The LifeCenter Northwest Senior Internal Communications Specialist is a communications strategist who works collaboratively with leaders at all levels to translate business needs into engaging and effective communications plans and internal content deliverables. A strong writer and seasoned communications professional, this position ensures that internal communications align with organizational priorities and are implemented to build awareness and promote engagement among the staff to help LifeCenter Northwest further its life-saving mission.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Internal Communications Strategy and Execution

• Leads the development and deployment of internal communication structure and strategies including key organizational messaging, supporting senior leadership messaging, and providing guidance to leaders in effective communication strategies across the organization.
• Develops strategies that are informed by LifeCenter’s strategic plan and objectives.
• Integrates effectively with LifeCenter leadership team including planning and participating in meetings and facilitating cross-company collaboration.
• Proactively engages with other departments at LifeCenter to understand and solicit communications opportunities.
• Effectively manages, responds to and prioritize a steady stream of communications requests from multiple departments with short, frequently changing timelines.
• Consults and provides guidance to leaders on best practice for change management and effective communication with their teams and organization.
• Partners closely with People Resources on content development for employee experience and increased employee engagement.
• Develops and maintains company intranet (SharePoint), keeping a pulse on current trends and platform updates to ensure a central and reliable site for staff.
• Assists with all employee and other large-scale internal virtual meetings including agenda and speaker planning, slide development, and development of key messages.
• Act as a trusted advisor to executives and analyze internal vulnerabilities and partner with leadership to proactively address these through comprehensive message planning and employee engagement.
• Conducts internal risk assessments through managers and frontline teams and develops and implements communication plans.
• Partner with communications team for awareness around media, social channels, and public sentiment to anticipate potential reputational risks to internal audiences.
• Creates messaging framework for different scenarios requiring quick and thoughtful responses.

Creative Content Development

• Develops weekly leadership and company-wide e-newsletters to ensure transparency, visibility, and organized messaging throughout LifeCenter.
• Develops agendas, talking points, slide decks and other miscellaneous content for large-scale company meetings.
• Increases engagement through storytelling, including staff and board features, educational content on the community we serve, celebrating organizational or team wins and awards, people resourcing updates, and more.
• Creates engaging content for a variety of channels and internal partners (not limited to video, emails, online, and print) that reflect LifeCenter’s values, mission, and vision, including tailoring existing content for internal audiences.
• Provides copywriting and AP-style editing expertise for storytelling and business needs.
• Remains attuned to trends and best practices to help inform new internal communications strategies.
• Oversees internal use of brand ensuring deliverables meet guidelines and messaging to ensure consistency and credibility.

Project Management

• Provides insight for annual budget development on internal communication programs needs.
• Creates annual internal communications program plan that aligns with organizational and department strategic goals and tracks key performance indicators and is responsible for implementation of program to drive progress and growth.
• Develops and implements process for tracking and measuring communication effectiveness and ROI.
• Manages internal content review and approval processes to meet editorial calendar deadlines, including managing recurring internal communications such as weekly e-newsletters.
• Leads internal communications planning meetings with key stakeholders.

Supervision

• This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Other Responsibilities

• Follows other instructions/directions and will perform other related duties as required by the needs of LifeCenter and leadership team.
• Participates in, and may lead, employee committees and events.
• Complies with applicable laws, regulations, and LifeCenter policies and procedures.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• Strong writing and editing skills including content organization, message flow, grammar, proofreading, and editing (written samples and/or editing test will be required).
• Project management skills and proficiency in MS Office suite required.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational and time management skills.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to manage multiple tasks to meet deadlines, and desire to be a self-starter.
• Familiarity with AP Style.
• Operating knowledge of SharePoint and Zoom (or similar) virtual platform required.
• Experience with InDesign, Photoshop, and/or Illustrator strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, continuously evolving, and at times ambiguous environment.
• Ability to think strategically and remain calm under pressure.
• Understanding of the healthcare landscape, including regulations, compliance, and industry-specific challenges preferred.
• Familiarity with current industry trends, advancements, and challenges in healthcare, as well as the ability to leverage this knowledge to position the organization and its leaders as thought leaders.

BEHAVIORAL REQUIREMENTS

The employee in this position must uphold the core values of LifeCenter; these include:

• Integrity: We are trustworthy, reliable, respectful, and accountable.
• Collaboration: We work in partnership with others, seeking to understand and be understood, and finding common ground and shared goals to build upon together.
• Courage: We take personal responsibility and face challenges head-on.
• Service: Through professionalism and dedication, we honor our commitment to serve others and our obligation to be good stewards of the gift of life.

Physical Activities/Requirements

• Some travel is required for this position; the employee must be prepared to travel by automobile and plane.
• This position requires the ability to effectively operate phones, computers, and other office equipment.
• The individual must have the ability to communicate clearly in English to accurately convey information and be able to hear at a normal speaking level both in person and over the phone.
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Generally working conditions do not require exposure to hazardous materials nor extremes in health and safety hazards.  Work is normally performed in an office or hospital setting, and other business environments.
• May be asked to move up to 25 pounds with or without assistance.

ANTICIPATED WEEKLY TIME COMMITMENT

• The duties of this position will typically require 37 hours per week. This position may need to work outside of regular business hours, including evenings and weekends, sometimes without advance notice.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in, Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, English or related experience with writing/editing emphasis
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in a communications, marketing or PR role.
• A minimum of 3 years in internal communications in a highly regulated and changing industry.
• Experience in managing internal [organizational or leadership] reputation risks and developing proactive communication strategies.
• Experience coaching/advising executives
• Relevant experience can be considered a substitute for education
• ​​​​​​​Requires a valid driver’s license and access to an insured automobile or the ability to arrive and depart from work and work-related functions at expected times.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or applicable medical or religious exemption, will be required as a condition of employment upon offer. 

LifeCenter Northwest offers medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, accidental death & dismemberment insurance, long-term disability insurance, and travel accident insurance. Employees have the option of enrolling in the following supplemental or voluntary plans: life insurance, short-term disability, accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness coverage and pet insurance. Employees enrolled in our 403(b) program will receive an employer match of up to 7% after one year, employees are auto enrolled at 3% and may change their enrollment at any time. LifeCenter encourages all employees to find balance and well-being and provides all employees access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and provides a quarterly Wellness Reimbursement. Employees enjoy paid holidays throughout the calendar year and earn 119 hours of PTO annually (to start) as well as Health Time Off hours that is earned 1 hour per 30 worked, paid living donor leave, two weeks paid jury duty leave after 6 months of service, and three weeks of paid parental leave after one year of service is complete. A comprehensive review of benefits can be found at https://lcnw.org/about/employment-opportunities/.

The pay range for this role is provided above. Where a candidate’s compensation falls within this range is based on several bona fide factors such as experience, tenure, and other specialized knowledge. LifeCenter Northwest is committed to providing its employees equitable and competitive compensation.

LifeCenter Northwest is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.