Health Communication Specialist

Serve as the primary Public Information Officer for the Health Department. This position will develop, implement, and manage communication and marketing programs, projects and initiatives for various audiences, coordinate internal and external communications, and serve as the principle liaison between the department and key media and community stakeholders.

Thank you for considering employment with Lucas County. Our culture is rooted in principles of making an impact through service, collaborating with others, feeling valued, and being challenged. We foster a diversified and inclusive workforce, embracing shared values and a common mission. We are looking for talented people to join our community.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree with major coursework in communications, planning, community development or closely related field and a minimum of one (1) years' experience with B2C (Business to Consumer) social media marketing, graphic design, and content development
• OR Three (3) years' experience in a position providing communications, B2C (Business to Consumer) social media marketing, organizational branding, graphic design, press release and relations, and content development
• Demonstrated skills, knowledge and experience in the design and execution of marketing, communications, and public relations activities
• Knowledge and direct experience with social media (B2C), graphic design, and web based tools
• Experience with Adobe Acrobat Professional or equivalent
• Proficiency with video and photo editing tools, digital media formats, etc.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Must have and maintain throughout employment a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and be insurable under the Lucas County Commissioners Risk Management.

Job Summary

This position is classified as Office -2 setting and performs a wide range of functions for the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department. The Public Information Officer serves as the primary point of contact for media inquiries, coordinates the development and distribution of press releases, media interviews, and health alerts, and ensures that internal and external communications are aligned.

Key Responsibilities

• Identifies, develops, and executes communications strategy for key media contacts, social media platforms, and target audiences
• Builds media relations program and targets key stakeholders in order to build understanding and support for the role of public health, convey TLCHD's mission and programs, and support health promotion throughout Lucas County and Northwest Ohio
• Aligns TLCHD marketing efforts with current industry trends to promote extensive media outreach across all platforms (journals, news casts, social media platforms, etc.)
• Develops and implements annual communication plan focusing on meeting organizational goals, grant and programmatic objectives to expand the reach and impact of TLCHD
• Formulates and implements communication strategies and policies that support the agencys priorities and overall strategic plan
• Measures the effectiveness of the plans
• Identifies and utilizes appropriate social media platforms and other web-based tools in the promotion of each program and service within the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department
• Participates on an emergency preparedness and response team to support TLCHD's emergency preparedness plans
• Required to be 'on-call' from time to time to help respond to emergencies
• Assists with development and maintenance of the organization's website
• Collaborates with staff to produce a variety of communication materials (press releases, social media posts, speeches and message points, reports, presentations, fact sheets, etc.)
• Utilizes these materials to engage with external sources and increase TLCHD reach within the community
• Collaborates on, prepares, and provides presentations to various community groups and organizations
• Oversees the design and production of promotional materials (digital and print), marketing campaigns, and branding strategies used to promote the agency and its programs
• Compiles community and TLCHD into a calendar and alerts staff about the events to provide an opportunity to attend
• Maintains and oversees the Speaker's Bureau by identifying speakers, sorting speaker requests, and ensuring that TLCHD's Communication Plan is adhered to
• Coordinates media scheduling and logistics; coordinates conferences and press interviews; prepares agendas and conducts research

PHAB Core Competencies

The Public Information Officer is expected to adhere to PHAB core competencies, including:

• T1: 1.2.1 - 1.2.3, 2.1.2, 2.2.5, 2.4.5, 3.1.1-3.2.4, 3.2.6- 3.3.6, and 4.1.4

Quality Improvement

The Public Information Officer is responsible for using quality improvement (QI) processes and/or techniques to improve the effectiveness of the assigned public health program.

Professional Development

The Public Information Officer is expected to attend and participate in conferences, seminars, trainings, or related education classes as assigned.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential duties and responsibilities defined within this position description are not an all-inclusive list, but a general summary of purpose and primary function of the position. An individual employed in this position may be asked or assigned to perform a wide-range of related tasks, within the scope of the position, department/division, union affiliation, etc. as deemed appropriate by management.