Manager Communications - Academic and Clinical Research Capability

UNC Health; United States; On-site; USD 86,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

UNC Health is seeking a Communications Manager to support the ACTG network within the UNC School of Medicine. The role involves strategic oversight, writing and coordinating marketing communications for a global clinical trials program.

You will work closely with executive leaders, manage content across multiple channels, and lead outreach to researchers, donors, clinicians, and stakeholders in a hybrid work setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate discipline.
• Five (5) years of experience in communications, public relations, marketing or related field.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Knowledge of medical research concepts sufficient to enable communication with clinical and basic science faculty.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and coordinate ACTG communications strategy and plan.
• Lead development of content for newsletters, website, press releases, and social media.
• Manage and report on communications metrics and budget.
• Collaborate with UNC Health leadership and ACTG networks.
• Advance ACTG research communication nationally and internationally.

Skills

Public relations

Marketing

Content creation

Social media

Editing/writing

Stakeholder management

WordPress

SEO

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Description

Become part of an inclusive organization with over 40,000 teammates, whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of the unique communities we serve.

Summary

The position is supervised by the UNC Health System, Communications & Marketing Department, in dedicated support to the marketing and communications needs for a highly prestigious program within the UNC School of Medicine, Clinical Research Alliance (CRA): the Advancing Clinical Therapeutics Globally for HIV/AIDS and other Infections (ACTG) network. The ACTG is a cooperative network funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and other collaborating NIH Institutes, Centers, as well as industry partners, in support of international, multicenter clinical trials to advance therapeutics in HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and viral hepatitis. There are currently over 65 US and international clinical research sites participating in over 20 active trials. The ACTG Communications Manager provides strategic and operational oversight; coordinates communications across the network and its numerous affiliates both domestic and abroad; and serves as a lead writer and communicator. Job activities include developing compelling content, producing publications, and supporting public relations initiatives for the team and ACTG network, in collaboration with executive leaders when needed. The role involves managing the implementation of individual projects and contributing to larger, system wide initiatives. This position requires an advanced level of expertise in communications and marketing, with specialized knowledge of complex scientific, clinical, and research topics. The role requires the ability to produce accurate and compelling technical writing for various audiences on subjects that involve a steep learning curve and are not commonly mastered outside the field.

Description Of Job Responsibilities

• Works within the UNC Healthcare Communication for oversight and support while physically located in the CRA, which is an academic clinical research organization offering an array of experts from within UNC’s School of Medicine and its established partnerships to fulfill the requirements needed to coordinate clinical trials, with CRA’s premier program being ACTG.
• Provides strategic and operational oversight of an integrated marketing and communications roadmap for ACTG.
• Coordinates communications across the ACTG network and other similarly structured networks (eg. HPTN, IMPAACT, HVNT).
• Leads planning, developing, implementing, evaluating, and reporting on a comprehensive, integrated, and omni-channel marketing and communications program that reaches a broad range of target audiences including but not limited to internal and external researchers, donors, clinicians, patients, and other stakeholders.
• Works closely with executive leaders on individual projects to meet strategic needs and mission of UNC Health, the UNC School of Medicine, CRA, and the ACTG by directing brand identities and ensuring their consistent application, growth, and alignment with the overall mission and goals of the ACTG, the CRA, and UNC Health.
• Develops strategies to promote ACTG research nationally and internationally. Works closely with ACTG clinical and basic researchers to identify and develop mainstream news and feature stories. Builds and maintains relationships with national science and medical news media. Coordinates assistance needed from outside public relations firms to maximize media effectiveness.
• Works closely with the ACTG’s leadership team and coordinate with the ACTG Communications Committee to understand program communications goals and to shape the ACTG’s overall communications strategy and plans.
• Develops and support implementation of the ACTG communications strategy.
• Provide leadership, strategic direction, and day-to-day oversight of internal and external marketing and communication activities.
• Develops and manage communications budget and oversee purchases; obtains and manages team resources.
• Manages and creates sound and audience-appropriate science- and health-related content for the ACTG's internal and external communications, including but not limited to monthly newsletters, website content, press releases, and social media.
• Creates and manages social media content to inform a broad range of audiences about clinical research, health, and evidence-based medicine; potentially reviews and generates clinical trial recruitment information for national and international audiences.
• Directs the development and maintenance of the ACTG website, including content, design, information architecture and functionality, aligning ACTG Communication Committee priorities with resources and strategy for effective operationalization.
• Analyzes the network’s communications performance metrics and provides direction on ways they can be optimized.
• Provides needed reports on communications metrics for internal evaluation and for grant progress reports and renewals.
• Supports clear, concise communication in progress reports and grant renewal applications.
• Establishes ACTG investigators as national experts and resources. Promotes and alerts national news media to the expertise of specific ACTG researchers who are available for comment on topics slated for high-profile medical and scientific journals, authored or not authored by ACTG investigators.
• Supports media relations for the CRA and UNC Health by helping with the creation of news releases, responding to media inquiries, assisting in the preparation for news conferences, and supporting web and database media relationships.
• Prepares and distributes, in a timely fashion, news advisories and ""tip sheets"" to alert news media to breaking news and special announcements, including the availability for expert commentary by members of ACTG researchers. Schedules interviews and provide media escorts as needed.
• Writes speeches/speaking points as needed for ACTG leadership.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in major public relations, communications, and/or marketing focused on scientific or health-related content in health care or life sciences, in a management role. Understanding of and experience with clinical research and coordination across sites.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Ability to coordinate and collaborate across multiple partnerships and networks effectively and diplomatically.
• Demonstrated experience in managing large health research communications domestically and internationally.
• Proficiency with modern communications automation platforms to manage workflows and campaign automation, as well as the ability to leverage AI and digital optimization tools (AEO, SEO, and emerging methods) to ensure content is discoverable and impactful.
• Demonstrated experience in creating, directing, and managing content for various multi-media platforms, including website, digital, social media, print, newsletter, and email.
• Outstanding interpersonal communication skills.
• Knowledge of WordPress and/or other webpage design applications.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Ability to manage time and priorities with diverse responsibilities and multiple stakeholders.

Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate discipline.

Licensure/Certification Requirements

• No licensure or certification required.

Professional Experience Requirements

• Five (5) years of experience in communications, public relations, marketing or related field.

Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, knowledge of medical research concepts sufficient to enable communication with clinical and basic science faculty.

Job Details

Legal Employer: NCHEALTH. Entity: Shared Services. Organization Unit: Academic and Clinical Research Capability. Work Type: Full Time. Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00. Salary Range: $41.45 - $59.58 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.