Job Description

Interested in a career with both meaning and growth? Whether your abilities are in direct patient care or one of the many other areas of healthcare administration and support, everyone at Parkland works together to fulfill our mission: the health and well-being of individuals and communities entrusted to our care. By joining Parkland, you become part of a diverse healthcare legacy that’s served our community for more than 125 years. Put your skills to work with us, seek opportunities to learn and join a talented team where patient care is more than a job. It’s our passion.

Primary Purpose

Plans, develops, and coordinates media activities to promote the visibility and positive image of Parkland, its work and mission in the community.

Minimum Specifications

Education

• Must have a bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations, communications, or related field.

Experience

• Must have six years of journalism, public relations, and/or corporate communications experience.

Skills or Special Abilities

• Must have exceptional verbal and written communication skills, to include excellent writing skills for media pitches/press releases.
• Must be able to demonstrate basic computer skills,
• Must have good organizational and decision-making skills, and attention to detail.
• Must be sensitive to political, cultural, and legal issues affecting hospital system operations.
• Must be able to demonstrate ability to supervise.

Responsibilities

1. Selects, trains, schedules, motivates, supervises, and evaluates employees, making recommendations for disciplinary actions up to and including termination, to ensure maximum utilization of individual and group capabilities. Ensures that assigned employees receive opportunities to further their knowledge.
2. Responsible for planning and implementation of long and short-term media goals. Develops new mechanisms for media relations.
3. Serves as the departmental supervisor over media relations to promote the visibility and positive image of Parkland, its work and mission the community.
4. Conducts proactive media relations. Places news articles in local, regional, and national news media. Prepares press releases and news alerts.
5. Maintains one-on-one relationships with the news media and assists media representatives in newsgathering.
6. Oversees the organization and execution of special media events, and promotion of communications activities to support the overall mission and goals of Parkland as directed by supervisor.
7. Serves as a resource and liaison between the media and public relations, Administration, internal hospital system departments, physicians, employees, and patients, to provide verbal and written communications support.
8. During internal disaster situations or significant media incidents, serves as back-up spokesperson for Parkland. Provides support to Director of Corporate Communications to assure timely response to media requests for information.
9. Responsible for the coordination and oversight of Speaker’s Bureau including all follow-up activities related to speaking events, measuring effectiveness, and providing needed information to speakers in advance of the event.
10. Stays abreast of latest trends and advancement in corporate and medical communications field to maximize department productivity and effectiveness by attending Parkland seminars/workshops, reading professional journals, and participating in professional organizations. Integrates new knowledge gained as appropriate into the job.
11. Measures effectiveness of media activities, monitors and reports results and implements improvement measures as needed.
12. Maintains knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws, and guidelines that impact the Corporate Communications area. Develops effective controls that promote adherence to applicable state/federal laws, and the program requirements of accreditation agencies and federal, state, and private health plans. Seeks advice and guidance as necessary to ensure proper understanding.

Job Accountabilities

1. Identifies ways to improve work processes and improve customer satisfaction. Makes recommendations to supervisor, implements, and monitors results as appropriate in support of the overall goals of the department and Parkland.
2. Stays abreast of the latest developments, advancements, and trends in the field by attending seminars/workshops, reading professional journals, actively participating in professional organizations, and/or maintaining certification or licensure. Integrates knowledge gained into current work practices.
3. Maintains knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws, and guidelines that impact the area. Develops effective internal controls designed to promote adherence with applicable laws, accreditation agency requirements, and federal, state, and private health plans. Seeks advice and guidance as needed to ensure proper understanding.

Parkland Health and Hospital System prohibits discrimination based on age (40 or over), race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, disability, national origin, marital status, political belief, or veteran status.