VNPC Communication Manager, School of Medicine/Department of Pediatrics

Position Summary:
The VNPC Communication Manager will develop and implement a communication plan for the VNPC. They will be responsible for implementing all communication activities of the CDC State Perinatal Quality Collaborative and CDC Eliminate Maternal Mortality (ERASE MM) grant. This person will be responsible for all communication activities and deliverables as stated both grant the work plans, ensuring collaborations with all stakeholders and partners; working closely with all 50 birth hospitals in the Commonwealth; and strengthening communications and awareness campaigns for this project while working alongside communities focused on improving perinatal and infant outcomes. This person will also be responsible for maintaining and updating the VNPC website, providing oversight and postings on the VNPC social media sites. This person will require the ability for high proficient and independent work, while maintaining a working knowledge of maternal infant health, public health core principles, and clear written and oral communication skills are necessary.

Core Responsibilities:
As a member of the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative (VNPC) and Department of Pediatrics team, the Communication Manager will be supervised by the VNPC Director. This person will serve the VNPC as the subject matter expert for all communications (i.e. website, social media, radio, written et al.) and ensure the activities and deliverables are met for the CDC PQC and Eliminate Maternal Mortality (ERASE MM) grants, plus any additional grants that are awarded to the VNPC. This person will be responsible for developing and implementing a communication plan, updating and maintaining the VNPC website, social media platforms and all written communications to VNPC members, partners, stakeholders, hospitals and communities across the Commonwealth, including current and future communication and awareness projects, establishing priorities and grant deliverables. This position provides an opportunity to work in a fast paced environment with potential for career growth in the field of maternal and infant public health and for those presenting a willingness to learn and ability to work collaboratively with a diverse group of faculty and staff.

Financial Administration
Work under direction of supervisor to provide fiscal support to the program. Fiscal duties include but are not limited to:
• Advise and alert supervisor of any compliance concerns.
• Monitor, evaluate, and ensure accurate files are maintained for all expenditures charged to each managed account; reconcile transactional records against expense reports on a monthly basis in conjunction with supervisor; monitor personnel and other expenditures and communicates any questions, concerns to supervisor.
• Perform routine fiscal assignments as needed.

Program Activities
• Maintains customer service that is compatible with core & traditional public health values. Assures program is consistent with current resources and are provided within State, Federal and District policies & guidelines.
• Maintains close & effective working relationship with health care systems, state agencies, stakeholders, and partners.
• Assist with agency, grant and general assembly reporting and document and submit when due & consistently meets submission deadlines.
• Utilizes public health core values when implementing program activities at the local, system or state level.
• Maintains a communication plan for social media, website, and monthly newsletter available to stakeholders, partners and community members of the VNPC.

Planning and Evaluation
• Identify and understand community needs within the state specific to the Maternal and Infant Health population utilizing health assessment information, vital statistics data, mortality/morbidity reports, district demographic, population and socio-economic trends, and available dashboards.
• Develops and recommends strategies for implementation of plans that meet community needs, including resources required.
• Research available grants and funding opportunities, assist with writing.
• Uses state and federal standards to evaluate program quality assurance and reports deficiencies.
• Participates in evaluation using results for future planning. Serves as subject matter expert for the VNPC.
• Assist with reporting out monthly data during QI projects

Community and Interagency Relationships
• Works actively with other state agencies, stakeholders and community leaders to promote public health and develop effective working relationships.
• Serves on committees and with groups to represent the VNPC.
• Provides Steering and Executive Committees with information on perception of needs and public health services by these groups, agencies or organizations.
• Works with health systems and local communities to plan special community health promotion events related to the VNPC.
• Serves on committees, boards and coalitions that parallel the ideologies, goals and objectives of the public health sector; promotes collaboration with same.
• Actively and regularly engages with stakeholders around the state.

Customer Service
• Treats others in the work place with respect. Guided by VNPC program goals, identifies and takes steps to meet the needs of the members of the VNPC.
• Working with supervisor and co-workers, improves work processes by making suggestions and jointly developing changes to decrease cost and/or improve services.
• Shares fairly in assigned work tasks and helps in other areas when needed.
• Limits problems between employees by talking with involved co-worker(s) about an issue as soon as it comes up and, when needed, getting supervisor involved.
• Works with team members in a collaborative manner to ensure coordination of initiatives.

Training and Leadership
• Sets professional example & proactively promotes participation, seeks additional learning & development skill opportunities.
• Participates in in-service, workshops & classes to maintain/upgrade knowledge, skills and abilities as pertains to maternal and infant health, public health, & theory & practice.
• Sets standards & priorities for maternal and infant health.Proactively researches & requests training to update skills as available/appropriate.

Other Duties as Assigned
• The goal of the VNPC is for Virginia to be the best and safest state to deliver and have a baby.
• To that end, this position contributes to supporting the health of all Virginians through the efficient and effective VNPC.
• May be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Essential Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree and several years relevant professional experience or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
• Knowledge of maternal infant health and public health core principles.
• Clear written and oral communication skills are necessary.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain excellent working relationships with a wide variety of constituents.
• Demonstrated experience working in community engagement, non-profit management, and/or volunteer coordination.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications
• Must be proficient in the use of computers with an ability to learn new systems and software applications with ease.
• Proficiency in the use of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe required.
• Ability to independently make strategic decisions, generate innovative ideas and solutions, and multitask due to a wide variety of tasks and constantly changing contexts.
• Experience developing and implementing a communication plan, updating and maintaining the websites, social media platforms and all written communications.
• Experience working with partners, stakeholders, hospitals and communities across the Commonwealth.
• Experience establishing priorities and grant deliverables.

This position is open until filled.

This is a restricted position with no set end date; continued employment is dependent upon project need, availability of funding, and performance.

UNIVERSITY JOB CODE: Administrator CM 1-3 (13911Y- 13913Y)

ORP Eligible: Yes

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. All full-time university staff are eligible for our generous benefits package that includes choices for health,vision, and dental coverage, life-insurance, short and long-term disability coverage, retirement planning, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, flexible spending accounts, tuition benefits, significant paid-time off, 12 paid holidays, and more. Explore our benefits further here:

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability.

The School of Medicine continuously strives for our workplace and learning environment to reflect the demographic and social milieu of the communities we serve. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

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