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Job Requirements
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University of California, San Francisco is one of the premier health sciences universities in the world. Its graduate schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy are consistently ranked among the top in the nation. Its biomedical research enterprise and UCSF Medical Center are also ranked among the top nationwide.
UCSF Public Affairs
UCSF Public Affairs, a part of UCSF University Relations, is dedicated to communicating UCSF’s excellence in patient care, research and education. We seek a seasoned communicator to join our team as a Senior Public Information Representative (SPIR).
Job Overview
SPIRs cover a variety of beats, identifying newsworthy stories in basic research, clinical research, patient care and education. They develop communication materials to tell these stories and then work with journalists at the local and national level to place them, with the goal of heightening awareness about UCSF.
The SPIR communicates through a variety of means (news releases, web stories, fact sheets, media pitches, talking points, opinion pieces, etc.) that usually require translating science or medical innovations into language for the lay public. The SPIR also communicates through social media (e.g., video, podcasts, infographics and engagement forums including Twitter). Given that we have a skilled former broadcast journalist on staff, there is the opportunity to receive guidance in building video skills.
For this particular SPIR position, we seek a strong writer and media specialist, with a record of substantial media placements, including at the national level, to report on UCSF’s basic science, clinical research and clinical care programs, as well as our program in Global Health Sciences. While placing basic research stories will be one key priority, another will be placing patient stories that illuminate the value of basic and clinical research and the excellence of patient care at UCSF Medical Center. This SPIR, along with several news team colleagues, will stay abreast of the efforts of UCSF’s marketing team, seeking opportunities to align efforts, and participating in monthly joint meetings. This role, as with that of all SPIRs, will involve providing counsel to faculty on sensitive issues, preparing them for media interviews and developing and executing crisis communications plans. The incumbent will also perform other related duties.
UCSF Public Affairs is a fast-paced, deadline driven environment involving substantial multitasking. It also is a fun, dynamic place to work, made up of bright, talented, motivated colleagues who bring a variety of communications skills to their roles and provide significant support to one another – i.e., we function as a team. We seek another strong communicator to join our efforts.
About UCSF
The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences.
Required Qualifications:
• BA degree or equivalent;
• Minimum seven years’ experience in communications (news or PR writing), preferably within the academic research community or biotech industry; familiarity with health, science or medicine, and understanding of the role of social marketing and the web in communications. Demonstrated skills writing and pitching;
• Experience developing and executing communications strategies;
• Demonstrated track record in health, science or biotech communications and in creating and deploying successful regional and national communications with quantifiable results;
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment and effectively prioritizing and managing multiple projects at once, while setting and meeting demanding deadlines;
• Experience using social media and the web in general as a distribution
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