The University of Connecticut is seeking an experienced communications professional to fill the position of Health News & Information Officer/Deputy Spokesperson at UConn Health based in Farmington, CT working as part of a dedicated three-person news team. Under the general direction of the Director of News Services at UConn Health, the incumbent is responsible for identifying and producing a wide variety of strategic communications content for use across numerous platforms with the aim of promoting UConn Health and informing key audiences about its successful clinical, research, teaching and service missions. This includes highlighting the contributions, achievements, experiences, and/or activities of our faculty, patients, staff, students, leadership, alumni and donors. The individual in this role will be responsible for using solid and seasoned news judgement to find, write and produce content for UConn Health’s internal and external publications and communications channels, including social media platforms. They will also pitch news and communicate information directly to the media, contribute to the management of public issues and events, and respond to deadline-driven media inquiries as needed. This individual will also serve as deputy spokesperson for UConn Health on a regular basis and will have responsibility for responding to media inquiries on various issues including those related to patient care, UConn Health policies and practices, public affairs, budget and finance, and issues involving students and personnel.

Responsibilities include:

• Identify and produce a wide variety of strategic communications content for use across multiple internal and external publications and platforms including UConn Today, The Pulse, UConn Health Journal, and social media to inform key audiences about UConn Health and its mission based on specific news beats covering our academic, clinical, and research enterprises; contribute to effectively telling the story of UConn Health.
• Proactively pitch UConn Health news and communicate information to state and national media.
• Work directly with the university administration and colleagues in Farmington and Storrs to collaboratively to respond to media inquiries in a timely way and play a role in managing day-to- day communications and media relations needs, including emergency and crisis communications, and speak on UConn Health’s behalf to the news media as a deputy spokesperson.
• Draft messages, quotes, background, talking points, and other communications for UConn Health leadership as needed. Provides advice and guidance to UConn leadership regarding strategies for responding to a variety of media inquiries.
• Meet institutional and special project needs as assigned, even if at times within a broader marketing or institutional realm, to help the organization succeed.
• Assemble, organize and keep data needed for internal and external messaging, including statistics, milestones, awards etc.
• Be part of on-call rotation for after hours and on weekends to meet media and emergency communications needs.
• Conduct morning/daily media monitoring and ongoing tracking for informational awareness and the news team’s archives.
• Other duties as assigned.

The individual in this position will be required to respect matters of confidentiality, including the development of initiatives prior to implementation, issues related to collective bargaining, and personnel matters.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and at least five (5) years of professional communications experience.
• Exceptional communications skills including writing and speaking.
• Able to work during regular business hours (40 hours per week, eight hours per weekday) also flexible and able to work off-hours when need arises to meet institutional needs.
• Demonstrated experience with handling confidential and sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A true producer, go-getter, team player, and collaborator with experience in the hospital, healthcare, state government, news media, and/or public affairs fields.
• Knowledge of current Connecticut communications, healthcare and/or academic market.
• Direct experience with social media and knowledge of best practices, including the story-telling across channels; able to utilize new and creative ways to share news and cross-promote stories and other content.
• Multimedia experience, including video and photography, and knowledge of best practices.
• Knowledge of Connecticut’s Freedom of Information laws.

This is full-time, twelve month position. The successful candidate’s primary appointment will be at UConn Health in Farmington with travel to other UConn campuses and satellite offices/clinics as needed. Salary is commensurate with education, knowledge and experience.

TO APPLY

Please apply online at UConn Jobs, https://jobs.uconn.edu 

Click on Staff Positions, Search #2019593.

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references with contact information. Screening of candidates will begin immediately.

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check. (Search #2019593)

This job posting is scheduled to be removed at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on June 26, 2019.

All  employees  are  subject   to   adherence   to   the   State   Code   of   Ethics,   which   may  be  found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.