The Employee Communications Specialist is responsible for the effective development and delivery of a wide range of communications within the health system that advance the strategic employee initiatives of Keck Medicine of USC. The individual is responsible for production of one or more health system publications and collaborates with other department partners to foster efficient, consistent, and timely communications. This role partners closely with the Marketing department to coordinate strategic initiatives, communications, and strategies. The specialist is responsible for communicating towards our employees about Keck Medicine's purpose, strategy, and developments about various events within the organization. The individual will also provide general internal communications back-up support for crisis issues or other events as situations arise. Additionally, the individual creates and establishes relationships with key leaders in the organization. Importantly, the individual must invest in understanding Keck Medicine's business and role within the health care industry and have a presence at key events and meetings.

Essential Duties:

• Creates visual concepts using computer software to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate health system employees. Conceptualize visuals based on requirements, and ensure final graphics and layouts are visually appealing and on-brand.
• Produce and publish new content in a creative way on internal websites. Liaising with clients and in-house team members to decide on new posts, and overseeing internal website layouts (images, graphics, videos and artwork).
• The individual will uphold and promote brand identity and create relevant content across all internal communication channels.
• The individual will develop a strong internal network at all levels and remain up to date about what's happening within the organization in order to translate this into meaningful and engaging content.
• Additional content creation responsibilities may include contributing to and preparing weekly employee-facing newsletters.
• The individual will also provide general internal communications back-up support for crisis issues or other events as situations arise.
• Will collaborate with graphic design staff to ensure a high-quality, on-time product when brochures and other materials are required. Selects appropriate artwork, such as photos, charts, graphs or illustrations, as needed
• Research, verify, read, proof, edit and rewrite copy for a variety of internal communication channels.
• Ensure accuracy and completeness of projects.
• Collaborate with Internal Communications team to determine most efficient process for news gathering and reporting summaries back to internal stakeholders.
• Support media relations team on occasional event management and crisis communications.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.

Required Qualifications:

• Req Bachelor's degree In journalism, communications, public relations or a related field.

• Req 3 years Experience in a communications-development role with increasing responsibility.
• Req Experience in graphic design, website editing, copy writing, copy editing, and producing publications and/or marketing and employee communications.
• Req Proven ability as a self-starter and problem-solver who evaluates a situation, articulates possible solutions and earns the respect of others by carefully listening and presenting productive responses.
• Req Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat.
• Req Proficiency in website editing, and the curation of website content.
• Req Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Req Mastery of AP Stylebook writing guides.
• Req Proficient in graphic design, as well as writing, editing, and curating content for employee-facing websites.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Pref A compelling portfolio with projects showcasing skills relevant to Keck Medicine's visual content goals will be highly preferred.
• Pref Experience in marketing and employee communications within the health care industry.
• Pref Photography skills and video editing skills a plus.
• Pref Knowledge of SharePoint platform a plus.

Required Licenses/Certifications:

• Req Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) If no card upon hire, one must be obtained within 30 days of hire and maintained by renewal before expiration date. (Required within LA City only)