Media & External Relations Specialist

We have the great privilege of helping patients and families re-build their lives. It's extraordinarily meaningful work and the reason we greet the day with optimism and anticipation. When patients "Ask for Mary," they experience a culture that has been sculpted for more than a century. Our hallmark is to carefully listen to patients and innovatively serve them. This is true of every employee, from support staff and leadership, to clinicians and care providers.

Mary Free Bed is a not-for-profit, nationally accredited rehabilitation hospital serving thousands of children and adults each year through inpatient, outpatient, sub-acute rehabilitation, orthotics and prosthetics and home and community programs. With the most comprehensive rehabilitation services in Michigan and an exclusive focus on rehabilitation, Mary Free Bed physicians, nurses and therapists help our patients achieve outstanding clinical outcomes.The growing Mary Free Bed Network provides patients throughout the state with access to our unique standard of care

Mission Statement

Restoring hope and freedom through rehabilitation.

Employment Value Proposition

At Mary Free Bed, we take pride in our values-based culture:

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Our Commitment to providing an inclusive environment for patients, families, staff, and community, through embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion T.O.G.E.T.H.E.R.
• Focus on Patient Care. A selfless drive to serve and heal connects all MFB employees.
• Clinical Variety and Challenge. An inter-disciplinary approach and a top team of professionals create ever-changing opportunities and activities.
• Family Culture. We offer the stability of a large organization while nurturing the family/team atmosphere of a small organization.
• Trust in Each Other. Each employee knows that co-workers can be trusted to make the right decision for our family, patients, staff, and community.
• A Proud Tradition. Years of dedicated, quality service to our patients and community have yielded a reputation that fills our employees with pride.

SummaryIntegral member of the team who is a communications conduit between the extraordinary services delivered at Mary Free Bed and the general public. This employee identifies and packages compelling stories to share with reporters, bloggers and multiple audiences; supports the Vice President; and helps maintain an energetic and optimistic atmosphere in the Department.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Media Relations
• Create a detailed media plan for multiple levels of coverage
  • Local
  • State
  • National
• Develop and operate an internal process for early, consistent and effective identification of stories
• Package stories
  • Identify multiple angles
  • Create fact sheets
  • Work with staff for visuals - stills and video
• Pitch stories to media
  • When possible, provide each reporter with a unique angle, patient and Mary Free Bed expert
  • "Sell" stories to reporters and bloggers
• Reporters
  • Develop and maintain positive relationships
  • Escort while on campus and assist with follow up needs/questions
• Mary Free Bed staff
  • Identify experts who interview well
  • Assist staff who need training
• Collaborate with communication team to coordinate and maximize dissemination of stories and information
• Speaker's Bureau
• Work with community organizations and churches to include Mary Free Bed on their presentation agendas
• Assist Vice President and Mary Free Bed experts in creating presentations
• Identify staff members who are good presenters and work with others to develop their skills
• Assists patients, employees, or visitors with problems, takes appropriate action, if possible, or refers individuals or messages to the appropriate personnel
• Other duties as assigned.

• Embrace Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, by:

Treating everyone with dignity and respect

Opening more doors to opportunities for underrepresented cultures

Growing talent and people

Evaluating and eliminating disparities

Taking action against injustices, bias and racism

Honoring our differences and how to collaborate

Educating staff, patients and the communities we care for

Restoring Hope and Freedom, together

Customer Service Responsibilities

Demonstrate excellent customer service and standards of behaviors as well as encourages, coaches, and monitors the same in team members. This individual should consistently promote teamwork and direct communication with co-workers and deal discretely and sensitively with confidential information.

Responsibilities in Quality Improvement

Contribute by identifying problems and seeking solutions. Promote patient/family satisfaction where possible; participates in departmental efforts to monitor and report customer service.

Essential Job Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, new media, public relations, or related field.
• Five years of experience in related communications field
• Previous healthcare experience is a plus
• General knowledge of rehabilitation service and principles of marketing and sales
• Demonstrated writing skills for digital mediums
• In depth knowledge of social media platforms and current trends and platforms
• Be comfortable talking in front of crowds of people and promoting Mary Free Bed
• Plan, execute and evaluate traditional and digital marketing campaign

• Skills to explain, interpret, and present technical/medical information in lay terms

• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and in conjunction with a team of professionals for problem solving and brainstorming
• Whatever it takes attitude, strong work ethic, and highly creative
• Ability to prioritize and handle multiple assignments simultaneously
• Working knowledge of Wordpress Web publishing platform
• Working knowledge of SEO/SEM and implications with traditional media
• Physical Demands:

• Able to exert up to 35 pounds of force occasionally (up to 1/3 of the time)
• Able to lift, carry, push, pull, up to 35 pounds occasionally
• Able to sit for the majority (1/3 - 1/2) of the time, but may involve brief periods of time involving walking or standing.
• Able to work in front of crowds as a representative of Mary Free Bed
• Able to use keyboard frequently (1/3 to 2/3 of the time)

Preferred Job Qualifications

Experience in writing for traditional and digital media, communication, marketing, public relations, desktop and electronic publishing software, page layout and multi-media software.

Physical Requirements for Essential Job Qualification

None

Occasionally

(Less than 1/3)

Frequently (1/3 to 2/3)

Majority (More than 2/3)

Compensation based on experience, starting from $32.05.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees in this classification. If you require a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of this position, you must request accommodation in writing, within 182 days after you know or should know of the need for accommodation.

Mary Free Bed is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status, disability or other legally protected characteristic.