Salary/Position Classification

• $53,500-$55,500 annual, Exempt
• 40 hours per week
• This position offers hybrid or remote flexibility.

Purpose of Position

The Outreach and Communications Specialist position will be responsible for all aspects of external outreach and communications for designated grants, primarily focused on behavioral health issues.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Web content review and development to include identifying, selecting, and indexing relevant behavioral health news items.
  • Oversee the maintenance of web content for specific grant-funded projects.
  • Review details for upcoming events, new products and new publications and provide this information to the web team.
  • Develop new web-based products (flyers, brochures) to promote projects, webinars or the program.
  • Plan and oversee webinars/trainings including coordinating with partners, attending for technical support, editing transcripts and preparing archives for the web (currently requires use of Zoom and Adobe platforms). Search daily for news pertinent to rural health/mental health using Google, WebSite Watcher, RSS feeds, newsletters, social media and other appropriate tools.
  • Determine which news articles would be of interest to users and index them for inclusion on the website.
  • Determine which news articles would be of interest to users and share on social media as relevant.
  • Identify any possible topics or presenters based on news items that would benefit users.
• Promote grant products and services to external audiences.
  • Research and contact target audiences to help them become more familiar with the programs, mailing lists and program services.
  • Coordinate the development and distribution of promotional items and activities.
  • Coordinate the selection of conferences at which to promote services, as well as the scheduling of staff to attend each conference.
  • Serve as a resource to staff regarding promoting projects.
  • Review products developed by staff to promote programs (e.g., PowerPoint slides, handouts, webpages)
  • Develop and maintain relationships with key organizations, centers and individuals.
  • Exhibit and present program services at meetings and conferences.
  • Create and distribute articles, press releases and media kits to media and external organizations.
  • Contact organizations to encourage links to grant websites.
  • Coordinate and manage social media efforts, including developing a plan and calendar, working with staff to identify content to distribute, writing posts, interacting with the public, social listening and similar activities.
• Coordinate and facilitate outreach activities in conjunction with program leadership; contribute to program management.
  • Lead effort to develop, maintain and implement outreach/marketing plans for the program.
  • Work with program management, web staff and graphic designer to maintain consistent branding.
  • Assist in reporting marketing and outreach activities to funders and Advisory Boards.
  • Keep supervisor informed of concerns and suggestions of external organizations.
  • Work with supervisor to evaluate the success of various types of promotional activities.

Required Competencies

• Excellent writing skills, with demonstrated ability to write for diverse audiences. Applicant may be asked to submit two samples that demonstrate writing skills as part of application materials.
• Knowledge of rural health issues.
• Knowledge of mental health issues.
• Must have superior communication and interpersonal skills.
• High quality customer service, outreach and marketing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize, coordinate multiple projects and assignments, meet deadlines and function in a fast paced environment.
• Understanding of good practices for organizational social media use.
• Strong internet search skills.
• Demonstrated ability to take direction, organize, and follow-through on assigned tasks and to work as part of a team.
• High level of attention-to-detail and the ability to generate high quality and timely work products.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and be self-directed.
• Be willing to travel occasionally to national, regional or local events/meetings.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience in public speaking or making presentations.
• Experience with social media management tools and software.
• Experience working with Microsoft Office Suite, in particular MS Word and MS Excel.
• Experience with any videoconference technology (examples include Zoom, Adobe, GoTo Meeting, etc.)
• Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. This position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience delivering webinar and training to large audiences using videoconference platforms.
• Degree in communications, marketing, public administration, business or health-related field.
• Experience or training with social media strategy.
• Experience with document formatting, layout, design and construction of branded materials.
• Experience working with state or national organizations to promote grant-funded activities.
• Experience working with a content management system and basic HTML.
• Video production skills, including scripting, voice-over and editing.
• Project management experience.
• Experience working with, marketing to, and/or communicating with outside organizations for promotional purposes.