COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER in Seattle, Washington

Req #: 239946

Department: PEDIATRICS

Appointing Department Web Address: https://www.peds.uw.edu/

Job Location Detail: Hybrid Eligible – 3 days in office, 2 days of telework

Posting Date: 10/16/2024

Closing Info:
Closes On 10/30/2024

Salary: $8,000 – $8,750 per month

Shift: First Shift

Notes:
As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-staff-20230701_a11y.pdf)

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The Department of Pediatrics Central Administration Team has an outstanding opportunity for a full-time Communications Manager. The Communications Manager is responsible for supporting the Department’s internal communications & brand management efforts. Under the supervision of the Associate Director of Operations, this position collaborates closely with Department staff, faculty, and leadership to carry out the mission of the Department.

The Communications Manager operates as a key leader and contributor within the Department of Pediatrics, playing a pivotal role in strategic internal and brand management communications initiatives and strengthening the departments’ commitment to their mission of providing a unified and collaborative effort to produce needed outcomes.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Department Operations, this role is primarily charged with the task of ensuring that department employees and the community are well-informed about the Department’s mission, goals and impact. Operating in a dynamic and highly matrixed organization, it is critical for the person in this role, as well as all team members, to demonstrate exceptional communication skills to adapt to the evolving needs of a diverse constituency.

This position is hybrid with 3 days per week onsite.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Communications Strategy

• Develop and implement detailed communications plans that consider a multi-faceted approach to messaging, ensuring all audiences are reached using existing communications tools and developing new ones as necessary.
• Work closely with department leaders and other partners to develop communication strategies/plans, solicit input, feedback, and obtain business owner approval on communications.
• Monitor, measure, and assess the effectiveness of communication strategies.
• Establish key relationships, partnership, and communication channels across partner institutions of Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Children’s University Medical Group, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Harborview, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, etc.
• Build upon the Department of Pediatrics’ strong brand and accelerate efforts to establish consistent brand and identity. Serve as enthusiastic ambassador for UW Pediatrics, providing department-wide support in establishing consistent branding materials, messaging, templates, etc.
• Represent communications vision and strategy as a member of the Strategic Operations and Finance staff leadership team and Executive Council, comprised of faculty and staff leaders across UW Pediatrics.

Website Design and Management

• Lead a modernization effort to elevate and enhance the department’s website design and user experience to meet evolving department needs, both externally and internally.
• Leadership over website design, content, and contributions. Leveraging additional website design and development resources as needed to elevate website usage both internally and externally.
• Manage dynamic and static website content.
• Establish and lead website super user group to garner contributions and input.
• Represent the work, impact, successes of UW Pediatrics through website content.

Planning & Deployment

• Research, write, edit, and post communications material, including department-wide weekly newsletter content, emails, presentations, briefings and executive communications.
• Ensure deliverables are produced, reviewed, and delivered on deadline.
• Plan and layout communications content across multiple platforms (email, newsletters, website, socials, etc.).
• Manage and monitor different social media platforms, create engaging content and analyze social media performance metrics to optimize outreach strategies.
• Plan, develop and execute communication plans, strategies and branding for UW Pediatrics sub-specialties, administrative units, programs, centers and initiatives.
• Brand Reputation: Coordinate with UW Central News team, UW Medicine.
• Oversee SWAG creation and ordering, including designing new SWAG items and liaising with various stakeholders to process these requests to help foster the Department’s reputation as a premier research, teaching and medical destination and ensure brand consistency across channels.
• Liaise with UW Communications team, Seattle Children’s Communications team, and other outlets on media relations and outreach, especially regarding the quality and impact of the department’s research, education, clinical care and major initiatives/developments.

Communications Research and Best Practice Advocacy

• Stay informed on the latest communication tools, trends, and best practices, advocating their adoption within UW Pediatrics to enhance communication effectiveness.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Be ready to adapt to new responsibilities and challenges that support the evolving needs and goals of UW Pediatrics.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Marketing or Journalism
• Four or more years of experience in leading communications efforts and in developing and producing effective communications plans, strategies and content

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Proven experience in leading complex communications efforts, identifying and managing comprehensive team goals, and measuring team progress
• Demonstrated ability to develop, manage and execute communications strategies and plans
• Superior writing and editing skills for both print and Web
• Experience in positions that require writing and editing executive-level communications, such as briefing papers, messages, presentations, talking points, articles, reports
• Experience in planning, scheduling and managing multiple, complex projects to meet tight due dates in a fluid, fast-paced environment with shifting deadlines and priorities
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, with exceptional professionalism
• Ability to take responsibility for meeting goals, objectives and obligations, and for solving problems while representing the mission, vision and values of the program and University
• Ability to obtain, analyze and evaluate information effectively in the face of ambiguity; ability to make appropriate decisions based on relevant information and experience
• Ability to develop strategies and measures for success, and feasible timelines for successful project implementation and execution
• Ability to work effectively with a highly diverse set of individuals and personalities
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to course changes
• High attention to detail; excellent copy editing and proofreading skills
• Advanced Microsoft Office suite skills and overall computer literacy

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with publications management, production processes and tools such as InDesign, Visio, and Photoshop
• Experience with higher education, government agency or other large public or private entity and understanding of mission and goals of public universities
• Highly self-motivated and creative with a passion for producing compelling communications
• Demonstrated excellent skills for client and interpersonal interaction as well as written & verbal communication

Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you log into your “My Jobs” page. If you choose to take it later, it will appear on your “My Jobs” page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.