Communications / Public Relations Specialist

About the role

This position plays a critical coordination role across multiple communications functions, including USC Brain Health communications, the USC Floyd School of Medicine, university communications, and public information and communications teams within statewide partner organizations. It supports USC Brain Health in advancing strategic communications, brand awareness, and public impact efforts across diverse audiences, including patients, the general public, legislators, and other key stakeholders. The role is responsible for developing and executing communications strategies that elevate the visibility, credibility, and influence of the USC Brain Health Network and USC Brain Health Center at the local, regional, and national levels, ensuring alignment of messaging, consistency of brand voice, and effective dissemination of information across all platforms and collaborators.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Communications Planning and Execution: Coordinate and implement integrated communications strategies and initiatives for USC Brain Health that increase awareness, strengthen public understanding, and highlight organizational impact. Coordinate messaging across multiple stakeholders, track outcomes, and provide regular updates to the Floyd School of Medicine director of strategic communications and the Brain Health leadership team on communications effectiveness.
• Public Relations, Stakeholder Engagement, and Coordination: Serve as a key liaison among USC Brain Health, USC Floyd School of Medicine, central USC communications, and external partner organizations. Build and maintain strong relationships with media, healthcare collaborators, and community organizations.
• Writing and editing: Develop, write, and edit a wide range of communications materials, including press releases, brochures, newsletters, web content, social media copy, stakeholder updates, and thought leadership pieces. Ensure messaging is clear, accessible, accurate, engaging, and aligned with audience and organizational priorities. Maintain editorial calendars and ensure timely delivery of content. Collaborate with partners to ensure content is current, accurate, and consistent across platforms.
• Other Duties: Perform other duties as assigned in support of the Floyd School of Medicine and Brain Health organizational missions and communications objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a job-related field and 2 or more years of job-related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job-related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of strategic communications, public information, and storytelling across digital and traditional platforms
• Excellent writing and editing skills, including experience with AP Style
• Experience with media relations and event coordination
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Experience coordinating communications across multiple organizations or stakeholder groups
• Ability to translate complex health and research topics into clear, compelling content for varied audiences
• Familiarity with content management systems and analytics tools, and content design programs, such as Adobe Suite and Canva
• Ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment
• Experience with social media platforms
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

Benefits

• South Carolina Retirement
• State Insurance Programs
• Annual Leave
• Sick Leave