JOB DESCRIPTION
Assistant Director of Public Relations
Academic Health Center Office of Communications, University of Minnesota
Working title: Assistant Director of Public Relations
Classification (proposed): Communications Manager (9347)
Reporting to: Brian Lucas, Senior Director Communications and Public Affairs
Position details: 100-percent time position with attractive benefits in the Academic
Health Center Office of Communications, located in the Mayo Memorial Building on the
University of Minnesota East Bank campus, Minneapolis
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position overview:
The Assistant Director of Public Relations role coordinates the work of the Public Relations.
Team to ensure that objectives are met and a high degree of effectiveness is maintained. The current responsibilities of this position are listed here, but are subject to change.
Major areas of accountability:
1. Leadership
Directly manage the public relations and multimedia coordinators within the AHC Office of Communications.
Build relationships with communication leads for health sciences schools, colleges, programs and units to promote academic health and research success across the AHC.
Anticipate, plan for and manage issues in support of the organization’s overall communications objectives.
Conduct media training for faculty, staff and administrators across the AHC.
2. Public Relations
Execute a media strategy that positions University health sciences experts as leaders in research, patient care and health education.
Work with marketing units from University of Minnesota Health and media relations colleagues at Fairview Health Services to promote shared clinical services and develop unified approaches to PR strategy.
Respond to and proactively communicate with national, consumer, trade, newswire and local media.
Monitor health care trends and media coverage to identify opportunities for AHC experts to provide commentary and opinions, positioning them as leaders in the regional and national health care conversation.
Support the development of media toolkits, including news releases, backgrounders, media pitch documents and social media around research and clinical successes. Draft or provide input on PR plans as needed.
Develop spokesperson messaging related to public announcements or issues for leadership. Prepare executives for interviews, and coordinate media spokesperson training as necessary.
Work collaboratively with other University of Minnesota PR teams to support system wide goals, initiatives, issues and crisis management and legislative proposals.
3. Digital
Serve as managing editor of Health Talk, the University’s health news blog.
Work closely with the AHC web team to develop content that supports the University’s reputation while demonstrating the University’s impact on Minnesota and the state’s patient population, as well as the national impact of work happening within the AHC.
Direct the social media strategy for the Academic Health Center’s digital media ecosystem, which includes Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest.
Leverage analytics to track performance and instruct the content creation process.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
Four-year degree with an emphasis in public relations, strategic communications or related field.
Six years of practical experience in public relations, corporate communications or related field. Non-communications related degrees must have eight years of related experience.
Management and leadership experience.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
A proven track record of media relations success, including landing stories, managing crisis communications and developing meaningful relationships with regional and national reporters.
Experience in planning, managing and developing content for the web. Experience acting in a managing editor capacity for large, content-heavy websites.
Preferred:
Ability to identify story opportunities and ideas that align with greater organizational objectives.
Ability to plan independently and lead with a targeted vision and strategy.
Proven ability to function across a large, complex and multi-layered organization.
Experience working within CMS systems such as Drupal and WordPress.
Experience in a health care industry setting.
Ability to independently manage media campaigns with limited oversight.
Ability to work within a team and as an individual contributor in a fast-paced, changing environment.
PROGRAM/UNIT DESCRIPTION
The University of Minnesota’s Academic Health Center comprises six schools and colleges that train medical and health professionals:
School of Dentistry
Medical School
School of Nursing
College of Pharmacy
School of Public Health
College of Veterinary Medicine
It’s also home to centers, institutes, and labs that focus on specific fields of study, and has strong partnerships with hospitals and clinics.
The Academic Health Center (AHC) was founded in 1970, part of one of the oldest and largest land grant universities in the country, and is one of the most comprehensive academic health centers in the nation. Since its inception, the Academic Health Center has been the home to firsts such as the world’s first successful open heart surgery, pancreas transplant, first pharmaceutical care degree, and more recently, development of one of the most widely used anti-HIV drugs. Research addresses significant, cross-cutting issues including cancer, infectious diseases and immunology, neurosciences, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
The Academic Health Center’s primary goals are to: 1. Educate the next generation of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, public health professionals, and veterinarians, 2. Discover and deliver new preventions, treatments, and cures that improve the health of families and communities, and 3. Enhance Minnesota’s bioscience industries and grow the state’s economy.
The Academic Health Center (AHC) Office of Communications (z.umn.edu/communications) provides strategic communications, partnering with AHC units to promote and enhance the reputation of the University of Minnesota’s medical and health sciences.
Discover more about the medical and health sciences at the University of Minnesota at health.umn.edu and the Health Talk blog, health.umn.edu/healthtalk.
TO APPLY:
NOTE: Use the University of Minnesota jobs system to apply
If you are not a current University of employee: https://www.myu.umn.edu/psp/psprd/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBLPage=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=303365& PostingSeq=1
Current University of Minnesota employees:
https://www.myu.umn.edu/psp/psprd/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_EMP.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBLPage=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Employee&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=303365&PostingSeq=1
Submit cover letter, resume, references (at least three), and link to related work samples (at least three; include your role on the project; samples can be finished or in process).
You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach only a cover letter and resume. Additional documents (such as references and work samples) may be attached after application by accessing your “My Activities” page and uploading documents there.
For best consideration, please apply by Monday, August 31, 2015.
DIVERSITY
The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.
The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu.
To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-UOHR (8647).
Background Check Information
Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.
Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.
About the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation’s most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.
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