Communication Specialist II - Integrated Communications

UNC Health; United States; Hybrid; USD 56,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

UNC Health in Chapel Hill, NC is seeking a Communications Specialist II to support strategic media relations for UNC Health and the UNC School of Medicine, focusing on clinical, research and academic programs. You will draft press materials, develop proactive outreach, coordinate interviews, and help translate complex science for public audiences while collaborating across communications teams.

This hybrid role offers opportunities to advance visibility of UNC Health's clinical and research

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, English, Public Relations, Marketing, Science or related field.
• Three (3) year of experience in communications, public relations, marketing or related field.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; strong customer service skills.

Responsibilities

• Serves on team that provides day-to-day media relations support for UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine.
• Identifies and develops proactive story opportunities.
• Develops relationships with healthcare, medical, science, education and research reporters.
• Follows daily news current, including major developments involving healthcare and research on local, state and national levels.
• Drafts press releases, media statements, pitches, talking points, fact sheets and other communications materials.
• Develops and executes proactive media outreach to local, regional, national and trade media outlets.
• Coordinates interviews and media opportunities involving physicians, researchers, faculty members, patients and institutional leaders.
• Supports media relations team in efforts to track, measure and report earned media coverage and outcomes.
• Promotes research findings published in peer-reviewed journals and advances the visibility of UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine experts through earned media opportunities.
• Assists with enterprise-wide announcements, issues management activities, media events and major organizational initiatives.
• Works collaboratively with communications colleagues across UNC Health, UNC School of Medicine, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and affiliated entities to support integrated communications strategies.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Customer service

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST II

Supports the development and execution of strategic media relations activities for UNC Health and the UNC School of Medicine with a primary focus on clinical, research and academic programs.

Works closely with the Communications and News Team to identify, develop and promote compelling stories highlighting clinical excellence, scientific discovery, innovative research, patient care advancements and organizational priorities.

Assists in generating earned media coverage in local, regional, national and trade media outlets through proactive pitching, media relationship development, content creation and expert positioning efforts.

Supports crisis communications planning, message development and response.

Serves as a communications liaison to assigned clinical and research areas and helps translate complex medical and scientific information into clear, compelling language for public audiences.

Responsibilities

• Serves on team that provides day-to-day media relations support for UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine.
• Identifies and develops proactive story opportunities.
• Develops relationships with healthcare, medical, science, education and research reporters.
• Follows daily news current, including major developments involving healthcare and research on local, state and national levels.
• Drafts press releases, media statements, pitches, talking points, fact sheets and other communications materials.
• Develops and executes proactive media outreach to local, regional, national and trade media outlets.
• Coordinates interviews and media opportunities involving physicians, researchers, faculty members, patients and institutional leaders.
• Supports media relations team in efforts to track, measure and report earned media coverage and outcomes.
• Promotes research findings published in peer-reviewed journals and advances the visibility of UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine experts through earned media opportunities.
• Assists with enterprise-wide announcements, issues management activities, media events and major organizational initiatives.
• Works collaboratively with communications colleagues across UNC Health, UNC School of Medicine, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and affiliated entities to support integrated communications strategies.
• May perform other duties as assigned by leadership.

Other Information

Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, English, Public Relations, Marketing, Science or related field.

Licensure/Certification Requirements

• No licensure or certification required.

Professional Experience Requirements

• Three (3) year of experience in communications, public relations, marketing or related field.

Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements

• Strong verbal and written communication skills; strong customer service skills.

Job Details

Legal Employer: NCHEALTH

Entity: Shared Services

Organization Unit: Integrated Communications

Work Type: Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00

Salary Range: $26.85 - $38.61 per hour (Hiring Range)

Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity

Work Assignment Type: Hybrid

Work Schedule: Day Job

Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: Yes

This position is employed by NC Health (Rex Healthcare, Inc., d/b/a NC Health), a private, fully-owned subsidiary of UNC Health Care System, in a department that provides shared services to operations across UNC Health Care; except that, if you are currently a UNCHCS State employee already working in a designated shared services department, you may remain a UNCHCS State employee if selected for this job.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.

UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities.

Please email [e-mail] if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.