Public Relations Specialist: Network News & Crisis Communications

Overview

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better.

At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community.

Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

Under the guidance of the Director of Public and Media Relations for the HMH Network, the Public Relations (PR) Specialist supports external reputation and thought leadership for tier-one growth service lines and reputation programs at Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH). Responsible for promoting HMH as a leader in patient-centered care and healthcare innovation. Works very closely with cross-functional teams in the Marketing Communications department and the Marketing team director(s) to ensure the success of an agency model and integrated marketing and communications approach.

The Public Relations Specialist Network News & Crisis Communications is a strategic, high-impact role dedicated entirely to earned media for the network, breaking news, and network-wide crisis communications

This position will offer a hybrid work schedule.

Responsibilities

A day in the life of a Public Relations (PR) Specialist at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

• Under the guidance of the Director of Media and Public Relations, develop, implement, and manage a PR strategy encompassing public and external affairs to promote tier-one growth service lines (e.g., oncology, cardiology, orthopedics, neurology, academic medical centers, ambulatory) and reputation programs/services (e.g., behavioral health, children's health, rehab, network brand).
• Collaborate and work effectively in an agency model to provide primary campaign support and amplification through media relations and influencer outreach/engagement. Partnering with the social media/content team is necessary.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with key local, regional, state and national and state media representatives and third-party influencers.
• Collaborate with PR team and key stakeholders to support HMH media training and develop media spokespeople.
• Support the PR Director in messaging and narrative development to encompass core/issues/service line-specific messaging and narratives.
• Support public affairs, issues, and crisis management, including but not limited to proactive planning and preparation for reputational crises, management of issues impacting HMH's reputation, and the development and updating of HMH's crisis communication playbook.
• Proactive media relations by monitoring news daily and researching appropriate news angles, writing and editing news releases, and pitching news stories to appropriate editors in a timely manner in step with media deadlines and the daily news cycle
• Facilitate patient and physician media interviews, and gathering appropriate storytelling resources to edit and package in the pitch including photos, video, video interviews.
• Draft press releases as needed and identify new and innovative storytelling methods to promote the latest happenings across the network, including new physicians, services, innovations, achievements, etc.
• Film and edit video media pitches including the use of photos and graphics.
• Identify compelling stories within the hospital and draft appropriate content for promotion.
• Partner with the network content strategy team on story ideas for HealthU and HMH's social media channels.
• Support the Growth and Network PR teams in responding to all media inquiries promptly, and be on call for media inquiries after normal business hours. Provide consultation services to other departments as needed, particularly guidance in managing media inquiries and other articles.
• Draft talking points and speeches for HMH leadership external speaking opportunities.
• Support the Growth PR Director and Network PR team in developing and implementing formal public relations and media plans in concert with organizational marketing goals and strategy, including public and external affairs strategies.
• Produce quarterly media reports that include analytics, media performance over the quarter, and benchmark data against competitors.
• Generate new ideas, challenge the status quo, take risks, support change, encourage innovation, and solve problems creatively.
• Generate pitches and press releases for AI overview search optimization.
• Set challenging and productive goals, be accountable for actions, provide leadership and motivation, provide resources and support, use checkpoints and data to track progress, and set up systems and processes to measure results.
• Develop realistic public relations plans, set goals, align plans with company goals, plan for and manage resources, create contingency plans, and coordinate/cooperate with others.
• Operate within the organization's formal and informal structures, build allies and relationships across departments, use allies to build consensus and create results, be appropriately diplomatic, understand others' roles and perspectives, and sell projects and ideas across the organization.
• Other duties and/or projects as assigned.
• Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Qualifications

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, or other related field.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in Public Relations or other related field.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient computer skills that include but are not limited to Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite platforms.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

• Experience with video/ content editing

If you feel that the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today!

Starting Minimum Rate

Minimum rate of $83,782.40 Annually

Job Posting Disclosure

HMH is committed to pay equity and transparency for our team members. The posted rate of pay in this job posting is a reasonable good faith estimate of the minimum base pay for this role at the time of posting in accordance with the New Jersey Pay Transparency Act and does not reflect the full value of our market-competitive total rewards package. The starting rate of pay is provided for informational purposes only and is not a guarantee of a specific offer. Posted hourly rates may be stated as an annual salary in the offer and posted annual salaries may be stated as an hourly rate in the offer, depending on the level and nature of the job duties and credentials of the candidate. The base compensation determined at the time of the offer may be different than the posted rate of pay based on a number of non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to: Labor Market Data: Compensation is benchmarked against market data to ensure competitiveness. Experience: Years of relevant work experience. Education and Certifications: Level of education attained, including specialized certifications, credentials, completed apprenticeship programs or advanced training.

Skills

Demonstrated proficiency in relevant skills and competencies. Geographic Location: Cost of living and market rates for the specific location. Internal Equity: Compensation is determined in a manner consistent with compensation ranges for similar roles within the organization. Budget and Grant Funding: Departmental budgets and any grant funding associated with the job position may impact the pay that can be offered. Some jobs may also be eligible for performance-based incentives, bonuses, or commissions not reflected in the starting rate. Certain positions may also be eligible for shift differentials for work performed on evening, night, or weekend shifts. In addition to our compensation for full-time and part-time (20+ hours/week) job positions, HMH offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits.