We are hiring a Principal Communications Specialist to provide communications planning and coordination to the Public Health department. This position will assist leadership in providing work direction to the communications team and serve as a Public Information Officer, responding to media inquiries and providing emergency risk communications as directed. This position will work closely with program partners, subject matter experts, leaders, and other communicators to develop and manage communications plans, projects, strategies and campaigns.
Candidates with effective communication skills, public health experience, and who bring a strong health and racial equity lens are encouraged to apply. Hennepin County Public Health is proud to serve all county residents including people from Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian communities; people who are immigrants or refugees; members of many different ethnic and cultural groups; people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community; and people of all ages.
In this position, you will:
Represent the county as spokesperson during crises and media response moments.
Supervise, manage work portfolios, and provide work direction to graphic designers and communications specialists.
Write and produce strategic communications products for internal and external communications according to best practices (i.e., usability, accessibility, plain language, and branding).
Coordinate and optimize public awareness campaigns: helping to develop creative multichannel content components.
Work with partners to coordinate, create and implement communication plans, strategies and messages.
Communicate with the public, staff, community leaders, county administration, elected officials, and the media.
Support special events, press conferences and other outreach efforts.
Apply a health and racial equity lens to all communications to help Hennepin County Public Health achieve our vision: “All people who live, work and play in Hennepin County experience optimal health grounded in health and racial equity.”
Need to have:
One of the following:
Bachelor's degree or higher in journalism, English, communications, mass communications, marketing, media studies, public administration, graphic design, photojournalist, telecommunications, visual communications, public administration or a closely-related field or a closely related field and three years or more of related professional experience in strategic communications.
Two years or more of college and five years or more of related professional experience in strategic communications.
Seven years or more of related professional experience in strategic communications.
Nice to have:
Experience:
Working in communications or public relations in support of the public sector, especially in public health or healthcare related settings.
Working with subject matter experts to create high-quality communications products.
Managing creative campaigns, including developing multichannel content components.
Planning and creating content for publication (i.e., brochures, reports, websites, social media).
Providing crisis and risk communications during emergencies.
Using Microsoft Office Suite, SiteCore, SharePoint, Workfront and GovDelivery.
Website: Communications Specialist, Principal | Job Details tab | Career Pages (governmentjobs.com)