Job Description

Use Your Strengths at Wellmark as a Corporate Communications Manager - Public Relations!

Wellmark is seeking a Communications Manager to join our team and help tell our story to a variety of audiences, increasing awareness and understanding of how we are working to make health care better for Iowans and South Dakotans.

About the role : As part of Wellmark's Corporate Communications team, the Corporate Communications Manager – Public Relations will support creating and implementing communications strategies and content to build and manage Wellmark reputation with a focus on external stakeholders.

This includes working as a strategic partner with cross functional leaders to provide communication recommendations and create messaging, communications plans, media relations materials and other forms of content to support and reinforce the value Wellmark brings as champion for better health. You will distill this into consistent narratives across a variety of audiences and channels to effectively educate and engage internal and external stakeholders. This role will also support issues management communications as needed.

About You : Ideal candidates are exceptional storytellers who can craft a universal narrative tailored to a diverse set of audiences. You are a natural collaborator and connector: you have a demonstrated history of building productive and meaningful relationships with people at all levels, from an internal peer to a senior leader to a media representative. Metrics are key to understanding performance, and you have a deep understanding of methods of measurement and how metrics can be used to shape a story. You are never afraid to ask and figure out the 'why': that can only lead to improvement. If this sounds like you, apply today!

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s in relevant area of study.
• 5+ years of external communications experience, including serving as media contact and/or spokesperson.
• Excellent writing and content creation skills in alignment with AP Style.
• Experience managing digital communications tools, including media monitoring tools (preferably Cision).
• Experience in creating communications plans with defined benchmarks and results reporting
• Experience in gathering and analyzing data and creating reports to showcase performance impact to a business objective.
• Strong communication, writing and editing skills, problem-solving and attention to detail. Ability to produce engaging content for varying internal and external audiences. Professional, polished, and diplomatic in approach.
• Effective consulting skills and strong interpersonal skills. Ability to develop relationships of collaboration and trust. Ability to serve as a customer advocate and help resolve conflict.
• Proactive self-starter with strong planning, time management, prioritization and organization skills. Able to remain focused, flexible, open to feedback and professional during stressful or unexpected situations.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to cultivate relationships. Ability to give and take feedback in a constructive manner, and to foster cooperation and collaboration across teams.
• Ability to stay up to speed on new trends and emerging platforms.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to cultivate relationships. Ability to give and take feedback in a constructive manner, and to foster cooperation and collaboration across teams.
• Self-starter who can work well independently or as a member of a cross-functional team. Adaptable and flexible with changing priorities.
• Effective planning, time management, prioritization and organization skills. Ability to measure, evaluate and refine work processes and project elements in order to achieve organizational goals while maintaining customer and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Proficiency utilizing the Microsoft Office suite.

Additional Information

a. Works in the development and refinement an external communications strategy in alignment with Wellmark’s Corporate Communications strategy to build and protect Wellmark’s reputation across all communications channels including paid, owned, and earned.

b. Serve as a strategic consultant for leaders and cross-functional teams on how to best reach and engage external audiences as well as considering need and opportunity to expand the message to internal audiences.

c. Lead internal stakeholder relationships, including Health Services, BDCS, Customer Care, Customer Service, Member Experience, Wellmark Foundation, and others, as a strategic advisor and manager of business communications needs.

d. Use a proactive approach in media relations where possible, including maintaining strong working relationships with Iowa, South Dakota, and industry trade media partners.

e. Support reputation and issues management strategies, including ongoing monitoring to identify opportunities and anticipate issues for proactive resolutions. Serve as company spokesperson and main media contact.

f. Think strategically and holistically to prioritize and connect messages using a planful, consistent approach.

g. Deliver clear, concise written and verbal communications aligned with brand voice and AP style across communications mediums.

h. Manage and prioritize multiple initiatives to deliver high-quality work on deadline.

i. Set benchmarks and measure performance to continually improve.

j. Identify and explore new communications channels or approaches to continually grow internal awareness and engagement.

k. Understand Wellmark’s products, services and business and be able to incorporate these into strategic communication plans.

l. Other duties as assigned.

This job requires a non-compete agreement.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

The policy of Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is to recruit, hire, train and promote individuals in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation due to a disability at any stage of the employment application process should contact us atcareers@wellmark.com