Communications And Social Media Specialist

DEPARTMENT: Strategic Communications & Development
POSITION:Communications and Social Media Specialist
REPORTS TO: Director, Strategic Communications and Development
SALARY: $60 - $68,640k

Summary of Position/Key Questions:

• Do you see the connection between history, politics, culture, and healthcare?
• Are you passionate about treating all people with dignity, respect, and compassion?
• Are you a team player, a great listener, and able to support key tactical efforts like engaging audiences across multiple platforms, including Social Media, website, employee events, and more with flawless, timely, and engaging messaging?

Background

Over fifty-five years ago, four Black mothers, aided by 25 volunteer Black physicians, launched West Oakland Health amid the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. It immediately became an anchor for the Black communities in West Oakland, East Oakland, and Berkeley for healthcare, health education, food and housing programs, and voter registration. The clinic became a spark that transformed healthcare advocacy in California and the nation.

West Oakland Health’s purpose is to be the trusted hub advancing the Bay Area Black community’s health and dignity. We work to do this by providing culturally concordant high-quality, comprehensive adult and family medicine, pediatric health care, dental care, optometry, podiatry, behavioral health services, and pharmacies at two locations. And while medical care is our central but not our sole aim, we are also a place where community members can also receive assistance on things that make our community socially, economically, and physically healthy.

The Communications/Social Media Specialist plays a critical role in the success of West Oakland Health in realizing this purpose. Reporting to the Director, Strategic Communications and Development, the Communications/Social Media Specialist helps deliver and manage content, with a specific emphasis on Social Media, for strategic storytelling to enhance the visibility of West Oakland Health. The role provides content with West Oakland Health’s clinical and internal departments as well as other community partners to create and distribute high quality content across internal and external platforms, including the organizational website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

This is a hands-on role that requires solid Social Media manager and content creation experience and someone who can work independently as well as collaboratively while adhering to strategic guidelines and organizational vision.

The successful candidate will:

• Support the Strategic Communications Team with internal and Social Media messaging to promote new brand and identity campaigns
• Support physicians, staff, and members to help tell their stories in the newsletter and across Social Media. Support the Director in contributing to Townhalls, All Hands, and related events.
• Write, edit, curate, and distribute key messaging and content across various channels.
• Monitor and measure Social Media platforms for trends, news, and opportunities. Write, edit, and schedule content for SM, and engage with followers and respond to comments and messages in a timely manner.
• Ensure consistent brand messaging across all digital platforms and maintain the organization’s strategic comms and reputation management goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Working with the Comms Manager, write, review, edit, proofread, and coordinate content for various editorial calendars. Produce content for various communication channels, including Social Media, flyers, newsletters, website, and other digital platforms.
• Content creation, editing, and review. Support the writing, design, production, and delivery of key communication materials to help tell the West Oakland Health story, including internal, external, brand, reputation, etc.
• Collaborate with various program managers and departments to develop materials and messaging for health education initiatives targeted to the communities we serve.
• Assist in organizing and promoting community events, our Food Farmacy, health fairs, and outreach activities to increase awareness of the West Oakland Health’s services
• Develop and maintain an editorial calendar. Stay informed about communication trends and best practices in the healthcare industry, with a focus on effectively reaching underserved and communities of color.
• Contribute to the creation of impactful storytelling content that highlights the experiences and health journeys of individuals within the target communities
• Support the evaluation of communication tactics and initiatives, gathering feedback from the community to inform future strategies

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in communications, public relations, journalism, or community outreach, preferably within the healthcare industry
• Proven proficiency in Social Media management, content creation, digital communication tools and deadline-driven production experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt messaging for different audiences and communication platforms.
• Self-starter but able to adhere to direction, vision, and work as part of a team.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams, including health professionals, community organizers, and external partners.
• Passion for health equity, social justice, and serving underrepresented groups.
• Demonstrated creativity in developing engaging and culturally relevant communication materials.
• Proficiency in additional languages spoken within the target communities is an advantage.
• Proficient with WordPress, Microsoft Office, Canva, MailChimp, Photoshop, etc.
• Experience working with non-profit, community organizations.
• Commitment to providing culturally concordant, high-quality communications generally and to the Black community specifically.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to multi-task and work effectively in a high-stress, fast-moving environment.
• Demonstrated flexibility and willingness to work on an as-needed basis.
• Ability to travel across Oakland and the San Francisco Bay Area, including offsite visits.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams, including clinical staff, administrative personnel, and community partners.
• Strong leadership and decision-making skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Commitment to upholding principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in all communication efforts.
• Valid driver's license or state I.D.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or relevant field.
• Strong understanding of the healthcare industry, particularly in community health centers and the unique needs of the Black/African American community
• Demonstrated ability to write and think about comms strategically; demonstrated delivery of successful Social Media and marketing campaigns.

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The pace of Work: High stress, very rapid, and demanding
• Concentration: Constant
• Standing and Walking Time Required: At least 20% of the time.
• Sitting and typing: 60% - 70%
• Environmental and Health Hazards: Frequent exposure to communicable diseases and other conditions common to a clinic environment.

An employee must meet the physical demands described here to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee must frequently use hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and telephone keyboard and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally bend, lift, and move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

POSITION DESCRIPTION REVISIONS

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, or working conditions associated with these roles. While this is intended to reflect the current position accurately, management reserves the right to revise the job or require other or different tasks to be performed when circumstances change. This position description replaces all previous position descriptions for this position.