Health Sciences Editor

Department: Global Marketing/Communication
Salary/Grade: EXS/7

Job Summary:

The primary focus of the Office of Global Marketing and Communications (OGMC) is communicating Northwestern's academic agenda - communicating to all internal and external audiences in order to strengthen the University's identity and improve its reputation amongst our peers, potential students and the public.

The Health Sciences Editor is responsible for promoting the research of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine scientists and physicians to national, local and global media, and to procure coverage in top news outlets. Working closely with the Senior Health Sciences Editor, the Managing Editor for Media Relations and the Director of Media Relations within OGMC, as well as with the Feinberg School of Medicine communications team, this versatile writer/editor will pitch reporters on groundbreaking new research and write press releases to promote important studies that will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

Please Note: Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Developing relationships with medical & health reporters and knowing their particular interests and beats in this hybrid work position. Learning the media landscape to know what outlets (print/broadcast/digital) are important to the health & medical beat.
• Serving as one of two primary media contacts for the Feinberg School of Medicine, establishing an ongoing relationship with media, including proactively contacting reporters and pitching media outlets across local, national and global media landscapes, including tier-one media outlets.
• Matching faculty with breaking news stories to place faculty as expert commentators in the media on deadline; connecting reporters with faculty expert sources for stories.
• Working with scientists to translate complicated research into lay language to make it accessible to reporters and the public.
• Ongoing and frequent outreach to scientists to learn about upcoming research to be published. Write clear, concise releases that engage readers with strong headlines and ledes.
• Creating and sending press releases and media advisories about key research and other news and events from health sciences beat.
• Working collaboratively with fellow editors in media relations within OGMC.
• Partnering with the professional communications team members at the Feinberg School of Medicine, this position coordinates and collaborates with the director of communications at Feinberg.
• Working collaboratively with the media relations teams at institutions whose physicians are on faculty at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. These include Northwestern Memorial Hospital/Northwestern Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and occasionally Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals.
• This position requires spending time both on the University's Chicago campus and in OGMC's Evanston office; Health sciences editor should expect to work from the Chicago campus at least once a week or as needed.
• Responsible for posting news releases/media advisories on OGMC's internal news channels including the "Northwestern Now" and "For Journalists" websites.
• Participating in media training of faculty as needed.
• Coordinating and staffing onsite broadcast shoots between Feinberg faculty and media when necessary.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of 5 years of applicable experience in journalism, media relations, or marketing/communications roles.
• Undergraduate degree in journalism, public relations or a related field or equivalent experience.
• Experience writing about medical- and/or science-related topics preferred, but not required

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• The ability to communicate effectively with some of the world's top medical researchers and stay on top of local and global medical news
• Have a strong understanding of the news gathering process and experience working with reporters on deadline.
• Strong writing/editing, pitching and storytelling skills.
• Extensive knowledge of print, broadcast, digital and social media.
• Excellent news judgement.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work quickly and on deadline with media and communicate effectively with faculty and student organizations.
• Strong organizational skills to manage and coordinate information from a diverse group of people within and outside of the University.
• Experience editing and pitching opinion pieces to local and national media.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
• Candidates for this position should be prepared to work after hours and on weekends as necessary to attend and cover events, complete assignments and meet deadlines.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $70,000 to $85,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

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Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.