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University of Washington

University of Washington is hiring: ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS in Se

University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, 98127

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Job Location Detail: Hybrid – 2 days per week at the South Lake Union office (with the option for more days in-office if desired)

Posting Date: 12/10/2024

Closing Info: Open Until Filled

Other Compensation:

Shift: First Shift

Benefits: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here.

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.

UW Medicine Strategic Marketing and Communications has an outstanding opportunity for an Associate Director of Public Relations to join our team.

At UW Medicine, we work to improve health for all people through excellence in clinical, research, and education and training programs. As the only comprehensive clinical, research and learning health system in the five-state WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) region, UW Medicine provides the most up-to-date care for each individual patient, leads one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive medical research programs, and provides innovative learning programs for students, trainees, and practitioners in the health professions.

The UW Medicine’s Strategic Marketing and Communications (SMC) team plays a unique and vital role in advancing UW Medicine’s mission to improve the health of all people. We advance UW Medicine’s mission by creating connections to the discoveries, knowledge, and care that improve people’s lives. Our team is comprised of 50+ dedicated professionals who work across a variety of marketing and communications disciplines for both the health system and UW School of Medicine, including brand and marketing strategy, news and media relations, internal and crisis communications, web development, UX/DX strategies, social media, writing, and graphic design. Our success lies in our core values: respect, teamwork, creativity, continuous improvement, and focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, that are reflected in all that we do.

Position Description
The Associate Director of Public Relations holds a critical role within the Strategic Communications team. They will report to the Director of Media Relations, serving as a key member of the media relations team: working hands-on to facilitate media coverage using traditional media and social media tools, with an emphasis on reacting to media inquiries and proactively developing stories on clinical or research news involving our staff and faculty at UW Medicine. They will have a dotted line reporting structure to provide key support to the Senior Executive Director of Strategic Communications in the development, direction and strategy of broader public relations programming including community relations, grass roots reputation campaigns and other key methods of enhancing brand reputation. And – along with the Director of Media Relations and Director of Internal Communications – engage in organizational crisis communications response.

This position requires a solid writer – familiar with AP style, able to be led by UW Medicine voice and values, and able to write and edit with excellence/accuracy as well as speed. It also requires sound judgement and the ability to think critically. The successful candidate will bring extensive experience developing robust public relations programs, possess strong listening skills, and a fluent understanding of, experience in and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations.

Other needed skills include strategy and program development, interviewing, attention to detail, experience interacting with members of the press, and the ability to juggle multiple priorities while meeting deadlines. The candidate will need to stay abreast of the UW Medicine and Newsroom editorial, inclusivity, and brand guidelines.

In addition to media contacts, the position regularly interfaces with faculty, researchers, and staff from each of the UW Medicine entities — Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center, Valley Medical Center, UW Primary Care, UW Physicians, UW School of Medicine, Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center, and Airlift Northwest along with Seattle Children’s and the Veterans Administration. It also works closely with follow members of the media team as well as the social media, internal communications, brand, content, digital and marketing teams.

A commitment to integrity, kindness, the ability to have fun, and the ability to build strong and trusted relationships and partnerships will be highly valued.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Media Relations Responsibilities – 65%:

  • Manage media inquiries related to the position’s beat areas.
  • Support the Director of Media Relations in developing, managing and/or maintaining media relations strategy.
  • Identify topics and write news releases and blogs for posting on our Newsroom and distribution to media. Speak to beat leads, directors and chairs to stay on top of news stories and new research under way to promote to the media.
  • Share in the daily rotation of checking for media requests via email and phone.
  • Escort media crews interviewing one of our faculty or staff at one of our entities.
  • Work with the video team on video soundbites to accompany your news releases.

    Public Relations Strategy and Programming – 20%:
  • With direction from the Senior Executive Director, develop strategic short- and long-term plans for Public Relations (PR) programming outside of media relations; this will include community-focused efforts, grassroots reputation campaigns, influencer relations, etc. Develop both short- and long-term strategies.
  • Create an operational design for this PR program and oversee plan implementation.
  • Design and implement policies and procedures, interpret regulations and identify best practices with relation to the program.
  • Manage the budget for this program which includes developing an annual budget, assisting with the planning and allocation of funds, and maintaining accurate and timely data in all budget systems and reports.
  • Manage and evaluate the aforementioned programs once built, leading functional meetings, tracking and reporting on progress, and recommending adjustment and additions as appropriate.
  • Ensure alignment with strategic objectives, UW Medicine values, and principles of diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Ultimately support and advance the mission of UW Medicine.
  • Other duties as assigned.

    Crisis Communications Support – 15%:
  • Along with the Senior Executive Director of Strategic Communications and Director of Media Relations, facilitate UW Medicine’s crisis communications responses when needed, upholding and preserving brand reputation. This may include contributing to issues management strategy, statement development, management of approval processes, media training for senior leaders, monitoring crisis issues, etc.
  • Be on call and/or available outside of traditional work hours at times, as needed, to address urgent issues.

    MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
  • Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism or related field.
  • Five or more years of progressively responsible public relations experience including both media and outside-of-media contexts.

    Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

    ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
  • Experience with management of crisis communications and reputation management efforts.
  • Experience building public relations programs outside of media relations, including community relations.
  • Exceptional writer, able to quickly and accurately write and edit compelling content following AP style and UW Medicine brand and inclusive language guidelines.
  • An authentically and consistently good listener.
  • Demonstrated ability to use sound judgement and think critically and strategically.
  • Demonstrated ability to graciously accept feedback, respect the opinions of others, build trusted relationships and work collaboratively with diverse audiences and team members.
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • A fluent understanding of, experience in, and commitment to inclusive language, accessibility, and diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations.
  • Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, high-change environment with demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
  • Strong computer literacy skills.
  • Strong public speaking and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Extensive experience providing guidance to and communications for senior leaders of large organizations.
  • Ability to occasionally work outside of typical business hours as needed to address urgent situations.
  • Demonstrated commitment to integrity.

    DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Seven to ten years of progressively responsible public relations experience including both media and outside-of-media contexts.
  • Advanced degree in communications, public relations, journalism or related field.
  • Prior experience working in a large, complex organization.
  • Prior work in a health system setting.
  • Familiarity with the AP style.

    Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

    • Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

    To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu .

    Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law .

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