Publications and Communications Director

The incumbent creates, writes and manages the Affiliate quarterly newsletter, the bi-monthly electronic newsletter and develops an annual publications calendar for both.  The Publications and Communications Director oversees the development and ongoing enhancements of the intranet and internet sites, including the monthly homepage, for the Western States Affiliate consistent with the Web content strategy employed association-wide. The Director is responsible for soliciting and maintaining a database of human interest stories for use in these publications and stays abreast of the latest research findings and Affiliate goals, so that they are well represented in these materials. The incumbent also produces various marketing communications materials and internal communication pieces for the Western States Affiliate.

 

Major Duties:

1.  Produces and writes quarterly issues of the Heart of the West newsletter in accordance with an agreed upon editorial schedule.

2.  Produces and writes bimonthly issues of Heart to Heart electronic newsletter according to schedule.

3.  Provides and drives editorial quality control systems for Affiliate-printed materials.

4.  Manages and supervises outside vendors including graphic design firms, printers, mail houses, and electronic newsletter service providers.

5.  Monitors costs of publications to stay within publications budget.

6.  Produces and writes Web home page feature story and sidebar links to meet deadline for posting by first of each month.

7.  Drives, writes, updates editorial content of americanheart.org/wsa Web site to provide consistent tone and feel for delivering key messages.

8.  Oversees the web updating process and ensures consistency, accuracy and timeliness.

9.  Works in collaboration with Communications, Customer Relations, and Web Task Force to develop the Affiliate web content strategy.

10. Works with business leaders and lead staff in field offices to establish and enhance the Western States Affiliate Web site by shaping content to reflect local initiatives with emphasis on priority events and projects providing value to Web site visitors.

11. Serves as the affiliate Web liaison to the National Center.

12. Works with Content Managers to determine needed enhancements to respective department?s pages.

13.  Ensures all content is consistent with the Web content strategy employed by National Center digital strategies and in a way that is easy to understand and navigate.

14. Produces various marketing collateral materials and internal communications pieces, such as advertisements, fact sheets, brochures, posters, messaging for e-mail blasts and scripts for voicemail and presentations.

15. Coordinates, in conjunction with National Center and Affiliate communications staff, communications-related mailings, distribution, and reporting.

16. Takes photographs for use in the newsletters, Web postings and other Affiliate materials.

17. Performs other duties as assigned.

 

Qualifications:

1.  Knowledge in a variety of communications and marketing vehicles?from intranet and internet, to consumer media such as television, radio and newspaper, to community outreach and public relations. 

2.  Skill in principles of journalism including news gathering, interviewing, writing and editing. 

3.  Experience in producing marketing materials and internal communications and managing related processes.

4.  Demonstrated excellence in written communications skills, including news, business and persuasive writing.  Ability to craft compelling human-interest stories.  Ability to translate complex scientific and medical information into layman?s terms.

5.  Experience in planning, developing and implementing Web content.

6.  Ability to meet deadlines and manage complex print-coordination and Web posting duties to produce timely materials.

7.  Photographic skills necessary to produce publication-ready photographs.

8.  Demonstrated skills in effective one-on-one and group communications and work with all levels of media contacts, community leaders, and AHA volunteers and staff.

9.  Ability to deal professionally in a corporate and non-profit environment and assume responsibility for guiding communications projects and programs from inception through completion.

10. Knowledge of the principles and practices of strategic planning, budgeting, and managing work.

11. Demonstrated ability to simultaneously manage multiple, complex projects in varying stages of development under time pressure.

12. Ability to handle negotiation and work in a team environment.

13. Ability to demonstrate good organizational skills and the ability to plan and act independently on projects with minimal supervision.

14. Ability to conceptualize and reason through problems to workable solutions.

15. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and, as needed, outside standard business hours.

16. Ability to drive throughout the Southern California media territory and occasionally travel on daylong or overnight business trips throughout the Affiliate.

17. The above knowledge, skills and abilities may be gained by at least five years experience in the communications field. A bachelor?s degree in journalism, mass or broadcast communications, English, or related field is required. Experience in producing publications and marketing materials is preferred. AHA experience is desirable. Strong motivation to learn and use new software and other Web related skills.  Knowledge of Web content publishing tools helpful.