Lead Communications Specialist

As a community, the University of Rochester is defined by a deep commitment to Meliora - Ever Better. Embedded in that ideal are the values we share: equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability. Together, we will set the highest standards for how we treat each other to ensure our community is welcoming to all and is a place where all can thrive.

Job Location (Full Address):

30 Corporate Woods, Brighton, New York, United States of America, 14623

Opening:

Worker Subtype:

Regular

Time Type:

Full time

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Department:

900020 Medical Center Info. Systems

Work Shift:

UR - Day (United States of America)

Range:

UR URG 113

Compensation Range:

$77,216.00 - $115,824.00

Responsibilities:

GENERAL SUMMARY
Reporting to the Assistant Director, IT and Clinical Operations Communications, the Lead Communications Specialist serves as a strategist, high-level subject matter expert and senior content producer who ensures creation and implementation of communications programs to support the successful adoption of technology, systems and services by URMC and UR Medicine affiliate faculty and staff, as well as non-employed individuals utilizing URMC network-based services.

The Lead Communications Specialist develops and implements communications project plans to support discrete programs, projects and initiatives, ensuring communications takes into account all impacted business, financial, operational and other stakeholders to help them prepare for and embrace change. Focusing on the people side of change, including the change initiative itself, as well as changes to business processes, systems and technology, job roles, and organization structures, the Lead Communications Specialist designs, develops and executes strategies and communication plans that minimize resistance and maximize engagement among impacted areas/individuals. With limited supervision from the Assistant Director, the Lead Communications Specialist works with and coach's stakeholders, leaders and teams to develops strategies, ensuring people at all levels involved are engaged, prepared to transition and reinforce sustainable change. Knowledge and experience in change management strategy and applying a change management framework (e.g. ADKAR) to communications planning, is essential.

The Lead Communications Specialist coach's individual members of the Communications team who are responsible for organizational change communications and works closely with the Assistant Director, as well as other institutional change leaders, to develop effective strategies, plans and outputs to meet measurable goals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

​Communications Strategy and Service-line Support

• Serves as a subject-matter expert for assigned service lines and programs. Maintains close working relationships with program leaders and key stakeholders to actively support development and implementation of communication plans that guide the initiative/project.
• Collaborates with the Assistant Director, IT leaders and Project Portfolio Office to develop and implement communications plans to support objectives of projects and programs; develops and leads execution of programs with measurable outcomes.  
• Generally, serves as a senior writer and content creator, drawing support from other members of the Communications team and creative group as needed. Receives work requests directly from assigned service lines or programs.
• Gathers information to develop content for assigned service line or programs by interviewing subject matter experts and other background materials.  Judges newsworthiness and usefulness for external and internal channels, and routes ideas and/or work through supervisor for editing and clearance, assuring deadlines are met.
• Consistently analyzes metrics to strengthen the quality and impact of work.

Change Management Communications Strategy

• Develops and executes communications plans that align with the ADKAR Change Management communications framework to help drive successful user adoption of technology systems and/or other operational changes through URMC and UR Medicine, including regional affiliates.
• Alerts allied work groups and represents their interests to IT or operational leaders to mitigate potential issues, ensuring coordinated and successful implementation and adoption of new processes or other organizational changes.

Content Creation and Execution

• Manages and executes an individual portfolio of moderately complex communications projects, including developing and writing a variety of content aimed at internal and external audiences.
• Serves as senior writer and contributor for talking points, Q&A documents, presentations, infographics, news and feature stories, newsletter articles, website copy, news releases, video scripts, email memos, and social media posts. Assists with writing/editing for other projects as needed.
• Receives assignments from supervisor and identifies needs or opportunities. Works with high degree of independent creativity; work is occasionally subject to review by assigning manager and/or Assistant Director.

Communications Planning and Consulting

• Serves as a communications “consultant” and content contributor for assigned projects.
• Consultative elements include but are not limited to drafting original communication plans, identifying target audiences and matching to appropriate channels, outlining and/or implementing strategies and tactics for complex projects, developing a timeline to assure communications occurs in appropriate timeframe.
• When budgets are assigned for communication activities, ensures they are met.

Administration and Management

• Works with team members and supervisor to understand daily, weekly and monthly priorities, and directs work to align with these priorities.
• Participates in department meetings as assigned.
• Shares knowledge and provides peer support.

Publicity Support

• As needed, assists the Assistant Director, IT Communications and/or other Communications senior leaders in drafting materials to manage communications response to issues that could negatively impact URMC’s reputation or reduce support from external or internal audiences.
• Provides incident command center support for emergencies and drills.

Other duties as assigned

MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in communications, Journalism or related field and 7 years of relevant experience required
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrated proficiency in writing and editing content based on target audience required
• Strong verbal, written and interpersonal communications skills required
• Understanding and compliance with HIPAA requirements preferred

The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture to advance the University’s Mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create – and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law (Protected Characteristics). This commitment extends to non-discrimination in the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates, for all persons consistent with our values and based on applicable law.