred.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Competent and proficient in the use of website content management software (e.g., WordPress, Commonspot, HTML, etc.) and e-marketing software (e.g., MagnetMail or similar product).
• Competent and proficient with writing posts for social media platforms on behalf of an organization
• Competent and proficient in use of Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator, or other page layout programs.
• Competent and proficient in the use of MS Project Manager or other project management software
• Competent and proficient in the use of other Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Outlooks, PowerPoint, etc.)

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Occasionally required to sit.
• Occasionally required to walk.
• Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.
• Occasionally required to talk or hear.
• Occasionally required to bend, lift or climb stairs.
• Occasionally required to lift light weights (less than 25 pounds).