Communications Specialist

Full Job Description

The Communications Specialist will support the overarching work of the organization by developing, implementing,andevaluatingcommunicationprogramstoeffectivelycommunicatethepurposeandvalue of the Detroit Health Department in the public health community.

Requirements

• Planning,developing,implementing,and evaluating communication and marketing plans and strategies for the organization
• Providing leadership,direction,and management of program communication activities
• Produce communication products,tools,events,activities,and resources to engage external and internal audiences
• Develop, review, and provide substantive and editorial feedback on fact sheets, web content, presentations,reports,manuscripts,talking points,and other communication materials designed for both external and internal audiences
• Collect data from programs for the development of Public Health communication strategies and products
• Create project plans including scope,schedule,charter,and cost estimates
• Monitor and track deliverables and resolve issues
• Ensure delivery to the project plan and budget
• Implement grant-required activities
• Assist programl eadership in developing speeches,presentations,and communication materials
• Perform other professional responsibilities as required to ensure the proper functioning of the Detroit Health Department
• Support special projects
• Assist with event photography for use of the Health Department’s website and the creation of promotional materials
• Skilled in usage of social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram,Twitter,X, etc.)
• Video editing(Experience with basic photography and videography equipment,basic video and audio editing
• Ability to perform basic website editing
• Provide administrative support and other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Bachelor's or Master's degree Public Health, Business Administration, Health Science Administration or other related field, with two years experience in community engagement, community organizing, and project coordination and implementation.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be substituted to meet the education and experience requirement of this position.

Qualifications (preferred):
• Three or more years of prior public health communication work experience is required.
• Prior experience, particularly at the national or multi-state level, government, nonprofit organization, or medical practice, is highly desired.
• Execute excellent oral and written communication including correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary.
• Demonstrate interpersonal skills such as diplomacy, patience, and politeness.
• Assure efficient and timely completion of office and program projects and activities.
• Maintain sensitive data in a confidential manner.
• Emulate the style, philosophy, and persona of the organization with a positive and professional approach.
• Collaborate across the organization programs with team members.
• Understand and resolve complex issues, complaints, or problems.
• Interpret complex information and state in simple terms.
• Demonstrate interpersonal skills such as diplomacy, patience, and politeness.
• Assure efficient and timely completion of office and program projects and activities.
• Maintain sensitive data in a confidential manner.
• Emulate the style, philosophy, and persona of the organization with a positive and professional approach.
• Collaborate across the organization programs with team members.
• Understand and resolve complex issues, complaints, or problems.
• Interpret complex information and state in simple terms.
• Change direction and re-prioritize in response to changing work situations.
• Prioritize conflicting needs; handle tasks and requests expeditiously and proactively; and
follow-through on projects to successful completion, often with deadline pressures
• Work independently with little or no supervision
• Follow schedules and meet deadlines.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
Knowledge,Skills,andAbilities

Additional Information

Individual Core Competencies:
Analytical/Assessment Skills
• Interprets quantitative and qualitative data.
• Identifies assets and resources that can be used for improving the health of a community (e.g., Boys & Girls Clubs, public libraries, hospitals, faith-based organizations, academic institutions, federal grants, fellowship programs)

Policy Development/Program Planning
• Implements strategies for continuous quality improvement.

Communication Skills
• Communicates in writing and orally with linguistic and cultural proficiency (e.g., using age-appropriate materials, incorporating images)
• Selects approaches for disseminating public health data and information (e.g., social media, newspapers, newsletters, journals, town hall meetings, libraries, neighborhood gatherings)
• Conveys data and information to professionals and the public using a variety of approaches (e.g., reports, presentations, email, letters, and press interviews)
• Communicates the roles of governmental public health, health care, and other partners in improving the health of a community.

Cultural Competency Skills
• Recognizes the ways diversity influences policies, programs, services, and the health of a community.
• Ensures the diversity of individuals and populations is addressed in policies, programs, and services that affect the health of a community.
• Advocates for a diverse public health workforce

Community Dimensions of Practice Skills
• Engages community members to improve health in a community (e.g., input in developing and implementing community health assessments and improvement plans, feedback about programs and services)
• Uses community input for developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving policies, programs, and services.

Financial Planning and Management Skills
• Manages programs within current and projected budgets and staffing levels (e.g., sustaining a program when funding and staff are cut, recruiting, and retaining staff)
• Establishes teams for the purpose of achieving program and organizational goals (e.g., considering the value of different disciplines, sectors, skills, experiences, and perspectives, determining scope of work and timeline)
• Motivates personnel for the purpose of achieving program and organizational goals (e.g., participating in teams, encouraging sharing of ideas, respecting different points of view)
• Uses evaluation results to improve program and organizational performance.

Leadership and Systems Thinking
• Contributes to continuous improvement of individual, program, and organizational performance (e.g., mentoring, monitoring progress, adjusting programs to achieve better results)
• Advocates for the role of public health in providing population health services

Evaluation Plan

• Interview: 70%
• Evaluation of Training, Experience & Personal Qualifications: 30%
• Total of Interview and Evaluation T.E.P: 100%

Additional points may be awarded for:

• Veteran Points: 0 – 15 points
• Detroit Residency Credit: 15 points

LRD: 12/07/2023