Health Communications Manager
About the role
The Health Communications Manager plays a crucial role within UChicago Student Wellness, a department of Campus and Student Life at the University of Chicago. Reporting to the Director of Health Promotion, this role is integral to the health and wellness ecosystem, aiming to enhance student understanding and access to essential services.
Responsibilities
Health Literacy & Clinical Navigation: Draft and review all Student Wellness communications to ensure they meet standards and are accessible to a diverse campus population.
Care Wayfinding: Improve care wayfinding to enhance navigation pathways and increase students' understanding of Student Wellness services and processes as well as seeking after-hours care.
Insurance & Compliance Literacy: Simplify complex healthcare requirements into user-friendly digital and print resources.
Digital Strategy & Ecosystem Management: Lead the strategy for Student Wellness digital platforms, ensuring consistency in messaging across platforms, timely updates, removal of outdated information, and layout and content that emphasize easy access and user-focused navigation.
UX-Driven Analytics: Regularly review website and portal analytics to identify pain points in the student user journey; apply data-backed updates to enhance the efficiency of online information and booking processes.
Campaign Integration: Lead marketing for campus-wide health surveys (e.g., NCHA, HMS) and public health campaigns, and medical and mental health education initiatives.
Crisis Response: Coordinate the rapid dissemination of critical health and safety information regarding emerging health concerns across all channels.
Institutional Alignment & Outreach: Assist the Leadership Team in preparing high-level presentations, institutional announcements, and strategic reports for university stakeholders.
Strategic Leadership Support: Partner with University Central Communications and the CSL Communications Manager to align messaging with divisional and institutional goals and handle media or parental inquiries.
Orientation Strategy: Develop strategic content for student orientation, focusing on how to access care, manage their health requirements, and navigate wellness assets.
Brand & Quality Control: Ensure all communications adhere to University branding and accessibility standards, while optimizing creativity and design assets for maximum audience engagement.
Leadership and Supervision: Leads the health literacy and participates in SW working groups and committees as needed. Attends all CSL communications working group meetings. Regularly communicates with the CSL Communications Manager, maintaining awareness of centrally-led CSL communications efforts. Supervises Student Social Media Coordinators. Plans, develops, and disseminates information designed to keep the public informed of the organization's programs, accomplishments, or point of view, with moderate levels of guidance and direction.
Qualifications
Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related fields such as Public Health, Communication, or other related fields.
Experience: 3-5 years in health communications, digital communication strategy, or patient education. Proven experience translating technical or medical information into plain language. Experience in a healthcare/clinical setting (using EMR/Portals like Epic or Point-and-Click) or in higher education administration. Experience with design thinking, UX principles, or inclusive design for diverse populations (e.g., LGBTQ+, international students).
Skills
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, and professional social media management.
Ability to interpret health survey data and web analytics to pivot communication strategies.
Benefits
The University of Chicago offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, retirement, and paid time off. For additional information, please refer to the Benefits Guidebook.