Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness (WPHW) is growing, and we are excited to be adding new people to our team! If you value inclusivity, balance, and cultural centeredness and have a true passion for serving others, you may be a great fit for our team! WPHW is a non-profit organization that serves four federally recognized tribes located in five communities: the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Aroostook Band of Mi'kmaq, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point, and the Penobscot Nation. Wabanaki traditions, language, and culture guide our approach and describe the ways we live in harmony with each other and the land we collectively share. Services are available to community members living on and off-reservation across the state of Maine.

Position Summary:

This position will provide leadership and communication support to the entire WPHW organization. The Director of Communications will work to develop and maintain a consistent branding and outreach of information and education to Wabanaki communities and other stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Communication Team Leadership

• Lead all strategic and crisis communications in the department; communicate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Respond to crises or challenging situations quickly and professionally.
• Provide final review of all products needing approval from leadership department; work with leadership to gain approval in a timely manner.
• Attend all director/leadership meetings.
• Responsible for upkeep of the processes to ensure constant streamlining and adjust processes to ensure consistency.

• Create SOPs for director-level duties and review all departmental SOPs.

Communication Team Management

• Manage the team of Communications Department staff.
• Conduct quality control on all communications.
• Create long- and short-term calendars and workplans for staff.

• Delegate responsibilities and tasks to different members of a team in order to most efficiently complete a project.
• Mentor and support the development of communication team members.
• Develop communication team management structure and ensure accountability of work products through management structure.

Outreach Support

• Develop relationships and work with media outlets and other companies.

• Attend speaking engagements and host special events.
• Actively participate or attend meetings the CEOs have with key stakeholders, government agencies, community events.
• Coordinate with departments to establish monthly, semi-annually, annual campaigns and timelines.
• Communicate and address all needs from other departments and strategize ways to support their outreach and campaigns.

Production Support

• Implement new ways to communicate public health trends to the public.
• Work with leadership to share public health trends, hazards, risks, and solutions.
• Create campaigns using various forms of media in order to communicate public health related issues to a public audience.
• Ensure all company materials have consistent and positive messaging and branding.
• Serve as the editor for all projects completed by the sections under the CD after the manager from that respective division reviews and approves it.

Education and Experience Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, English, public health, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in public health, communications, or closely related field desirable.
• At least 10 years of related job experience.

Skills and Qualifications Required:

• Teamwork and the ability to lead and motivate staff to produce high-level, brand-driven content.
• Written, verbal and digital communication skills.
• Analytical skills to solve problems and find the best way to convey a message.
• The creativity to produce exciting and interesting content.

• Organizational skills and the ability to multitask and prioritize projects while working on a deadline or in a fast-paced environment.
• The technological ability to work on a variety of digital platforms and also create web and mobile content.
• Supervisory and team management experience.
• Ability to maintain cooperative and effective relationships with intra and interdepartmental personnel, as well as any external entities with whom the position interacts.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

• Ability to analyze and interpret public health policies and procedures.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as budgets and procedure manuals.
• Proven problem solver who can make clear-headed decisions while under pressure.
• Highly experienced with project coordinating and management.
• Self-motivated and self-sufficient.

• Possess an encouraging, can-do attitude.

Computer Skills

• To perform this job successfully, an individual should have strong computer skills (Microsoft Office, Outlook, and the Internet). Must be able to learn other computer programs as required by assigned tasks.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Possession of a valid driver’s license and the ability to be insurable under the Agency’s automobile insurance plan at the standard rate.