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Form of workJob Description
Summary
The Communications Specialist is responsible for developing and implementing communication strategies, managing campaigns, creating brand awareness, and driving engagement. This role will collaborate with a diverse range of stakeholders including Veterans, researchers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to educate the region on our mission, programs, services, and impact.
Major Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement strategic communications plans.
- Develop organic and paid digital strategies that maximize visibility and influence.
- Draft, edit, pitch, and place stories, OpEds, LTEs, and prepare spokespeople for interviews.
- Research, write, and edit informative and captivating content for multiple internal and external communications channels and platforms in support of VHF priorities.
- Develop expert knowledge of and meaningful relationships with key reporters and outlets covering veterans’/health/wellness areas within the region.
- Works collaboratively with VA’s Office of Public Affairs teams to ensure proper messaging, timing, and execution of ongoing campaigns.
- Manage and monitor all aspects of VHF’s social media presence (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X)
- Increase awareness for key initiatives and events, including National VA Research Week, Clinical Trials Day, etc.
- Analyzes and reports on social growth and campaign effectiveness; translates findings into concrete recommendations for optimizing future campaigns and stories.
- Responsible for analytics and reporting on all digital media initiatives.
Qualifications/Expectations:
- Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, public relations, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
- Minimum 3-5 years of experience working as a communicator in a nonprofit/community organization, government, and/or relevant corporate communications experience (e.g., public relations, internal communications, etc.) with increasing levels of responsibility
- Strong project management experience, leading multiple initiatives from start to completion.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and social media platforms
- Demonstrated ability to frame ideas, develop narrative, and creatively and strategically synthesize complex medical research in a way that appeals to the news media and a wide variety of audiences.
- Flexible and cooperative work ethic in a collegial, entrepreneurial nonprofit culture.
- Experience developing traditional media relations strategies with a track record of earning media coverage and building relationships with journalists.
- Experience with digital organizing and campaign management, including design and execution of multi-stage digital campaigns, CRM and email management, social media management, basic web and design skills, creative use of multimedia, and online advertising (experience with Facebook Ads Manager, Google Ads, and WordPress is a plus.)
- Strong writing, editing, training, and presentation skills.
- Demonstrated resourcefulness and flexibility in approach to project assignments.
- Strong interest in the Foundations’ mission
VHF is a mission driven organization that values a team-oriented culture and actively encourages internal career advancement. We are a mid-size nonprofit, closely connected with the VA and its affiliated academic medical partners. We are a nimble organization, offering ongoing training, opportunities for growth, generous benefits, great work-life balance, as well as friendly, close-knit, and supportive environment. At VHF, we work with more than 160 uniquely talented medical scientists across a broad spectrum of research areas. We recruit talented employees who believe in making a difference in the lives of others through innovative research.
