Health Communications Specialist

The mission of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) prevent injury, overdose, suicide, and violence across the lifespan through science and action. NCIPC is challenged with quickly implementing new priorities while continuing to execute its core public health mission and responding to new and emerging threats, such as the opioid public health emergency and community violence. NCIPC seems support to execute these activities.

The Contractor shall perform support services, such as health communication and marketing activities.

The Contractor shall perform the following services:

• Plan, organize, develop, manage, and administer communication projects and their components, which may include task lists, calendar appointments, project plans, and reports.
• Design a variety of communications materials for public awareness campaigns (draft and final versions), for specific audiences who have the need for targeted information about injury prevention topics, including drug use, abuse, misuse, and overdose. Examples of these tasks are as follows:
  • Research, write, and edit documents which may include blogs, press releases, digital press kits, fact sheets, and other print materials (drafts and final content).
  • Design/develop communication and promotional materials for distribution via PDF, PPT, or other electronic media format.
  • Design/develop promotional materials (i.e., announcements and handouts) for display at least three conferences, trainings, etc.
  • Ability to utilize Microsoft Office and CDC desktop publishing software (Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Acrobat).
  • Develop realistic production timelines to meet established deadlines based on project assignments.
  • Ensure all finished materials comply with HHS and CDC 508 guidance.
• Disseminate products to a wide variety of constituencies via GovDelivery and email to further the goal of preventing injuries.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with Communications staff for constituent organizations, such as federal, state, and local health agencies; private organizations; professional and volunteer agencies; and injury prevention professionals or partners to foster collaboration in efforts to inform the public.
• Serve as a liaison to internal and external partners and customers on public health communications projects; acting as the communications point of contact, supporting the development and facilitation of strategic partnerships.
  • Disseminate and share information with key partners and internal staff.
  • Collaborate on marketing and promotion of products.
• Participate in meetings, workgroups, etc., to support information exchange.
• Manage communications projects related to product development, evaluation, data visualization, etc., to further the mission of the division. This includes defining project scope, developing project schedules, mitigating risks, and integrate available resources while focusing on quality assurance.
  • Plan, organize, develop, manage, and administer communication projects and their components, which may include task lists, calendar appointments, project plans, and reports.
• Create and execute communication strategies and activities; developing communications and dissemination plans for each project assigned.
• Develop education strategies and methods of communications with specific target audiences based on assessment of needs of the audience and appropriate channels and strategies with which to reach them.
• Develop and disseminate communications products in accordance with CDC/HHS policies and best practices (includes: talking points, presentations, web content, fact sheets, abstracts, posters, etc.).
  • Develops product that reflect clear knowledge and use of relevant communication and behavior theories and best practices.
  • Ensures products meet clear communication standards and agency style/branding requirements.
  • Work with programs, partners, and creative services to meet timelines and milestones for product development.
  • Conduct communication research and evaluation to better enhance and inform product development.
  • Design a variety of communication materials for public awareness campaigns (draft and final versions, for specific audiences who have the need for targeted information about injury prevention topics, including drug use, abuse, misuse, and overdose.
  • Deliver public health messages to intended audiences through various platforms including email notifications/alerts, web content, social media, and print materials.
  • Technical writing/editing of products and content for specified audiences.
• Attend bi-weekly Communications Team Meetings and related Branch or Team meetings (which occur monthly) to regularly provide status updates.
• Regularly report project status to the Health Communications Team Lead (or their designee).
• Process and answer public inquiries and requests received through media requests and CDC-INFO on a weekly basis.
  
  • Work collaboratively with Health Communications Team, subject matter experts, and leaders to develop and clear content, coordinate edits and document review, and disseminate communications products to target audiences.
  • Execute services consistent with Health Communications Specialist Contractor professional services, such as developing talking points, message maps, and presentations.
• Complete projects assigned for identified monthly communication releases (publications, GovDelivery announcements, and related products).
• Travel to support the Division’s campaign dissemination and technical assistance activities by providing education support during conferences and meetings. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions proposed travel is subject to change.
• The contractor shall travel making approximately four domestic trips for the Base Period and each Option Period in order to support the Division’s campaign dissemination and technical assistance activities by providing education support during conferences and meetings that are not located in the Atlanta, GA area in order to meet CDC and HHS's mission and goals for opioid overdose prevention work as part of the Rx Awareness and Illicit campaign media outreach plan. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions proposed travel is subject to change.
• Response Support Activities. If needed, provide services to rapidly respond, participating in CDC's emergency response activities to public health threats in the United States and abroad. Support includes engaging in agency-wide emergency response activities related to the work outlined in the PWS; directly supporting the mission to reduce opioid or other related harms and save lives; and providing resources to state and local public health departments (recipients).

• Masters-level graduate degree in relevant field preferred (MPH, MPA, MA, MS) or equivalent
• Prior experience in health communication services and marketing
• Experience in Injury Prevention is required
• Knowledge of public health
• Excellent oral and written communication skills are required
• Mastery of principles, methods, practices, and techniques of communication that enable the contractor to execute advanced health communication projects
• Advanced communications and professional work skills
• Ability to work in a diverse, flexible, deadline driven, government environment
• Ability to utilize Microsoft Office and CDC desktop publishing software (Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Acrobat)
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience providing health communication services
• Ability to work with minimal supervision

PCI Federal Services (PCIFS) and its subsidiaries is an equal-opportunity employer. PCIFS does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, national origin, religion, marital status, sexual orientation or identity, Veterans or Disability status.

Preference may be extended to qualified Native American Indian candidates

in accordance with applicable federal law.