Communications Manager, Knight Cancer Institute at Portland, OR (Marquam Hill) – Portland, Oregon

Executive and Internal communications

• Uses current best practices in developing and using effective channels of communication, including emerging technologies, inclusive of written, graphic, audio or video materials distributed through a wide variety of physical and digital channels.
• Develops effective message strategy to convey complex topics to a diverse and highly matrixed team.
• Serves as communications counsel to OHSU/Knight Cancer Institute/Complex Care teams to enhance successful, goal-aligned communication.
• Tracks trends and best practices and applies these in innovative ways to accomplish strategic communications goals.
• Ensures strategic priorities are conveyed with consistency and efficiency.
• Responsible for crafting and distributing internal and external communications in support of strategic priorities.
• Coordinates with Strategic Communications/Brand Strategy and Marketing/OHSU Foundation to optimize communication timing and message alignment.

Media relations

• Identifies priorities and opportunities that could be advanced by media relations strategies and tactics in collaboration with OHSU Strategic Communications.
• Develops earned media plans that benefit OHSU/Knight Cancer Institute/Complex Care.
• Regularly engage with members of the media to field requests, pitch relevant stories. Facilitate virtual and in-person interviews with media and experts from OHSU.
• Provide media training to experts across OHSU in preparation for media interviews and other public speaking opportunities.
• Supports earned media activities, including the creation of stories/announcements for the OHSU News website, backgrounders, program/research descriptors, video interviews and other materials.
• Identifies public relations implications of proposed strategic activities as well as emerging issues, and shares these with Strategic Communications/Knight Cancer Institute leadership.
• Required to assist with internal and external communication planning and execution for crisis and emergency preparedness activities as part of Strategic Communications’ Media Relations team.
• Is a member of the 24/7 on-call communicators group, supporting OHSU’s emergency and off-hours communications needs as regularly scheduled.

Operations and Team Management

• Develops, manages and motivates communications team to maximize OHSU/Knight Cancer Institute/Complex Care priorities and fosters personal performance growth.
• Demonstrates recognition of the value of individual and cultural differences to team effectiveness; creates a work environment where diverse viewpoints and abilities are valued and that emphasizes teamwork, accountability and professionalism.
• Develops metrics to effectively measure team success, with mechanisms for adapting strategies in response to results.
• Works with internal and external partners, and leaders to set and accomplish priorities to meet OHSU/Knight Cancer
• Institute/Complex Care goals.

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and ability to work in multiple formats including video
• Experience as a writer/editor in fast-paced, complex settings
• Strong familiarity with online community management for internal communication and a strong understanding of multiple communications vehicles and how they work together for communications and reputation building
• Analytical skills including an ability to self-direct information gathering and identify key issues that should be addressed with communication
• Specific knowledge of how to effectively and coordinate external communication with social media and media relations strategy
• Experience developing comprehensive communication plans
• Flexibility to adjust to change quickly, to learn on the fly, and to write in a variety of formats
• An ability to think visually and assist with planning and producing video and graphics to communicate effectively
• Excellent team player who is also capable of self-direction and is comfortable working with others and achieving results by collaborating with many different departments and individuals
• Ability to work within and navigate a complex organizational structure in which it’s essential to form working groups with members of other departments to achieve complex projects and leverage available resources.
• Excellent project management and program development skills with the ability to manage a constant stream of requests requiring multitasking and prioritization.
• Superb ability to work independently and manage projects.
• Extremely comfortable in making public presentations to groups and in developing effective relationships with wide range of clients.
• Strong organization skills including content management.

• Master’s degree in a related field (e.g., Communication, Journalism, English)
• Demonstrated experience in media relations Demonstrated experience in a university or academic medical center