At Houston Methodist, the Senior (Sr.) Media Relations Specialist position is responsible for elevating public perception for the Houston Methodist (HM) brand by featuring leading research, innovation and clinical excellence through earned media coverage for the assigned high-profile priority Centers of Excellence (COE). This position is responsible for developing and executing proactive communications and media relations strategies by effectively cultivating and nurturing external media relationships while fully understanding their COE areas by collaborating with physician chairs and administrative leaders. The communications and media relations plans and strategies target consumers and physicians at local, regional, national and international levels. The Sr. Media Relations Specialist position is also responsible for stewarding impression and coverage results for their COE area of focus while managing national and international PR firms, media subscriptions and the PR intern program. This position advises senior management on communications strategies.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience.

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Works with key HM experts in assigned beats to proactively develop messages and respond to reporter interviews.

• Fosters and maintains strong relationships with clients in assigned beats as well as key media contacts, and responsible for the promotion of those departments to the media.

• Collaborates with physician and administrative leaders in assigned beats to identify research and clinical areas where earned media coverage cold help elevate HM's reputation in these areas.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Proactively develops, writes and edits press releases, media alerts, and story pitches to effectively communicate key messages to journalists.

• Actively participates in public and media relations strategies and tactics in assigned beats; collaborates with other communications representatives and marketing counterparts on key initiatives.

• Develops and oversees proactive communications and local/national/international media relations for assigned areas.

• Advises senior management and physician and administrative leadership on communications strategies.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Uses media relations standards and strategies to contribute to HM's positive reputation through news releases and media placements focused on assigned beats.

• Independently ensures immediacy and accuracy of responses to after-hours media inquiries.

• Develops clear, concise and accurate communications and talking points; fact-checking content prior to leadership review.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Tracks and monitors the corporate PR budget, national and international PR firms, media subscriptions and the PR intern program.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Seeks out innovative strategies to address primary beats in target local, state, national and international media.

• Independently contributes to strategizing on all media relations beats; identifies ways to support manager with proactive and reactive media needs.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism or related field

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Six years' experience in Media/Public Relations

• Healthcare experience preferred

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• N/A

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Exhibits leadership and authority in conversations.

• Demonstrated good judgment and decision making and knows when to escalate issues.

• Demonstrated conflict resolution skills.

• Ability to positively influence management, physicians and peers through excellent oral and written communications skills.

• Ability to multi-task, meets deadlines and carry out job tasks in an organized manner.

• Demonstrated initiative in managing projects and communication with stakeholders.

• Demonstrated proficiency in writing, copyediting, and proofreading.

• Strong excel and presentation software skills.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs No
• Business professional Yes
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* Yes

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area Yes

Houston Methodist (HM) is one of the nation’s leading health systems and academic medical centers.  HM consists of eight hospitals: Houston Methodist Hospital, its flagship academic hospital in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, and seven community hospitals throughout the greater Houston metropolitan area.  HM also includes an academic institute, a comprehensive residency program, a global business division, numerous physician practices and several free-standing emergency rooms and outpatient facilities.  Overall, HM employs over 25,000 employees.   Houston Methodist is supported by a wide variety of business functions that operate at the system level to help enable clinical departments to provide the best patient care and service in a spiritual environment.

In 2019 Houston Methodist and its physicians treat more than 6,333 international patients from more than 76 countries. Houston Methodist Global Health Care Services’ consulting and education divisions also provide advisory services and training and development to health care organizations around the world.