LOCATION: HYBRID. MOST OF THE POSITIONS AT YCCO ARE HYBRID, MEANING THEY HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO WORK BOTH REMOTELY AND/OR IN-PERSON AT YCCO'S OFFICE IN MCMINNVILLE, OR.

COVID-19 UPDATE FOR PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES: YCCO IS NO LONGER REQUIRING COVID-19 VACCINATION FOR EMPLOYEES.

DEPARTMENT: Government Affairs                       FLSA STATUS: Exempt

REPORTS TO: Government Affairs Director           PHYSICAL STRENGTH: Light (L)

SUMMARY

The Public Relations Specialist works with Yamhill Community Care (YCCO) departments and external stakeholders to develop and implement a communication strategy. This position is responsible for generating, curating, and distributing relevant content across various communication channels. The Public Relations Specialist achieves and maintains positive community engagement. This position will lead the Communications Committee and works with all YCCO departments on such communications as print material, brochures, social media, website content, community campaigns and additional projects as identified by performing the following duties.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

1. Performs content strategy and communication activities, including visioning, project planning, material creation, and implementation.
2. Develops and maintains technical materials and platforms. 
3.  Leads community engagement and public relations strategies.

JOB DUTIES

Content Strategy

• Proposes, develops, and implements strategies to communicate YCCO’s story in accordance with its brand.
• Plans, writes, edits, and distributes company communications for stakeholders, including care providers and community members, adhering to corporate standards for publication consistency, timing and publishing and style guidelines.
• Plans, writes, edits and monitors social media content. Adheres to corporate brand standards for content development, consistency for cadence of social media publishing, and timeliness of response to user comments on accounts.
• Coordinates with Leadership team, consultants, and vendors to develop and distribute print material, website content, social media, and other media.
• Manages and facilitates the Communication Committee, including meeting preparation, documentation, and follow-up.
• Optimizes member and community engagement by analyzing data/metrics and implementing best practices based on those insights.
• Supports departmental needs for content creation, including special projects and leadership presentations.
• Serves as a technical information coordinator for the YCCO brand and shares relevant resources and content with staff, stakeholders, and partners.

Technical Development of Materials

• Generates, edits, publishes, and shares content (original text, images, video, print material) that educates and inspires action.
• Establishes, maintains, and optimizes company presence on relevant platforms to increase visibility of branded content.
• Integrates with local partners and consultants to align messaging.
• Manages, facilitates, and monitors the ongoing website updates and reviews to keep compliance with the requirements of all applicable OARs, CFRs, and the OHP Health Plan Services Contract.

Community Engagement with Key Stakeholders

• Builds and maintains relationships with community partners and acts as liaison and brand ambassador between YCCO and the community.
• Represents the company at in-person events in Yamhill County, Portland, Salem, or other Oregon locations as needed to successfully implement the communications plan.
• Manages communications and resources with the community, partners, and clinical/education/social service provider networks.
• Collaborates with consultants, partners, and internal departments to manage YCCO reputation, identify key stakeholders, and coordinate actions.
• Collaborates effectively as a team member across multiple departments and disciplines along with YCCO staff to further transformation and quality goals of YCCO programs.
• Other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL DEPARTMENT & ORGANIZATIONAL FUNCTIONS

• Works to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable services, and working relationships with diverse groups of employees, community partners, and community members.
• Participates in the preparation and submission of regulatory and contract required deliverables.
• Works closely with other YCCO departments, including Health Plan Operations and Compliance to assist with audits; including the External Quality Review (EQR), as needed.
• Participates in the preparation and submission of regulatory and contract required deliverables.
• Evaluates current state of work functions and proposes process improvements.
• Proposes and implements process improvements.
• Meets deadlines for completion of assigned responsibilities and projects.
• Maintains agreed upon work schedule with punctual, regular, and predictable attendance.
• Demonstrates cooperation and teamwork using a professional and respectful demeanor.
• Provides cross-training on specific job responsibilities.
• Meets identified goals that contribute to departmental goals.
• Works collaboratively in a team and matrixed (cross-department) environment with a spirit of cooperation.
• Respectfully takes direction from Supervisor.
• Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

• Demonstrated experience in development and execution of communication strategies, from vision / mission / purpose, to goals and objects, strategy and tactics, with proven understanding of audience engagement metrics and best practices.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills in developing and maintaining professional relationships, including maintaining a high level of integrity focused on customer service and positive outcomes.
• Proven critical thinking skills and the ability to ask questions to achieve results with positive impacts.
• Understanding of marketing channels; ability to learn content optimization.
• Foundational knowledge of graphic design, web design, web development, and social media platforms.
• Social networking skills and working knowledge with social analytics tools.
• Photography/videography skills preferred.
• Knowledge of managed care and the Oregon Health Plan preferred.
• Excellent organizational skills including ability to handle multiple priorities and demands simultaneously in a dynamic work environment while maintaining high attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work independently, use sound judgment, anticipate next steps and be proactive as part of a diverse team within a Matrix or shared resources across departments work model.
• Proficiency in, Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop) and/or web-based design platforms (Canva), and social media management platforms (HootSuite, Sprout, SocialPilot, etc.)
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Ability to communicate both professionally and effectively in all forms of communication.
• Ability to work in an environment with diverse individuals and groups.
• Ability to remain flexible, positive, and adaptable.
• Ability to work across the YCCO region and to work remotely, as needed.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position has no supervisory responsibilities. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Ability to perform essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to safety or health of employee or others. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Required:

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in strategic development, public relations, marketing, corporate communications, or community relations, preferably in a community health or related health care field.

OR:

• Any combination of education and experience that would qualify candidate for the position.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Business Administration, or related field.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES AND/OR REGISTRATIONS

This position does not require any certificates, licenses, or registrations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this position. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential duties of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, use hands and fingers, handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee may occasionally need to lift and/or move up to twenty-five pounds.

This position operates in a professional office environment and requires frequent use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

This position may include occasional required or optional travel outside of the workplace, in which the employee’s personal vehicle, local transit, or other means of transportation may be used.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS

To safeguard the health of our employees and their families; our members and visitors; and the community at large, YCCO requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved medical or religious accommodation as a qualification of employment.

Job candidates that receive a contingent offer of employment from YCCO must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, along with a completed attestation that the documentation submitted is true and correct to Human Resources Department;

OR

Submit a completed request for accommodation form due to a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief to the Human Resources Department to begin the interactive accommodation process.