Sr. Communications Consultant

As a team member of the Office of Communications, this role is responsible for media relations and external reputation building including developing proactive relationships and trusted partnerships with a diverse community. This person will help build local, regional and national reputation for the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) by finding and vetting compelling stories with potential media interest. The individual will inform the planning and strategy of issues and reputation management and provide counsel to MCW leaders and faculty on voice, messaging, audience relevance and positioning on stories supporting the institution’s strategic framework.

Under the supervision of the External Relations and Engagement Manager, this individual is a key member of various integrated teams across the institution and responsible for proactive and reactive media relations and external reputation building to support MCW.

Organizational Structure:

• Location: Milwaukee, Wis.
• Department: Communications and Brand Strategy
• Division: External Relations
• Reports To (Title): External relations and engagement manager
• Direct Reports (Title): External relations intern
• Collaborates with (Title): Communications Department and other departments, faculty, staff, students, clinical partners and executive leadership
• Workweek: Full-time role with expectations for coverage during core business hours and flexibility required as necessary to accommodate interviews, events and other business needs. Minimal travel is required. Work from home option and flexible.

Primary Functions:

Media Relations

• Develops and maintains meaningful relationships with members of the media
• Plans, develops, organizes and implements external engagement and media plans, programs, projects and deliverables that support MCW’s strategic priorities and initiatives
• Demonstrates strong writing abilities by crafting messages for varied audiences that are clear, engaging, actionable and relatable
• Researches and gathers information, interviews faculty, staff, students, alumni and partners as needed, follows fact-checking and approval processes for producing news releases and pitches to media
• Prepares communications deliverables for a variety of external audiences and channels including plans, articles, news releases, escorts media as needed, briefing documents, speeches, emails and reports and others as needed

Influencer engagement

• Partners with others to ensure comprehension of topics and issues, with ability to reflect appropriately to media and other external stakeholders
• Relationship building with key individuals and organizations
• Collaborates with team and with external partners on strategies, including timing, partnerships and opportunities

Reputation management

• Provides guidance and advice to stakeholders and assigned departments on emerging and urgent communications issues
• Ensures that information is high-quality, available, easy to find and convenient; utilizes communications templates, reflects the input of identified reviewers, and follows communications processes and protocols
• Ensure communications support the institution’s mission, culture, processes and strategic initiatives. 
• Participates as an engaged and contributing member of MCW’s communications team

Content

• Analyzes and provides insights on content performance and recommendations for improvement
• Provides suggestions for content for social media
• Assists with digital photography as needed

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree required or equivalent progressive experience or training
• 7 years of experience
• Preferred Field of Study: Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, English, or related filed
• Preferred Prior Experience: 8-10 years integrated communications, including 5 years of demonstrated public relations experience or related strategic communications consulting

• Outstanding Healthcare Coverage, including but not limited to Health, Vision, and Dental.
• Along with Flexible Spending options
• 403B Retirement Package
• Competitive Vacation and Paid Holidays offered
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid Parental Leave
• On campus Fitness Facility, offering onsite classes.
• Additional discounted rates on items such as: Select cell phone plans, local fitness facilities, Milwaukee recreation and entertainment etc.