The Position

Incumbent works under the direction of a Douglas County Health Department (DCHD) Division Chief or designee, developing, planning, implementing and evaluating various internal and external communications activities that support, protect and improve community health goals.

Essential Functions

• Oversee the Communications Section operations (e.g. assessments, education, generating checks, follow-ups) ensuring timely completion of program activities in accordance with applicable State and Federal laws, rules, regulations, policies and guidelines.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Supervise (e.g. training/orienting, scheduling, assisting, monitoring, coaching, evaluating, recommending personnel actions) assigned staff.
• Oversee health communication and information line activities ensuring staff achievement of section goals.
• Develop integrated health communication strategies, coordinate and plan DCHD’s communication plans, risk communication strategy, brand strategy, working with subject matter experts.
• Research and identify applicable grants for continued communications-related program funding.
• Serve as a public information officer developing strategic messaging, addressing emerging media questions/concerns, and planning, coordinating and facilitating media events.
• Provide strategic communications counsel and advice to management and other internal customers advising on communication implications (e.g. policies, actions).
• Research and coordinate the production of public and employee communications products (e.g. press/news release, website information, factsheets, newsletters) soliciting, writing and editing content.
• Use visual communications tools and techniques increasing effectiveness of messages and create graphics (e.g. videos, press releases, factsheets, newsletters, educational materials, policy messaging) for social media and other uses.
• Identify and assess the communication needs of targeted audiences determining the best communication methods and tools.
• Oversee language access program assisting in bilingual, translation and community outreach coordination and support ensuring plan development, review, approval, and implementation on behalf of the communications team.
• Advise on external strategic partnerships creation (e.g. community organizations, diverse community leaders) advancing DCHD’s health equity work.
• Develop media strategies engaging regional, community and multi-lingual media outlets providing timely information to the public speaking points, coordinating online media events and managing press conferences.
• Lead media training for DCHD staff.
• Report to and staff the Emergency Information Line.
• Participate in public health emergency response planning, training and respond during emergency.
• Develop and recommend Section goals, policies, and procedures.
• Prepare and present budget recommendations managing expenses within established budget.
• Safely operate a motor vehicle when required to travel on County business.
• Report to work with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned and directed.

Education and Work Experience and Other Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in public health, health education, public communications, or journalism required.*
• Five (5) years of public communications or journalism experience in a public health setting required.*
• Bilingual skill (Spanish/English) may be required.
• Valid driver’s license and own transportation upon hire and maintained throughout employment required.
• Completion of a pre-employment criminal record check and conditional offer drug screen required.
• Equivalent combination of education and work experience may be substituted for requirements on a year-for-year basis.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Work is generally performed in an office, home setting or various community locations. Noise level is usually moderate. Work hours are typically standard day-shift hours; however, schedule may vary (e.g. days, shifts, weekends, overtime/extra hours, holidays, emergency call-in). Work may be stressful when dealing with time constraints, multiple/changing priorities, limited resources and uncooperative/irate individuals.
• Work requires some physical activity, including extended periods of sitting, standing, frequent walking, reaching, climbing, and occasional balancing, kneeling, and bending. Work also requires the ability to frequently lift/carry objects weighing up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 25 pounds.
• Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance and color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Incumbent must possess the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.

Douglas County is an EOE - Disability/Veterans