The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) is seeking a talented and motivated contract Communications Specialist to support statewide maternal health initiatives. This position plays a vital role in creating clear, engaging, and culturally relevant communications that inform and inspire positive health outcomes for Tennesseans. This position blends strong communication skills—both writing and strategic thinking—with graphic design abilities and the capacity to apply critical thinking within a structured government environment.

We’re seeking a collaborative and creative thinker who is passionate about public health, values teamwork, and brings fresh ideas to help strengthen our public health education efforts. The ideal candidate is adaptable, thrives in a mission-driven culture, is detailoriented and able to follow established, TDH processes.

Key Responsibilities

Content Development & Strategy

Assist the design team in developing and managing content across a variety of platforms, including websites, newsletters, social media, print materials, and reports.

Assist the design team in translating complex health topics into clear, and engaging communications for diverse audiences.

Collaborate with subject matter experts, clinical teams, and community partners to design culturally relevant and visually compelling materials.

Create and revise program documents to ensure compliance with ADA requirements, WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines, and Revised Section 508 accessibility standards. Prior experience with accessibility standards is beneficial but not required at the time of hire. Accessibility training will be provided, and the selected candidate will be expected to achieve and demonstrate proficiency as part of his or her ongoing duties.

Produce a monthly newsletter using My Emma and track engagement metrics.

Prepare quarterly reports that measure communications performance and recommend areas for improvement.

Community Engagement & Collaboration

Support communication planning and outreach for the Maternal Health Task Force and partner organizations.

Build and sustain productive relationships with internal and external partners to enhance maternal health visibility and impact.

Contribute to campaign development and community education projects that highlight maternal health initiatives statewide.

Work collaboratively within a supportive, multidisciplinary team and demonstrate flexibility when priorities shift.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, graphic design, or a related field OR the equivalent reflected in a non-collegiate portfolio.

2–5 years of experience in public health, nonprofit, or government communications preferred.

Proficiency in Canva and Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel. Both writing and graphic design samples are required.

Experience using My Emma or similar email marketing tools. Experience reporting platform metrics.

Knowledge of, or willingness to learn, digital accessibility standards in compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508, ensuring that online content is accessible to individuals with visual and other disabilities.

Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills (please include writing samples or bylined links).

Knowledge of cultural competency and sensitivity in health communications.

Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines while working remotely.

A team player who is innovative, flexible, and eager to collaborate toward shared goals.

Must reside in Tennessee

Work Environment

This position offers a remote work arrangement with a supportive and collaborative team culture. The successful candidate will join a department that values creativity, inclusiveness, innovation, and continuous learning. Every project contributes to TDH’s mission of improving the health and well-being of all Tennesseans.

Hybrid (Tennessee Residents Only)

Monday–Friday, 8AM to 4:30PM CST

37.5 hours/week

Some in-office meetings are required every quarter.

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