Posted On: January 18, 2013

Journalism Job

Media Organization: Hospital for Special Surgery

Company Description

Founded in 1863 in New York City, the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) is a world leader in orthopedics, rheumatology, and rehabilitation and is nationally ranked as No. 1 in orthopedics and No. 3 in rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report. The mission of HSS is to provide the highest-quality patient care, improve mobility for its patients, enhance the quality of life for all, and to advance the sciences of orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, and their related disciplines through research and education.

A member of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, HSS operates 205 beds with more than 3,000 full-time employees. Nearly 250 distinguished medical doctors oversee 300,000 patient visits annually and perform more than 25,000 procedures each year in both inpatient and outpatient settings. HSS is located on the East side of Manhattan at 535 East 70th Street. More information can be found on the HSS website: www.hss.edu

Job Description

The Communications Manager (CM) will play an essential role in communicating the hospital’s mission through its print and electronic publications. The CM will have responsibility for writing, editing, and producing the content of newsletters, annual reports, brochures, and other internal and external hospital communications. He/she will also be responsible for overseeing the distribution of these various communications. He/she will work closely with the Assistant Director of Communications and the Senior Manager of Internal Communications.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Writing/Editing

•Serve as editor/assistant editor of a number of publications
•Write compelling, relevant, and differentiated copy, articles, and talking points for a wide variety of print, electronic, and verbal communications, including the annual report, research newsletter, departmental communications, patient information booklets, hospital brochures, letters to trustees, holiday thank-you cards, speeches/remarks for hospital administrators, etc.
•Edit the contributions of others to these communications
•Ensure that all communications deliver a consistent message that is aligned with the hospital’s strategy and brand identity
•Contribute to creative use and reuse of content across publications and media
•Write/edit content related to print publications for HSS Web site (e.g., publication landing pages)
•Collaborate with hospital, medical, and scientific personnel to formulate story ideas and content for publications
•Conduct interviews of hospital personnel; when necessary, translate scientific and technical language into terms easily understood by lay readers
•Interview patients in a sensitive and appropriate manner, working to build trust and confidence in telling their individual stories
•Write and receive approvals for all journal ads, meeting outside organizations’ deadlines. Notify PR of physicians being honored.

Publications and Communications Management

•Manage the production of several publications: review/proofread/copyedit content; work with contract resources (writers, graphic artists, photographers, printers); review/approve PDFs
•Manage the editing process with “owners” of publications, ensuring that required edits and design changes are made.
•Provide design suggestions/critique; select photos and illustrations, as needed
•Coordinate photo shoots: identify subjects and photographers; supervise administrators on securing needed consents and permissions and managing logistics on day of shoot (secure location, props, alert hospital personnel, etc.); supervise shoot
•Prior to publication, fact-check all content; work with administrators on securing internal approvals and patient consents, as needed
•Ensure that all communications are created in a high-quality and cost-effective manner
•Oversee mailings of publications: supervise administrators on obtaining and maintaining mailing lists, arranging for shipment of materials to mail house; providing instructions to and monitoring performance of mail house
•Oversee distribution of publications throughout hospital
•Create/apply measures of effectiveness of publications; participate in analysis of results and plans to improve
•Work with Director and Assistant Director to contribute to development of new publications; grow audiences

Department and Hospital Projects

•Serve as project manager or a project-team member for various communications projects, as required
•Work as a team member to provide support and assist on projects, as needed, by the greater organization.
•Develop excellent working relationships with members of the Communications/Marketing Departments, internal and external project teams, and other HSS managers and their departments.
•Develop relationships and network throughout the organization to understand story relevance; contribute to communications projects; and develop creative story ideas.
•Serve as a “go-to person” for basic facts about HSS to be published internally and externally

EDUCATION:

A bachelor’s degree in a related field (marketing, communications, journalism, advertising/public relations) is required. A master’s degree is preferred.

EXPERIENCE, COMPETENCIES, AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

•A minimum of 5 years’ experience in writing/publishing/marketing communications is a prerequisite for the position. Healthcare or hospital experience is a plus, as is experience in a client-service environment.
•Creative, strategic and accomplished writer/communications professional with relevant experience and a portfolio of high-quality communications demonstrating that experience. (A writing test is required.)
•Experienced interviewer, with the ability to distill relevant information to create a well-written, compelling story; ability to translate technical and scientific language into clear, understandable terms for lay readers.
•Experience copyediting, proofreading, and preparing documents for final publication/printing.
•Ability to tailor communication style to project many voices of the organization for different communications and audiences.
•Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively at all levels of an organization and gain consensus/approval on ideas and creative direction.
•Demonstrated insight and creativity in conceiving story ideas for publication content and presenting those concepts to colleagues for further development, refinement, and approval.
•Experienced in the visual aspects of graphic design and photography.
•Outstanding project management skills, with a passion for delivering quality work on a timely and cost-effective basis, with minimal oversight required.
•Highly organized individual; detail oriented; able to work on multiple projects simultaneously and set priorities; able to meet tight deadlines under time pressure.
•Demonstrated ability to exercise independent thinking and sound judgment.
•Ability to work in a highly matrixed environment; cultivate strong relationships, both internally and externally; and create partnerships at all levels within the organization.
•Intellectual curiosity, especially for medicine/science and related research fields.
•A highly committed individual, with the necessary drive and stamina to respond to the demands of the organization and work collaboratively to achieve results.
•Unquestionable personal integrity and credibility necessary to gain trust and commitment of individuals at all levels of the organization.
•Expertise in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

To Apply

Email resume as an attachment to Ms. Dale Corey (nbilash@3dleadership.com)