University of Washington
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, us, 98127
Req #: 242331
Department: SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Job Location Detail: Hybrid Eligible
Posting Date: 01/07/2025
Closing Info: Open Until Filled
Salary: $8,400 - $9,583 per month
Shift: First Shift
Notes: 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. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-staff-20230701_a11y.pdf)
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 Internal Communications Manager to join their 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
Reporting to the Director of Internal Communications, the Internal Communications Manager (Manager) holds a critical and supervisory role within the Strategic Communications team, responsible for the creation, delivery and management of employee-facing content while maintaining and improving UW Medicine’s employee intranet.
This position builds and maintains the centralized employee experience platform for UW Medicine and plays a key role in helping develop the strategy, practices, and training necessary to build out the editorial workflows and editorial model for employee-facing content on a complex and highly dynamic employee intranet on the Simpplr platform.
The Manager will be instrumental in providing UW Medicine employees with relevant and timely need-to-know and nice-to-know content using the intranet’s reliable and robust internal communications infrastructure for features, announcements, events, leadership messages and more.
This position engages proactively with key partners across UW Medicine to build relationships and develop streamlined processes in order to solicit, curate, write, edit and publish both need-to-know and nice-to-know information.
The candidate will help create and maintain the communications strategies to distribute targeted, interactive content that engages employees by leveraging the unique qualities and opportunities of our different entities and also building affinity with the larger UW Medicine umbrella, creating community and belonging within our mission-driven organization.
This position proactively interacts with leadership, faculty and staff across multiple UW Medicine entities, including Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center, Valley Medical Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, UW Primary Care Clinics, UW Physicians, Airlift Northwest, and the UW School of Medicine. The Manager collaborates closely with members of the internal communications, media relations, social media, hospital communications, communications planning, digital, content and marketing teams as well as clinical and operational leaders.
This position requires a deep understanding of internal, employee-facing content and critical communications needs and possesses a fluent understanding of, experience in, and commitment to, diversity, equity and inclusion.
The Manager will also have a deep understanding of how to craft and edit content and how to work collaboratively and successfully with subject matter experts, content owners, technical experts, and other writers in creating the most optimal user experience for our employees. This position will ensure a positive experience for our employees in engaging with content on the intranet that links to information hosted elsewhere, such as on an internal SharePoint site or external web pages, such as those on the UW Medicine Newsroom (https://newsroom.uw.edu/) , Right as Rain by UW Medicine (https://rightasrain.uwmedicine.org/) , or UW Medicine’s website .
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Employee Intranet Planning and Management (35%):
Manage a content-focused employee intranet platform to target and send messages to the UW Medicine workforce.
Lead the day-to-day production and management of a comprehensive intranet and newsletter, which includes managing a content calendar and an intranet and newsletter content strategy.
Delegate writing assignments as appropriate and determine the availability of resources. Convey needed and appropriate information and requirements to writers and freelancers, and ensure the highest quality of deliverables, including adherence to UW Medicine’s brand and editorial guidelines as well as AP style.
Manage editorial guidelines, submission processes, and content production workflows, including reviews and approvals.
Work cross-functionally to ensure all content adheres to legal, brand, and security guidelines.
Continue to refine strategies for increasing employee adoption and engaging employees with interactive content and features.
Build avenues for multi-directional communications.
Develop and amplify guidelines and appropriate protocols for platform users.
Work with partners and vendors, as needed, to continue to enhance the functionality and utility of employee-facing content on the intranet, SharePoint and other associated websites.
Develop, socialize the use of, update and maintain intranet platform functionality and features like an event calendar and organizational chart and directory.
Collaborate with design and UX teams to ensure that copy and vehicles for the copy complement visual elements and enhance the overall user experience.
Define and map content ecosystem in UW Medicine and work with partners on short and long-term roadmaps to centralize, conceive of and execute strategies to break down siloed websites, information portals and other web or online content that inhibits employees from easily finding information they need.
Build and manage content governance; conduct content audits, as appropriate, to ensure adherence to content standards and guidelines, refine approaches, and evaluate user traffic, engagement, and other KPIs, sunset features and content as appropriate and manage required archival processes.
Conduct user research to understand audience needs, preferences, and pain points, and incorporate insights into content strategy.
Stay updated on industry trends and best practices in digital copywriting, content production and content strategy.Advance Employee Communications (30%):
Serve as a consultant and subject matter expert to help others across UW Medicine determine their communication needs.
Work collaboratively with partners across UW Medicine to translate business needs into engaging online and mobile solutions. Coordinate timelines and deliverables as part of campaigns, communications plans, and multi-platform strategies.
Effectively manage, respond to and prioritize a steady stream of communications requests from multiple departments with short, frequently changing timelines.
Proactively engage with partners and attend or lead meetings to understand and solicit communications opportunities and to coordinate communications production and delivery.
Manage communications and communications project requests via Wrike project management tool, clarifying needs and documenting deadlines and deliverables. Accurately capture objectives, insights, key messaging, timing, formats and needed deliverables.
Partner with marketing and external communications teams to ensure alignment with internal communications strategy, messaging, timing, and channel usage, as appropriate.
Proactively identify opportunities to improve tools, workflows and processes.
Measure and report on key performance indicators to assess the impact and effectiveness of employee communications.
Support crisis communications and leverage digital solutions to reach audiences quickly and effectively.
Support the maintenance of and amelioration of distribution lists.
Develop and maintain an internal communications portal with communications-related reference materials and templates.Content Development (25%):
Write, edit, proof, and publish daily content.
Identify content opportunities, solicit information, and draft, edit and publish content to the intranet.
Develop accurate and engaging high-quality content about a variety of topics that meets the needs of target audiences under fast, dynamic timelines.
Write, edit and manage content that distills information about complex subjects, translating and transforming them into briefs, features, profiles, senior leader messages, information pages, news and event announcements, FAQs, interactive polls, listicles, photo and video stories and more.
Travel locally to UW Medicine locations as needed to interview subjects, assist with activities required to develop and publish compelling content, such as soliciting and/or coordinating photos or video.
Write headlines and teasers.
Fact-check content to ensure the highest standards of accuracy and route material through reviews and approvals.
Identify and create multimedia content (stories and messages) – photo, video, audio – illustrations, visual graphics and more to feature alongside or in place of written stories and briefs to delight and engage users.
Ensure content always reflects the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, and intentionally source less represented subject matter experts and individuals across our organization. Showcase employee and organization efforts and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.Team Supervision and Management (10%):
Supervise, support and mentor an Internal Communications Strategist using strong and collaborative management skills.
Review, edit and provide oversight of the Internal Communications Strategist’s work.
Help onboard new internal communications team members.
Provide performance coaching and evaluation of an Internal Communications Strategist.
Identify areas where improvements are needed to enhance team collaboration and deliverables.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Ability to occasionally work outside of typical business hours as needed to address urgent situations. As an essential and hybrid position, the individual is required to work remotely when the University is under suspended operations due to inclement weather, etc.
Hybrid
– Approximately one day per month at South Lake Union office (with the option for more days in-office as desired). This position may need to sometimes be onsite locally for interviewing, reporting, and/or multimedia creation.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor’s degree in communications, English, journalism or related field, or equivalent experience.
Five years of progressively responsible experience in managing an organization’s intranet used by tens of thousands of users, including content creation, editorial management, and content strategy development and execution.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Prior experience working in a large, complex organization.
Experience with intranet best practices and analytics.
Experience with SEO best practices and keyword research.
Experience with segmentation and personalization.
Prior work in an academic or health system setting.
Familiarity with the AP style.
Experience with Simpplr and SharePoint or another content management system.
Possesses a fluent understanding of, experience in and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Demonstrated and outstanding organizational and project management skills.
An authentically and consistently good listener.
Exceptional skills in relationship building and collaboration.
A strong writer and oral communicator, able to quickly and accurately write and edit clean and compelling content.
Demonstrated success in a variety of engaging content types, strong headlines and different forms of multimedia to convey information, create interactive experiences and captivate audiences.
Experience writing content that supports employees understanding administrative, business, human resource and operational requirements and changes.
Experience writing about health, medicine, and research.
Experience using analytics to assess the impact and effectiveness of content.
Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, high-change environment with demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and have the flexibility to perform within an environment of changing needs and priorities.
Ability to anticipate program needs, discern work priorities, and work cross-functionally.
Ability to occasionally work outside of typical business hours as needed to meet deadlines and address urgent situations.
Ability to occasionally travel to UW Medicine locations to interview subjects, coordinate photos or video, and/or assist with content-related activities.
Ability and willingness to create strong results with limited resources.
High level of computer literacy skills, including experience with MS Office Suite, intranet platforms and key project management and presentation tools.
Demonstrated commitment to integrity.
Excellent research, writing and editing skills.
Understanding of plain-language and patient-centered writing.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Seven to ten years of progressively responsible experience in content creation and editorial management, intranet platform management, and content strategy development and execution.
Three years of experience as a people manager.
Advanced degree in communications or related field.
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.
University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.
Department: SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Job Location Detail: Hybrid Eligible
Posting Date: 01/07/2025
Closing Info: Open Until Filled
Salary: $8,400 - $9,583 per month
Shift: First Shift
Notes: 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. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-staff-20230701_a11y.pdf)
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 Internal Communications Manager to join their 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
Reporting to the Director of Internal Communications, the Internal Communications Manager (Manager) holds a critical and supervisory role within the Strategic Communications team, responsible for the creation, delivery and management of employee-facing content while maintaining and improving UW Medicine’s employee intranet.
This position builds and maintains the centralized employee experience platform for UW Medicine and plays a key role in helping develop the strategy, practices, and training necessary to build out the editorial workflows and editorial model for employee-facing content on a complex and highly dynamic employee intranet on the Simpplr platform.
The Manager will be instrumental in providing UW Medicine employees with relevant and timely need-to-know and nice-to-know content using the intranet’s reliable and robust internal communications infrastructure for features, announcements, events, leadership messages and more.
This position engages proactively with key partners across UW Medicine to build relationships and develop streamlined processes in order to solicit, curate, write, edit and publish both need-to-know and nice-to-know information.
The candidate will help create and maintain the communications strategies to distribute targeted, interactive content that engages employees by leveraging the unique qualities and opportunities of our different entities and also building affinity with the larger UW Medicine umbrella, creating community and belonging within our mission-driven organization.
This position proactively interacts with leadership, faculty and staff across multiple UW Medicine entities, including Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center, Valley Medical Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, UW Primary Care Clinics, UW Physicians, Airlift Northwest, and the UW School of Medicine. The Manager collaborates closely with members of the internal communications, media relations, social media, hospital communications, communications planning, digital, content and marketing teams as well as clinical and operational leaders.
This position requires a deep understanding of internal, employee-facing content and critical communications needs and possesses a fluent understanding of, experience in, and commitment to, diversity, equity and inclusion.
The Manager will also have a deep understanding of how to craft and edit content and how to work collaboratively and successfully with subject matter experts, content owners, technical experts, and other writers in creating the most optimal user experience for our employees. This position will ensure a positive experience for our employees in engaging with content on the intranet that links to information hosted elsewhere, such as on an internal SharePoint site or external web pages, such as those on the UW Medicine Newsroom (https://newsroom.uw.edu/) , Right as Rain by UW Medicine (https://rightasrain.uwmedicine.org/) , or UW Medicine’s website .
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Employee Intranet Planning and Management (35%):
Manage a content-focused employee intranet platform to target and send messages to the UW Medicine workforce.
Lead the day-to-day production and management of a comprehensive intranet and newsletter, which includes managing a content calendar and an intranet and newsletter content strategy.
Delegate writing assignments as appropriate and determine the availability of resources. Convey needed and appropriate information and requirements to writers and freelancers, and ensure the highest quality of deliverables, including adherence to UW Medicine’s brand and editorial guidelines as well as AP style.
Manage editorial guidelines, submission processes, and content production workflows, including reviews and approvals.
Work cross-functionally to ensure all content adheres to legal, brand, and security guidelines.
Continue to refine strategies for increasing employee adoption and engaging employees with interactive content and features.
Build avenues for multi-directional communications.
Develop and amplify guidelines and appropriate protocols for platform users.
Work with partners and vendors, as needed, to continue to enhance the functionality and utility of employee-facing content on the intranet, SharePoint and other associated websites.
Develop, socialize the use of, update and maintain intranet platform functionality and features like an event calendar and organizational chart and directory.
Collaborate with design and UX teams to ensure that copy and vehicles for the copy complement visual elements and enhance the overall user experience.
Define and map content ecosystem in UW Medicine and work with partners on short and long-term roadmaps to centralize, conceive of and execute strategies to break down siloed websites, information portals and other web or online content that inhibits employees from easily finding information they need.
Build and manage content governance; conduct content audits, as appropriate, to ensure adherence to content standards and guidelines, refine approaches, and evaluate user traffic, engagement, and other KPIs, sunset features and content as appropriate and manage required archival processes.
Conduct user research to understand audience needs, preferences, and pain points, and incorporate insights into content strategy.
Stay updated on industry trends and best practices in digital copywriting, content production and content strategy.Advance Employee Communications (30%):
Serve as a consultant and subject matter expert to help others across UW Medicine determine their communication needs.
Work collaboratively with partners across UW Medicine to translate business needs into engaging online and mobile solutions. Coordinate timelines and deliverables as part of campaigns, communications plans, and multi-platform strategies.
Effectively manage, respond to and prioritize a steady stream of communications requests from multiple departments with short, frequently changing timelines.
Proactively engage with partners and attend or lead meetings to understand and solicit communications opportunities and to coordinate communications production and delivery.
Manage communications and communications project requests via Wrike project management tool, clarifying needs and documenting deadlines and deliverables. Accurately capture objectives, insights, key messaging, timing, formats and needed deliverables.
Partner with marketing and external communications teams to ensure alignment with internal communications strategy, messaging, timing, and channel usage, as appropriate.
Proactively identify opportunities to improve tools, workflows and processes.
Measure and report on key performance indicators to assess the impact and effectiveness of employee communications.
Support crisis communications and leverage digital solutions to reach audiences quickly and effectively.
Support the maintenance of and amelioration of distribution lists.
Develop and maintain an internal communications portal with communications-related reference materials and templates.Content Development (25%):
Write, edit, proof, and publish daily content.
Identify content opportunities, solicit information, and draft, edit and publish content to the intranet.
Develop accurate and engaging high-quality content about a variety of topics that meets the needs of target audiences under fast, dynamic timelines.
Write, edit and manage content that distills information about complex subjects, translating and transforming them into briefs, features, profiles, senior leader messages, information pages, news and event announcements, FAQs, interactive polls, listicles, photo and video stories and more.
Travel locally to UW Medicine locations as needed to interview subjects, assist with activities required to develop and publish compelling content, such as soliciting and/or coordinating photos or video.
Write headlines and teasers.
Fact-check content to ensure the highest standards of accuracy and route material through reviews and approvals.
Identify and create multimedia content (stories and messages) – photo, video, audio – illustrations, visual graphics and more to feature alongside or in place of written stories and briefs to delight and engage users.
Ensure content always reflects the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, and intentionally source less represented subject matter experts and individuals across our organization. Showcase employee and organization efforts and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.Team Supervision and Management (10%):
Supervise, support and mentor an Internal Communications Strategist using strong and collaborative management skills.
Review, edit and provide oversight of the Internal Communications Strategist’s work.
Help onboard new internal communications team members.
Provide performance coaching and evaluation of an Internal Communications Strategist.
Identify areas where improvements are needed to enhance team collaboration and deliverables.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Ability to occasionally work outside of typical business hours as needed to address urgent situations. As an essential and hybrid position, the individual is required to work remotely when the University is under suspended operations due to inclement weather, etc.
Hybrid
– Approximately one day per month at South Lake Union office (with the option for more days in-office as desired). This position may need to sometimes be onsite locally for interviewing, reporting, and/or multimedia creation.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor’s degree in communications, English, journalism or related field, or equivalent experience.
Five years of progressively responsible experience in managing an organization’s intranet used by tens of thousands of users, including content creation, editorial management, and content strategy development and execution.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Prior experience working in a large, complex organization.
Experience with intranet best practices and analytics.
Experience with SEO best practices and keyword research.
Experience with segmentation and personalization.
Prior work in an academic or health system setting.
Familiarity with the AP style.
Experience with Simpplr and SharePoint or another content management system.
Possesses a fluent understanding of, experience in and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Demonstrated and outstanding organizational and project management skills.
An authentically and consistently good listener.
Exceptional skills in relationship building and collaboration.
A strong writer and oral communicator, able to quickly and accurately write and edit clean and compelling content.
Demonstrated success in a variety of engaging content types, strong headlines and different forms of multimedia to convey information, create interactive experiences and captivate audiences.
Experience writing content that supports employees understanding administrative, business, human resource and operational requirements and changes.
Experience writing about health, medicine, and research.
Experience using analytics to assess the impact and effectiveness of content.
Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, high-change environment with demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and have the flexibility to perform within an environment of changing needs and priorities.
Ability to anticipate program needs, discern work priorities, and work cross-functionally.
Ability to occasionally work outside of typical business hours as needed to meet deadlines and address urgent situations.
Ability to occasionally travel to UW Medicine locations to interview subjects, coordinate photos or video, and/or assist with content-related activities.
Ability and willingness to create strong results with limited resources.
High level of computer literacy skills, including experience with MS Office Suite, intranet platforms and key project management and presentation tools.
Demonstrated commitment to integrity.
Excellent research, writing and editing skills.
Understanding of plain-language and patient-centered writing.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Seven to ten years of progressively responsible experience in content creation and editorial management, intranet platform management, and content strategy development and execution.
Three years of experience as a people manager.
Advanced degree in communications or related field.
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.
University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.