Communication Specialist - Health Promotion - Health & Social Services Division

The Hamilton County Health & Social Services Division has a responsibility to respond quickly and efficiently when public health emergencies occur. All Hamilton County Health & Social Services Division employees are responsible for ensuring their contact information is current and they are accessible should a public health emergency arise. The Hamilton County Health & Social Services Division maintains a call down system to store contact information and mobilize staff in the event of an emergency.

During a public health emergency, all staff are required to respond should a call to mobilize be made. During a public health emergency, work hours for any and all Hamilton County Health & Social Services Division employees are subject to modification to meet the needs of the community.

Under general supervision, serves as a point of contact for internal and external communication, and ensures consistent, accurate, and timely messaging across all communication channels.

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following tasks, physical requirements, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics. This list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents of this class.

Serve as a media liaison and assist with developing press releases, media advisories, and public statements. Respond to media/press inquiries in a timely, accurate, and professional manner. Develop and maintain positive relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets. Monitor media coverage. Collaborate with departments to communicate facility and program updates, policy changes, and emergency information internally and externally. Represent the County and assist with coordinating public engagement opportunities, including events, meetings, town halls, focus groups, and community surveys.

Write, edit, and produce content for the website, social media platforms, newsletters, and publications. Create compelling multimedia campaigns and content, including graphics, videos, and photography, to support communication goals. Assist with creating talking points, speeches, and presentations. Ensure all content aligns with brand standards and compliance with policies, protocols, and procedures. Assist with marketing campaigns by ensuring objectives are achieved, analyzing campaign data, and making data-driven adjustments to optimize performance.

Support the development of multilingual communication materials to serve diverse populations.

Monitor analytics and metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of digital communications and recommend improvements. Prepare media reports for leadership as needed. Maintain department records, archives, and communication records. Serve as a member of the Public Information Officer (PIO) team and provide on-call availability as needed. Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge of professional journalism methods, practices, and procedures.

Knowledge of local and state politics.

Knowledge of public relations methods, practices, and procedures.

Knowledge of research, analysis, and interpretation of information.

Knowledge of computer hardware, software, and peripherals.

Knowledge of educational methods and practices.

Knowledge and ability to maintain a professional media image.

Skill in multitasking.

Skill in photography.

Skill in taking pictures and videos to use for social media.

Skill in writing compelling copy, managing blogs, and producing short-form video and design assets using tools like Canva or the Adobe Creative Cloud.

Skill in creatively producing content to keep the public informed on County Government work.

Skill in technical equipment needed to…