Public Health Communications Officer

Under general supervision, serves as a media relations consultant responsible for strategically communicating PUBLIC HEALTH information campaigns and materials through multiple media platforms. Plans, prepares, disseminates, and evaluates PUBLIC HEALTH education and outreach programs and related publications for quality and effective communication; serves as staff resource person for health education services.

Illustrative Examples of Work

• Serves as primary contact and liaison with representatives of the media/press; responds to requests from the press for official statements with respect to the department’s position on issues/incidents of public interest; develops contacts with the media, community, and business representatives to promote coverage of department issues, activities, and accomplishment and promote community involvement; coordinates and oversees department’s communications on the internet and other electronic media.
• Develops community education and communication strategies to increase the public’s awareness of PUBLIC HEALTH, preventable disease, disaster preparedness, and Polk County Health Department programs and services.
• Plans, designs, implements, and evaluates community-wide education efforts on PUBLIC HEALTH and related topics; identifies educational delivery methods best suited to topics/audiences; conducts multi-media presentations; plans and directs workshops, training programs, and seminars; coordinates community training courses; conducts evaluations to measure impact of presentations.
• Provides in-service training to staff; serves as resource person for staff regarding health education.
• Analyzes statistical PUBLIC HEALTH information, local demographics, social-cultural trends, and other data to define the need for developing and distributing educational material; collects and maintains program data.
• Develops and maintains current resource materials regarding health and health education for the use of County staff, other public and private organizations and the general public; prepares promotional and educational materials including pamphlets, brochures, posters, exhibits, fact sheets, and displays; maintains inventory of educational materials; develops and maintains a resource library for educational resources for use by staff.
• Works in collaboration with Public Health Planners to conduct community health assessments and/or surveys to identify areas of need in community health education.
• Performs related duties as required.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of health education, health promotion, and social marketing.
• Knowledge of current community health problems and available community resources.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of disease prevention, health promotion, and lifestyle risk reduction education.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public relations, communication, and journalism.
• Knowledge of business English, punctuation, composition, and grammar.
• Knowledge of PUBLIC HEALTH practices related to emergency preparedness.
• Knowledge of the formats/print-ready writing styles for multiple communications methods (i.e. new releases, fact sheets, public service announcements, brochures, newsletters).
• Knowledge of techniques required in the preparation of charts, graphs, and complex graphics.
• Skill in the use of personal computers and word processing, spreadsheet, and database software applications including Word, Excel, Power Point.
• Skill in designing, coordinating, and evaluating public relations activities, campaigns, and events.
• Ability to respond effectively to requests for official statements and other information on short notice and on sensitive issues.
• Ability to provide information to individuals and the public about how to promote healthy behaviors, prevent health problems, and disease management.
• Ability to plan, conduct, and evaluate education, training, and marketing programs.
• Ability to develop effective multi-media public presentations with use of Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, etc.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse cultures and ethnic populations.
• Ability to research, organize, and evaluate a variety of facts.
• Ability to collect and analyze data and reach sound conclusions.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to make clear and understandable presentations of technical information to governmental agencies or departments, professional organizations, and the general public.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with multi-disciplinary staff, health agencies, community and professional organizations, other governmental agencies, co-workers, representatives of the media, and the general public.
• Ability to lift and carry educational materials/equipment weighting up to 20 pounds.

Training and Experience

• Graduation from an accredited four year college or university with major course work in Health Education, Public Health, Health Promotion, Communications, Marketing or related, and
• Three years of work experience in PUBLIC HEALTH, health education, communications, or related area, or
• Any equivalent combination of training and experience that will have provided the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Master’s Degree preferred.

• A criminal background check is required.
• A drug screen is required prior to final offer of employment.
• A valid State of Iowa driver’s license is required.
• Candidate must be willing and able to respond to irregular and on call emergency requests on nights, weekends, and holidays.