The Media Communication Specialist will work on the Strategic Communication Team supporting the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it’s seven websites, four branches, two social media channels, and 60 state and local grantees. This position will provide communication expertise, especially related to the planning, implementation, analysis, and evaluation of media relations.

Media Relations Responsibilities:

• Provide proactive and reactive media relations services and assess the NPAO and chronic disease information needs of domestic and international news media reporters and outlets.
• Provide recommendations on how to tailor DNPAO materials to meet the audiences’ needs and package for distribution to outlets that will reach DNPAO’s priority audiences.
• Develop materials including but not limited to media plans, news releases and advisories, media summaries, media pitches, talking points, speaker’s remarks, blog posts, podcast content, fact sheets, and responses to requests for information.
• Develop media lists for proactive outreach using databases and tools such as Cision and Meltwater.
• Design and implement social listening for misinformation and disinformation as relevant.
• Track media response for reporting and to inform and refine future messaging.
• Triage and respond to DNPAO news media inquiries, in collaboration with DNPAO subject matter experts, and support DNPAO spokespersons in preparation for and during media interviews.
• Respond to media and/or CDC-INFO public inquiries; coordinate responses and/or interviews with division subject matter experts as appropriate.
• Provide technical assistance and coaching to DNPAO spokespeople on media presence and strategies for serving as a spokesperson and on delivering clear messages based on proven risk and clear communication science.

Other specific responsibilities may include a mix of the following depending on expertise:

Product Development:

• Consult with division staff and subject matter experts on product content development, layout, and design at the onset of projects.
• Provide pre-clearance writing, editing, and formatting to ensure content quality is based on accepted communication principles, methods, and practices.

Promotions:

• Assist in planning, developing, and coordinating promotion of division releases, campaigns, or other communication materials.
• Contribute to the division social media content calendar in coordination with other team members.
• Research division topics, priorities, and audiences; understand details; and translate into compelling and accurate content.

Software Competencies:

• Microsoft Office Suite, including Teams
• SharePoint

Qualifications and Education Requirements

Master’s/3 years’ experience

Bachelor’s/5 years’ experience

Preferred Skills

Professional Competencies Preferred:

• Expertise and experience with proactive and reactive media relations including planning, tracking, and reporting.
• Expertise in providing media relations coaching and training.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex information into easy-to-understand health messages.
• Superb writing and editing for spoken and easily digestible written information.
• Familiarity with plain language, health literacy, and cultural competence concepts.
• Interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated understanding and application of media relations software (e.g., Cision, Meltwater) and design tools (e.g., Canva).
• Strong analytical, organizational, project, and time management skills.
• Attention to detail.
• The ability to work independently, as well as with a team.
• Spanish language desired but not essential.
• Federal Government Experience is desired but not essential.