ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR - COMMUNICATIONS

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. 

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences within the UW School of Medicine is the third largest clinical department with over 300 full-time faculty members, over 400 courtesy/affiliate faculty members, 132 trainees and over 300 staff with an annual budget of over $110m. Department faculty provide clinical services in the University of Washington School of Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center-Montlake and Northwest and Harborview Medical Center.  Faculty members also serve at Seattle Children's Hospital, the Veteran’s Administration Puget Sound Healthcare System, and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; which comprise 5 hospitals, 14 primary care locations, and several outpatient sites; in addition to telepsychiatry consultations to more than 150 clinics in Washington and beyond. As the only academic psychiatry department serving the five state WWAMI region (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho), the Department’s highly competitive residency training program is largely responsible for developing the mental health workforce in the Pacific Northwest and is the largest program in the United States. We offer 26 graduate medical education programs, including the Psychiatry Residency and Clinical Psychology Intern/Resident programs, 24 subspecialty clinical fellowships (ACGME & Non-ACGME), and required and elective medical student clerkships for 276 students.  In addition, our education program runs 6 workforce training programs for mental health practitioners across Washington State and the Pacific Northwest Region.

The Department’s robust research portfolio reached $55 million in grant and contract awards in fiscal year 2023 for projects ranging from clinical neurosciences to treatment development to health policy and population health. The Department is recognized as an international leader in developing, testing, and implementing Collaborative Care, an integrated care model increasingly seen as a solution for population-based mental health care. Other areas of excellence include Addictions, Autism, High Risk Youth, Neurosciences, and Trauma, and the Department is developing innovative new programs in Technology and Mental Health, Global Mental Health, Maternal and Child Mental Health, and Targeted Intervention Development.

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is recruiting for an Associate Director, Communications (Public Information Specialist (E S 9)).

POSITION PURPOSE
The purpose of this position is to direct and oversee the strategic communication efforts for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, a growing and dynamic department within the UW School of Medicine. The Department is experiencing enormous growth that requires senior-level strategic management of our communication efforts in close partnership with the Chair and Vice Chair of Finance and Administration. We are looking for someone who has the skills and passion to communicate the impact of our research, educational and clinical work that is improving behavioral health care locally, nationally and around the world. Overall responsibilities include increasing external awareness of the Department, directing internal communications within the department, and contributing to our robust fundraising activities. This is a full-time position reporting to the Vice Chair of Finance and Administration.

Position Complexities
The Associate Director of Communications will be expected to use independent judgment in developing and implementing strategic communication plans, juggle multiple responsibilities, have a high attention to detail, work effectively as part of a team, and be able to prioritize work. They will need to build relationships across multiple units and projects, serve as a source of expert advice, hire and manage the work of outside consultants and vendors, and participate in department leadership decisions and activities. The work of this position will represent the department and the Chair and must be accurate, timely and error-free.

Position Dimensions and Impact to the University
This position is responsible for creating and implementing a comprehensive communication strategy for a growing and highly visible department in the School of Medicine with local, national and international partnerships. Through communications vehicles such as the department’s website, eblasts, social media, newsletters, fact sheets and events, the Associate Director of Communications will represent the department within the larger UW community and represent the department and the UW to outside institutions and to the broader public. They will also work closely with the Department Chair and the UW Medicine Advancement team to advance the Department’s strategic philanthropic goals. Their success will significantly affect the reputation of the department, the School of Medicine and UW.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
External Communications