Communications Manager Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

UI Health Care's Marketing and Communications department has an opportunity for a skilled communications coordinator to assist in leveraging enterprise social media accounts and the news media to build public trust in University of Iowa Health Care. The role helps promote and protect the organization's reputation through transparent communication. This individual is responsible for creating strong content and pitching creative ideas that build and strengthen the University of Iowa Health Care's brand.

The position works with the public relations and social media manager for UI Health Care to complete a variety of social media- and earned media-related tasks and projects and may work with other divisions within the Marketing and Communications department on related tasks and projects.

Responsibilities:

Public Relations

• Assist with scheduling interviews with UI Health Care subject matter experts.  

• Support the public relations team in logging, assessing, and responding to inbound media requests. 

• Monitor trending news stories that relate to health care, medical education, and health care administration.  

• Support the promotion of UI Health Care research, patient, and education stories by drafting media pitches, talking points, and other materials. 

• Provide administrative support by creating media coverage reports and updating contact lists.  

• Model WE CARE values and coach/mentor junior team members.

Social Media

• Create engaging social media content that is aligned with the strategy. Write social media captions, take photos, produce videos, and create graphics. Communicate the brand voice in a coherent and effective manner across all social media platforms.

• Organize and update the social media calendar with content that is planned, in production, or completed. Schedule posts based on priority level, timeliness, and other determining factors.

• May develop and manage social media campaigns in collaboration with service line stakeholders.

• Assist in developing reaction reports for administrators and stakeholders for highly engaging posts and crisis communications.

• Assist in creating quarterly reports on social media metrics for stakeholders as needed.

• Track, analyze, and report on social media performance metrics for both paid and organic posts, and adjust content strategies as necessary to increase engagement and reach.

• Stay current on social media tools, trends, and best practices within the industry, and make recommendations for improving our social media content strategies.

• May assist with training and supervising student employees in various aspects of their jobs. 

Strategic Planning 

• Work with the public relations and social media team to brainstorm and develop strategy for the distribution of messaging, stories, and other output as needed.  

• Support development, implementation, and tracking progress towards strategic plan for public relations and social media.  

• Provide public relations, media relations, and communications counsel to UI Health Care administration, faculty, and staff.

• Working in conjunction with the Content Strategy team, develop written content that supports UI Health Care's strategic priorities.

• Identify and recommend opportunities to enhance UI Health Care's reputation, assisting with the development of communication plans and tactics.

• Collaborate with content creators, UI Health Care departments, and university partners to ensure consistent messaging and brand identity across channels.

Supervision/Leadership 

• May provide assignments and guidance to student workers. 

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing, public relations, or relevant field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Relevant experience in public relations, communications, or marketing, preferably in an academic health care setting. 

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.  

• Demonstrated time management and organizational skills; detail-oriented; ability to coordinate, track, and prioritize multiple projects or tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines. 

• Proven experience creating and executing communications and social media plans.

• Ability to write, edit, and advise on content for a wide variety of communication materials-short news items, in-depth articles, web content, etc.

• Demonstrated experience working effectively in a welcoming and respectful workplace environment.

• Ability to manage and meet multiple deadlines while working effectively in a collaborative environment.

• Ability to work flexible hours including occasional evenings and weekends, when needed. 

Desired:

• Demonstrated understanding of health care communications and operations

• Experience collecting and using data to drive decision-making.  

• Experience and strong understanding of social media trends and metrics.  

• Ability to learn new technology and adapt to changes in a fast-paced environment.  

• Familiarity with UI and UI Health Care policies and procedures.

• Experience working with high-level health care leadership. 

• Experience with JIRA project management system.

• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suites and Microsoft 365.

• AP style competency.

Application Process: To be considered, applicants must upload a cover letter and resume (under the submission of relevant materials) that clearly address how they meet the listed required and desired qualifications of this position. Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days. Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification.

•  Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process. For questions, contact Sharon Walther at sharon-walther@uiowa.edu.

This position is not eligible for University sponsorship for employment authorization now or in the future.