Behavioral Health Communication Specialist

United Way Worldwide; Fort Lauderdale (FL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

United Way Worldwide seeks a Communications professional to support mental health awareness and prevention efforts. You will manage the Coalition's digital content, social media across major platforms, and public messaging to engage Broward communities.

The role focuses on harming stigma reduction, behavioral health education, and grant-driven campaigns. Requires a bachelor’s degree in communications or related field, 3–5 years’ experience, strong storytelling, and proficiency with social media

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Health, Behavioral Health, Journalism, Marketing, or related field.
• 3–5 years of direct experience in communications, social media management, public health messaging, or related work.
• Knowledge of mental health and substance use topics, trauma-informed communication.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience with social media scheduling, analytics, and design tools.
• Bilingual proficiency preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive communications plan supporting behavioral health initiatives and Coalition branding.
• Manage social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, and YouTube with content planning and engagement.
• Track analytics, optimize content, and prepare monthly social media reports.
• Lead communications for community campaigns, grants, and awareness events.
• Produce content including articles, blogs, infographics, and digital campaigns.
• Educate communities on behavioral health and prevention topics.

Skills

Social media management

Content creation

Analytics & reporting

Storytelling

Bilingual preferred

Crisis comms

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications/related field

Tools

Hootsuite

Sprout Social

Canva

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Department: Community Impact

Reports to: Director, Public Policy and Strategic Initiatives

Status: Exempt, Full-Time (grant-funded)

General Description

This role supports the development, implementation, and management of strategic communications that promote mental health awareness, reduce stigma, and strengthen community engagement in support of the Coalition on Behavioral Health and Drug Prevention. The position manages the Coalition's United for Seniors platform and is responsible for managing digital content, social media channels, and public messaging to maintain a dynamic, engaging, and culturally responsive presence. Through these efforts, the role advances behavioral health awareness, prevention initiatives, and community engagement related to mental health and substance use services.

Primary Job Responsibilities & Duties

• In collaboration with the marketing team, this role will assist with developing and executing a comprehensive communications plan that supports behavioral health initiatives, drug prevention initiatives, outreach goals, and Coalition branding which follows United Way Broward (UWB) brand standards.
• Manage, maintain, and grow the Coalition's social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and YouTube through strategic content planning, audience engagement, and performance optimization.
• Track analytics,optimizecontent performance, and prepare monthly social media reports.
• Serve as the communications lead for community campaigns, grant-driven initiatives, and awareness events (e.g., Mental Health Month, Suicide Prevention Month).
• Assist in producing compelling content, articles, blog posts, infographics, press releases, and digital campaigns, to elevate the organization’s behavioral health mission.
• This position is responsible for educating communities on Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Suicide Prevention, and Drug-free lifestyles. It will support the development of community-based structure and collaborative initiatives that promote health behaviors, strengthen prevention efforts, and advance coordinated education campaigns and systemic approaches to behavioral health and wellness.

Other Duties

• Develop communication and educational materials aligned with the Coalition Prevention Strategic Plan, epidemiological reports, and the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF).
• Translate complex behavioral health concepts into clear, accessible, and evidence-based messaging related to mental health, substance use prevention, crisis support, and treatment resources.
• Ensure all communications comply with HIPAA, confidentiality standards, and trauma-informed best practices.
• Create, manage, and schedule digital content (posts, short-form videos, graphics, and stories) that educates, engages, and reduces stigma.
• Engage with audiences professionally and compassionately, responding to comments and directing individuals to appropriate resources.
• Coordinate workshops for the United for Seniors platform.
• Develop and produce engaging and visual compelling graphics and creative assets for social media, events, and presentations.
• Develop multimedia content highlighting prevention stories (with consent), program outcomes, and staff expertise.
• Attend Coalition’s functions (may be after hours and/or weekend)
• Maintain communication materials and ensure brand consistency across all Coalition platforms.
• Coordinate with partner organizations, coalitions, public health agencies, and in conjunction with UWB marketing - media outlets to promote prevention initiatives.
• Support outreach events by preparing talking points, presentations, and promotional materials.
• Lead the Coalition community-based educational processes, including environmental prevention campaigns, across designated Broward County regions.
• Contribute to Coalition strategic planning, including the development of goals, objectives, and marketing strategies for education and outreach.
• Work with the marketing team to develop and maintain consistent messaging and communication strategies within the role’s scope including crisis communications, including rapid-response messaging, and actively participate in any behavioral health, suicide prevention and substance abuse prevention crisis response efforts.
• Complete required documentation, billing, and reporting in compliance with contract timelines.
• Maintain productivity standards, including expected billable units.
• Collaborate with marketing team to identify opportunities for cross-promotional content, ensuring consistent messaging, branding, and coordinated communications across all organization marketing platforms.
• Ensure that all external-facing communications, marketing materials, and public-facing content representing both United Way Broward and the Coalition are reviewed and approved by supervisor and the United Way Broward Marketing team prior to publication or distribution.
• Attend Commission, supervision, and audit preparation meetings as required.
• Due to the leadership role United Way is called upon to play in the community, particularly during times of crisis, it is the expectation that all United Way staff will be fully engaged in the organization's crisis plan and response efforts.
• Any other duties as required in the normal course of business at UWB.

Supervises:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Health, Behavioral Health, Journalism, Marketing, or relatedfield.
• 3-5 years of direct experience in communications, social media management, public health messaging, or related work.
• Knowledge of mental health and substance use topics, trauma-informed communication, and culturally competent messaging.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex health and prevention concepts into clear, culturally responsive, and audience-appropriate messaging.
• Experience creating and managing social media scheduling, analytics, and design tools (e.g., Hootsuite, Sprout, Canva, Adobe Creative Suite).
• Experience creating and managing digital content across multiple platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, and YouTube.
• Bilingualproficiency preferred(e.g., Spanish, Creole or other community languages).
• Experience with multimedia content creation like photography, video production and editing.
• Must be a good storyteller.
• Proficiency required in Microsoft Office products like: Outlook Word, Excel, and other related computer programs required; ability to learn and proficiently navigate electronic systems and platforms.

Core Competency Requirements:

• Excels at customer service– Serves (treats) all customers (internal and external) with utmost respect and responsiveness in order to deepen relationships and advance UWBC’s mission.
• Drives for results– Has a passion for innovation and risk-taking, meets and exceeds qualitative and quantitative goals in a thoughtful and time-driven manner.
• Commits to the organization– Has the responsibility for aligning one’s own behavior, leadership and commitment with the needs, priorities, goals and culture of UWBC.
• Embraces shared valued– Creates an atmosphere that respects and embraces engagement of all people, ideas and backgrounds and aligns with United Way’s values.
• Seizes learning –Able and willing to learn new skills and knowledge and accept new challenges to further United Way’s mission.
• Manages multiple projects and tasks– Effectively manages time and resources to respond to emerging needs while continuing to deliver on organizational goals, objectives and timelines, and seeks help when needed in juggling priorities.
• Personifies teamwork– Demonstrates good collaboration and communication to be effective in any team setting.
• Ability to work with sensitivity and professionalism when discussing topics related to mental health, crisis, and vulnerable populations.

Environment & Physical Demands:

The environment is climate controlled (i.e., heated and air-conditioned). Lighting is adequate through overhead lighting as well as windows and blinds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Physical demands include sitting and/or standing for extended periods of time, bending, lifting approximately 25 pounds, regular use of the telephone, copier, fax and computer.Demands also involve protracted concentration.