Communications Specialist I - Scale Up of HIV Prevention Services in Sexual Health Clinics (SHIPS)

Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) team at the Sexual Health Clinic at Harborview Medical Center is seeking a Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) or Special Duty Assignment (SDA) Scale Up of HIV Prevention Services (SHIPS) Communications Specialist I. The Communications Specialist will develop and implement communication and engagement plans that help build community understanding of HIV/PrEP/STI services and research breakthroughs in King County. This position will work on the PrEP team and develop strategic communication and outreach planning for target populations.
 
The SHIPS Communications Specialist works closely with leadership, research staff, and patient focus groups to ensure messaging reflects values and goals of the work done at the Sexual Health Clinic and with partnering organizations.

Temporary Opportunity. Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) positions are “at will” positions but are eligible for benefits. This TLT is currently anticipated to last 12 months. One factor that could effect the end date of the position is an unanticipated change in funding.

This vacancy can also be filled as a Special Duty opportunity. Special Duty Assignments are open to Career Service, Career Service Exempt or other regular (non-temporary) employee in King County who has completed their initial County probation. You must have supervisor approval prior to taking a Special Duty Assignment.

Note: This posting will create a list of qualified candidates that may be considered for selection of additional vacancies of the same position type over the next 6 months.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Work Schedule

Typical work schedule is 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. This is a non-exempt position and is subject to the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible.

Work Location 

The primary location will be based at the Sexual Health Clinic, Harborview Ninth and Jefferson Building located at 908 Jefferson St, Seattle, WA 98104, 11th Floor.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Experience with email distribution, content management or digital publishing platforms. 
• Knowledge of communication principles, research methods, and techniques. 
• Skilled in developing and implementing strategic communications plans with clear direction, concise messaging, and measurable outcomes. 
• Skills in synthesizing and communicating technical information in ways that everyone can understand to include the development of outreach materials, news releases, web content etc.
• Skills in identifying and assessing the communication needs of key audiences, including multi-lingual and disability audiences. 
• Familiar with Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Teams. 
• Familiarity with simple audio/video editing tools, screen-recording applications, and digital content platforms used to create internal and external communications. 
• Demonstrated interest in public health, human behavior, and/or social science research. 
• Skill in working under pressure and meeting deadlines 

 Desired Qualifications: 

• Minimum two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in communications, patient engagement, or related fields; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the role effectively. 
• Experience managing health education communications projects/social marketing campaigns including developing and staging components, organizing interdependent tasks, managing communications among partners and stakeholders, making recommendations regarding changes to project scope, and evaluation. 
• Current knowledge of the biology and epidemiology of HIV and other STDs. 
• Knowledge and experience developing print and electronic health education materials and resources. 
• Demonstrated skill writing copy to explain complex health topics at appropriate reading levels. 
• Education in marketing, journalism, science/technical communications or related field or experience leading communications work, to include developing communications strategies, identifying tactics, developing materials, implementing and evaluating events or projects. 
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and exercise independent good judgment. 
• Competency, comfort, and experience working and communicating with diverse populations and interest groups such as; men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, adolescents, younger adults, drug users, etc.

Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Application Process

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Salyse Duckworth at [email protected].

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

Who May Apply

This opportunity is open to all qualified applicants.

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NEOGOV Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Resume - Your resume should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process.

(Please note: Additional attachments will not be reviewed as part of the evaluation process if not outlined as a required application material as outlined above). 

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

Necessary Special Requirements

Union Membership 

This position is not represented by a labor union.

 Contact

If you have questions or would like more information about the recruitment process, please contact Salyse Duckworth, HR Analyst at [email protected].