Health Communications Specialist II

Health Communications Specialist II

Active NACI/Tier I clearance or the ability to obtain one is required, along with U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residence. This role is positioned within the Division of Injury Prevention, focusing on health communications related to critical topics such as suicide prevention.

Role Overview
The Health Communications Specialist II provides logistical support and leverages expertise in communications to enhance efforts across multiple platforms. Responsibilities include developing and executing communication plans, crafting content for web pages, social media, newsletters, fact sheets, and video scripts, maintaining program webpages, responding to inquiries, and supporting research and evaluation activities.

Estimated Starting Salary Range:
80,000 – 90,000 (pay commensurate with experience). Full‑time benefits include Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), and other benefits as provided. Benefits are subject to change with or without notice.

• Develop comprehensive communication promotion plans to disseminate findings from scientific articles and reports, working collaboratively within the agency and with partners.
• Create content for communication products including web pages, social media, e‑newsletters, fact sheets, and video scripts.
• Regularly update program webpages with relevant data and content updates.
• Address inquiries from CDC‑Info using prepared responses and collaborate with subject matter experts for new answers.
• Draft email responses for media inquiries and collaborate with experts for approvals.
• Assist in formative evaluation research for communication products.
• Review communication materials from marketing contractors.
• Coordinate communication efforts for special observances related to topics within the Division of Injury Prevention.
• Provide communication technical assistance to grant recipients, including reviewing plans, offering advice on best practices, and helping showcase their successes.
• Attend regular meetings with subject matter teams and complete other communication‑related tasks as needed.
• Perform other job‑related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree preferred in Journalism, English, Communication, Health Communication, Public Health, or a closely related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience developing communication and marketing strategies.
• Prior experience with CDC Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ) programs, policies, and procedures is highly desired.
• Familiarity with CDC/DGMQ program objectives and goals.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Excellent interpersonal communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to communicate technical terminology effectively to diverse audiences.
• Strong time‑management skills to handle competing deadlines.
• Experience working with American Indian/Alaska Native populations preferred.
• Comfort working with diverse subject matter experts and communication specialists.
• Ability to address sensitive topics such as “suicide prevention” in content creation.
• Capacity to manage multiple high‑priority assignments.
• Regular reporting of project status to the DGMQ’s Associate Director for Communications.
• Attend weekly/biweekly Communications Team Meetings and 1:1s with the Associate Director for Communications.
• Strong organizational skills, multitasking abilities, and meeting deadlines.
• Must pass U.S. Government security investigation.
• Must pass the pre‑employment qualifications of Cherokee Federal.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.