Communications Specialist

The Communications Specialist supports the Department of Medical Oncology through the writing, editing, and management of clear, engaging content across print and digital channels. Working closely with the communications manager and department leadership, this role is primarily responsible for producing a weekly newsletter and meeting slides, while also supporting department reports, letters, and periodic internal and external website updates.

The ideal candidate is a strong writer and editor with excellent research and design judgment, experience with newsletter and web platforms, and the ability to build trusted relationships with department faculty and other stakeholders across the Institute. This role should also be comfortable using AI as a collaborative tool to support content development and workflow while exercising sound judgment, discretion, and attention to tone, clarity, and audience needs.

A cover letter is required. Attach a copy of a cover letter with your application.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations.

We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow’s physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

• Supports the development, editing, and execution of written and digital content for internal communication channels, which primarily includes our workforce intranet DFCI Online, internal e-newsletter products such as DFCI Digest, staff broadcast emails, and our bi-weekly publication, Inside the Institute

• Edits pieces on a wide variety of topics for DFCI Online, Inside the Institute, or other channels as needed; exercises creativity and discretion to balance writers’ voices with Dana-Farber style; and recasting sentences for tone, clarity, and concision when necessary.

• Contributes to short- and long-term editorial calendar planning by sourcing story concepts and content ideation

• Monitors user-generated content and comments for appropriateness on assigned channels, when applicable

• Works collaboratively with other content creators across organization to ensure accuracy of information

• Liaises with assigned clients, developing relationships as main point of contact for client communication needs, including but not limited to curating, building, regularly updating, and managing a variety of technical and content initiatives such as building new intranet pages aligned with clients’ needs in support of Dana-Farber initiatives

• Works closely with IS and web application developers within the organization to ensure the continuation of a common, stable development environment for content contributors and staff engagement

• Contributes to Dana-Farber’s social media efforts, recommending content and coordinating management of assigned social media projects

• Collaborating with departmental team members and/or participating in department client teams to ensure efficient flow of information and project work.

• Partnering with web development team to understand and improve channel platforms

• Becoming team power user and lead implementer in any project management system guiding in-house writers and freelancers in the development of new intranet or web content

• Staying current on trends and best practices in employee communications, content creation, editorial management, and editorial workflow

• Writing, editing, proofreading and other duties as assigned.

• Monitoring DFCI Online (intranet) inbox

• Partnering with department leadership to lead Inclusion, Diversity & Equity efforts

• Maintaining ongoing communication with the client and/or department through the use of standardized reporting and project…