Senior Communications Specialist, Knight Cancer Institute

Department Overview

The senior communications specialist is responsible for advancing engagement among key audiences to help ensure a work and learning environment where employees and learners can do their best work, supports OHSU’s desire for a highly collaborative culture, and fosters employee advocacy of OHSU as a great place to work and learn.

 

Specifically, this individual: researches, writes, edits and posts articles, as well as solicits and edits  strategic content from key stakeholders, in support of organizational goals and objectives. This position places particular emphasis on  understanding OHSU/Knight Cancer /Complex Care strategy and developing strategically relevant communications plans and content for the Internet and internal news platform, including stories, photos,  audio and video footage, foundational messaging documents, implementation-ready communications plans, and  so on.

 

This position ensures communications goals are met by continually monitoring and analyzing data using OHSU- approved tools and making strategic and tactical changes, as needed, to improve engagement in support of organizational goals and objectives.

 

This position supports the Communications Manager by working with administrative support staff assigned to coordinate and support escorts of external video crews, including news media, in coordination with Information Privacy and Security, as appropriate.

 

This position collaborates closely with colleagues in OHSU Strategic Communications, OHSU Brand Strategy and Marketing, and OHSU Foundation Strategic Communications.

Function/Duties of Position

Content Development and Planning: Develop strategy and content for OHSU communications channels. The specialist has a strong interest in and aptitude for understanding the complexity and importance of OHSU/Knight Cancer/Complex Care priorities and programs and transforming that information into authoritative, clear and engaging copy that achieves measurable goals. Responsibilities:

• Exceptional writing and editing.
• Editing copy of teammates, contract writers and others.
• Performing content audits and gap analyses.
• Creating content that attracts and serves key audiences to achieve measurable goals.
• Ongoing proficiency in modern communications methodology and tool.
• High-level information gathering and interviewing to inform content.
• Managing multiple complex projects across varying timelines.

Content creation and management: For assigned projects, pages, channels or sites, ensure publication of accurate, relevant content in accordance with the digital content strategy. Content may include, but is not limited to, written information in long and short forms, graphics, images, calls to action, headers, menus, forms, surveys, metadata and keywords. Specific tasks may include: 

• Designing, developing and publishing web pages in coordination with OHSU Brand Strategy
• Developing Internet and email campaign content
• Re-purposing content for different audiences and communications channels
• Editing existing digital content
• Ensuring appropriate periodic review/refresh of content
• Implementing content standards on specific pages/sites/channels (e.g., ensuring consistent calls to action, adherence to voice or brand standards)
• Ensuring adherence to standards for specific kinds of content (e.g., image size, links, headers)
• Using HTML, scripting or other authoring languages to prepare digital content for publication
• Using enterprise content management system or other publishing methods to present content
• Testing, trouble shooting and reviewing published development or production content for errors, quality, adherence to design and content standards, performance on various platforms, performance against web infrastructure benchmarks
• Participating in efforts to continually improve digital content creation and publication workflows and processes
• Rapidly developing content addressing trending opportunities
• Ensuring content is properly linked to help audiences navigate the Knight web site
• Ensuring adherence to guidelines for handling confidential information and patient information in a way that safeguards patient privacy and conforms to HIPAA.
• Ensuring consistent use of AP and OHSU style and brand guides to communicate effectively and develop messaging that is consistent with OHSU goals.

Tools and resources: Managing Internet home page; Internet calendar; communications pages on Internet.

 

Internal network of communicators: Cross training other communicators in OHSU/Knight Cancer/Complex Care goals and objectives to ensure broad support and engagement — creating a deep bench of knowledge. Serves as a conduit of crucial information to key partners, ensuring integrated strategic communications support for OHSU/Knight Cancer/Complex Care. Specific tasks may include:

• Sharing content and news with OHSU Foundation colleagues for use in donor communications
• Working collaboratively with the OHSU social media team to amplify strategic OHSU/Knight Cancer/Complex Care content, including the development of mutually agreed upon editorial calendars across a variety of social channels
• Collaborating with OHSU Brand Strategy and Marketing colleagues regarding opportunities to advance OHSU/Knight Cancer/Complex Care goals through marketing to patients and providers
• Developing and contributing to communication plans in response to ongoing needs related to OHSU/Knight Cancer/Complex Care communications goals.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, English, or related field. OR
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A minimum of five years of experience in corporate communications.

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

• Exceptional writing and editing skills
• Exceptional skills in online community management
• Excellent skills in building email templates and using email marketing software to achieve campaign objectives
• Excellent skills in analyzing and interpreting web, email, and campaign data
• Ability to quickly learn and easily use new software
• Strong familiarity and comfort with at least one content management system.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to adjust to change quickly, to learn on the fly, and to write in a variety of formats.
• Excellent team player who is also capable of self-direction. 
• Strong skills using a variety of applications, and ability to learn new applications quickly

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Accreditation from professional association (PRSA or IABC)
• Three or more years of experience in health care or higher education.

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Skill in concepting, producing and editing video
• Skill in using graphic design software (Adobe Creative Suite, primarily Photoshop)

Additional Details

This a remote hybrid position with the employee primarily working from home but on campus for meetings or events as assigned.

Hotel workstations campuswide available by reservation.

Heavy use of a computer and phone.

Work schedule and location are generally within regular business hours, though the role will be required to staff special events or respond to urgent needs outside of regular business hours.

Virtual meetings will be a regular occurrence.

All are welcome

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.