Job Summary
The Communications Specialist develops and executes strategic communications, marketing initiatives, digital content, events, and special projects that advance the Department of Pediatrics? mission and priorities. This position creates compelling, accessible, and brand-aligned communications for faculty, staff, learners, patients, community partners, prospective employees, and institutional audiences.
The Communications Specialist independently manages multiple concurrent projects from planning through implementation. Responsibilities include executive and organizational communications, newsletters, websites and intranet content, social media, graphic design, event promotion and support, faculty recruitment communications, and marketing for educational programs.
Serving as a trusted communications partner to department leadership, the position collaborates with faculty, staff, administrative units, and will be part of our Medical School Communication Community of Practice. This position will act as primary liaison for the Department of Pediatrics with the Michigan Medicine Department of Communication following policies and guidelines set by the institution and coordinating external marketing efforts ensuring alignment with institutional strategies. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent judgment, strong project-management skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively in a complex, collaborative academic medical center.
Responsibilities*
Strategic and Executive Communications
- Develop and implement internal and external communication plans that support department priorities, programs, and organizational objectives.
- Partner with department leaders to identify communication needs, audiences, messages, channels, timelines, and measures of success.
- Advise faculty, staff, and leadership on effective communication approaches and delivery methods.
- Gather and evaluate audience feedback and communication performance to recommend improvements.
Editorial Content and Publications
- Research, write, edit, design, and distribute newsletters, feature stories, announcements, email campaigns, and other departmental publications.
- Develop content for multiple channels, including presentations, targeted email, printed publications, news articles, websites, and social media.
- Create and maintain editorial calendars, communication schedules, templates, and related resources.
- Ensure content is accurate, timely, audience-centered, and consistent with department and Michigan Medicine standards.
Website, Intranet, and Digital Communications
- In coordination with the Department of Communication, manage and execute regular updates to the the Department of Pediatrics external website and internal SharePoint resources.
- Write, edit, organize, and publish digital content using Drupal or similar content-management systems.
- Provide website guidance and support to pediatric divisions and programs.
- In partnership with the Medical School Digital Strategy Specialist and/or Department of Communication, manage departmental social media accounts and develop engaging social media content, following institutional best practices and guidelines
- Use email, web, and social media platforms to distribute communications and promote department initiatives.
- Ensure digital communications comply with applicable accessibility, privacy, branding, and content standards.
Design, Branding, and Marketing
- Design and produce digital and print materials, including announcements, brochures, signs, posters, presentations, event materials, and publications.
- Develop and maintain templates that promote consistent departmental branding.
- Create marketing strategies and materials in collaboration with the Pediatrics Brand Manager and institutional communications partners.
- Support the promotion of residency, fellowship, faculty recruitment, clinical, educational, and research programs.
- Coordinate with vendors and internal partners on production when appropriate.
Project and Strategic Initiative Management
- Develop project plans that define scope, objectives, audiences, timelines, deliverables, stakeholder responsibilities, and communication strategies.
- Coordinate communication projects from concept through delivery, ensuring work is completed accurately and on schedule.
- Monitor progress, maintain action-item and deliverable trackers, and provide timely status updates and recommendations.
- Manage competing priorities and adjust plans in response to evolving organizational needs.
- Develop and maintain communication workflows, project-management tools, content calendars, tracking systems, and reporting mechanisms.
Events and Program Support
- Develop communications and promotional plans for department events and programs.
- Support events such as the Annual Awards Program, State of the Department, and new and promoted faculty dinners.
- Develop event timelines, invitations, announcements, presentation materials, scripts, signage, and run-of-show documents.
- Promote flagship events through email, websites, social media, and other appropriate channels.
- Coordinate with leaders, speakers, participants, staff, vendors, and institutional partners to support successful event delivery.
Faculty Recruitment Communications
- Support faculty recruitment by coordinating candidate communications and developing recruitment and marketing materials.
- Help ensure communications with candidates and stakeholders are timely, professional, accurate, and consistent.
- Partner with faculty and administrative teams to promote employment opportunities and communicate the department?s mission, programs, and culture.
Collaboration and Continuous Improvement
- Collaborate with faculty, staff, learners, administrative units, communications partners, and external stakeholders to advance department goals.
- Participate in regular meetings and opportunities within the Medical School Communications Community of Practice and other relevant institutional groups. Participate in committees, contribute to shared initiatives, and leverage experience across departments in support of the Medical School?s communication priorities.
- Apply institutional communication initiatives, shared resources, and best practices to department work.
- Assess the effectiveness of communication products and channels, gather feedback, and implement improvements.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications*
- Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, business administration, or a related field.
- At least two years of professional communications, marketing, or related experience.
- A combination of education and related experience may be considered in place of the bachelor's degree on a year-for-year basis.
- Demonstrated experience writing and developing communications for diverse internal or external audiences.
- Excellent writing, editing, verbal, presentation, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple projects, manage competing priorities, exercise sound judgment, and meet deadlines.
- Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, leadership, and cross-functional partners.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing accurate, high-quality work.
- Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications.
Desired Qualifications*
- Experience working in an academic medical center, healthcare organization, higher education institution, or similarly complex environment.
- Experience communicating about clinical care, research, education, learners, patients, or health-related programs.
- Experience developing strategic, executive, organizational, or department-wide communications.
- Demonstrated experience creating marketing campaigns and branded digital and print materials.
- Experience managing websites using Drupal, WordPress, or another content-management system.
- Experience with front-end web content, information architecture, and website maintenance.
- Experience managing organizational social media accounts and using social media management tools such as Sprout Social.
- Experience with Adobe Creative Suite or similar design software.
- Experience with Mailchimp or another email-marketing platform.
- Experience using Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Planner, Smartsheet, Asana, or similar collaboration and project-management platforms.
- Experience with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 for information sharing and collaboration.
- Experience supporting events and developing event-related communications.
- Knowledge of accessibility, branding, privacy, and communication standards applicable to healthcare or higher education.
Modes of Work
This is a hybrid position with the expectation of on-site work a minimum of one day per week.
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Selection Process
Review of applications will begin immediately and the position will remain open until filled. Applications received after 11/23/26 may or may not be reviewed. Please include a detailed cover letter as part of your application.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
