External Communications Specialist

Full-time, benefits-eligible hybrid position. Must be located in the Wake Forest market area. Some nights, weekends, and travel required.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the development of measurable proactive and reactive external communications tactics and execute the tactics in collaboration with the rest of the external communications team.
• Support reputation and external communications leadership in recommending and executing tactics that identify and cultivate meaningful recognition opportunities to reaffirm Advocate Health’s leadership role in areas of differentiation within the health industry, driving its influence as a key national voice.
• Collaborate with reputation and external communications leadership to create communications plans, often as part of integrated marketing campaigns, that support organization and business goals while protecting and enhancing the reputation of Advocate Health and related brands.
• Track and provide recommendations to leadership around emerging trends, potential industry issues, and/or brand reputation risks, developing reactive action plans and responses as needed.
• Identify, draft, and execute content creation tactics as part of approved communications plans, including consumer communications, news releases, pitches, blogs, opinion editorials, talking points, annual reports, thought leadership articles, and more.
• Under the direction of reputation and external communications leadership, identify and cultivate critical relationships with trade reporters, key local, regional, and national media outlets, and influencers to facilitate relationship-building resulting in positive earned media coverage.
• Monitor and provide executive summaries and reports of media related to customers, competitors, and the industry in collaboration with reputation and external communications leadership.
• Support the reputation and external communications team with priority projects, communications plans, and tactics as needed.
• Work cross-functionally to craft communications plans that influence the thinking and behavior of key audiences and thoughtfully promote Advocate Health and its family of brands.
• Develop and execute social, earned, and owned media tactics that enhance Advocate Health as a leader in the health care industry.
• Identify, cultivate, and share compelling stories, bringing to life impactful and integrated communications campaigns from across the organization.
• Support, maintain, and enhance the public perception of Advocate Health by identifying and targeting key audiences through various forms of communication.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, advertising, or other business-related field, or a bachelor’s degree combined with relevant experience.
• 3+ years of experience in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, or other business-related field, including experience recommending and executing comprehensive communications strategies.

Skills

• Ability to develop communications and public relations strategies and tactics and effectively communicate recommendations to external communications leadership.
• A flair for creating persuasive content and communicating effectively (and differently) depending on the medium.
• Proactive, independent, and takes initiative with consistent follow-through.
• Results-oriented with superior time management skills, capable of working with and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to handle tasks and complete work accurately within short timeframes.
• Ability to think critically, seek understanding of complex concepts, synthesize information, and create clarity to support sound decision-making.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to work in a team environment on initiatives that drive business results.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment, has a change mindset, and is comfortable navigating ambiguity.
• Strong interpersonal communications skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with others.
• Excellent oral and written communications and relationship development skills.
• Manage timelines, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness of communication activities.

Pay

$35.50 - $53.25 per hour.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off programs.
• Health and welfare benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.
• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave.
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs.
• Educational Assistance Program.
• Premium pay such as shift, on-call, and more based on the teammate's job.
• Incentive pay for select positions.
• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance.

About the Organization

Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience, and value-based care.

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health serves nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics, and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments, and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.