Research Communications Specialist

**Position Details**:
**Posting #**: 28314
**Department**:Research Centre Admin
**Employee Type**:Temporary, Full Time
**If Temporary, Number of Weeks**:52 weeks
**Union**:Non-Union
**Openings Remaining**:1

**Schedule**:
**Work Days**: Monday to Friday
**Time of Day**: Days
**Shift**: 7.5 hour
**This position may be scheduled at any of the following sites**: Charlton Campus (Hamilton Downtown)

**Application Dates**:
**Opening Date**: 11/06/24
**Closing Date**: 18/06/24 Applications must be received online by 12:00 midnight on the Closing Date

**Position Description**:
***:
The Research Communications Specialist is a key member of the Research Communications team, responsible for developing communication products aimed at elevating the work and overall reputation of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and The Research Institute of St. Joe’s in the areas of research, innovation, and quality improvement.

A skilled communicator, the Specialist will use his/her superior writing skills to generate knowledge translation products, including but not limited to press releases, web articles, summaries of scientific publications, white papers, infographics, videos, poster boards, social media copy, and other means to share St. Joe’s research, innovation, and quality improvement learnings to broad and diverse audiences.

S/he will liaise with researchers as well as innovation and quality improvement stakeholders at St. Joe’s to assess the feasibility of preparing knowledge translation products based on their work. The Specialist will work closely with team members to ensure seamless development, production, and dissemination of all knowledge translation products. The Specialist will report to the Research Communications Manager and, when necessary, consult with the Manager, Innovation and Partnerships as well as the Director of Patient Experience, Quality, and Patient Safety.

**QUALIFICATIONS**:

- Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism or a related field with additional College level education
- 1 to 2 years relevant experience in Corporate Communications, Marketing, or Public Relations
- Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills, and creative writing skills
- Excellent visual storytelling skills utilizing new media methods
- Detail-oriented with strong analytical, planning and organizational skills essential
- Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure and manage tight deadlines with a positive attitude
- Must be comfortable working with team members and partners across various levels of the organization, including health professionals, researchers, and administrators
- Excellent networking, research and analytical skills are required
- Must possess a strong desire to learn and advance skill-sets in various areas
- Must be able to work well both independently and as a part of a team

**RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Responsible for proactively partnering with internal stakeholders to understand and advise on communication needs and working with these stakeholders to develop strategic and measurable communication plans that address existing gaps, and producing the required material to meet their needs.
- Consults with multidisciplinary stakeholders to ensure consistency of messaging in all materials.
- Identifies and coordinates opportunities for leadership on staff engagement and multiple platform storytelling in planning communications for assigned programs and projects.
- Writes and communicates effectively using strategic and measurable communication tactics to reach distinct audiences across multiple media platforms as part of project planning.
- Seeks opportunities and innovative methods to develop storytelling approaches to enhance the strategic goals of The Research Institute and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, and its mission, vision, and values.
- Develops storytelling approaches that can be used on multiple platforms internally and externally.
- Use multiple storytelling approaches to identify and pitch positive new stories to various media platforms, including social media, websites, traditional media, and industry media.
- Set strategic and measurable goals in storytelling approaches.
- Advises, identifies, and coordinates opportunities for leadership on storytelling opportunities to enhance successful communication on projects and programs.
- Assists Research Communications team members with hospital wide high profile communication initiatives and events.
- Plays a leadership role in internal event management related to assigned and project-based areas.
- Provide communications advice to leadership for assigned programs and projects.
- Act as the first point of contact for all communication needs for assigned programs and projects.
- Advise leadership on opportunities for staff engagement and multiple platform storytelling for assigned programs and projects.
- Responsible for writing clear, compelling, persuasive, and informative copy, adhering to CP Style