Communications Specialist I

The Public Health Institute (PHI) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health, well-being, and quality of life for people throughout California, across the nation and around the world. As one of the largest and most comprehensive public health organizations in the nation, we are at the forefront of research and innovations to improve the efficacy of public health statewide, nationally, and internationally.

PHI was distinguished as one of the top 50 "Best Non-Profit Organizations to Work For" by the Non-Profit Times in a national search.

SUMMARY:

The Population Health Innovation Lab (PHIL), a program of the Public Health Institute (PHI), builds the capacity of multi-sector groups to improve community health and advance equity. PHIL designs, catalyzes, and accelerates innovative approaches that strengthen public health systems, collaboration, and community well-being.

The Communications Specialist I provides mid-level communications support across PHIL projects, with a strong emphasis on external communications, digital content development, and the Networks for Purpose (NFP) virtual collaboration platform. The position blends writing, content development, digital communications, and platform support and requires the ability to translate complex public health concepts for diverse audiences. This role works closely with the PHIL Communications Specialist II, Program Manager, and project teams to ensure consistent messaging, high-quality communications products, and effective dissemination of PHIL's tools, resources, and stories.

This is a remote, U.S.-based, regular part-time 0.5 FTE position that is expected to have a schedule of 20 hours/week, with a possibility of increasing to 1.0 FTE (40 hours/week) dependent on funding availability. The incumbent will be required to travel occasionally in California (mostly) or other states, based on project needs.

Full salary range for this position: $65,962 to $94,454 per year. The hiring range for this position is from $65,962 (minimum) to $75,000 (midpoint), based on 100% FTE. The starting salary is determined using a variety of factors, such as the candidate's knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as internal equity consideration and budget availability.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Draft, edit, and format communications materials including newsletters, web copy, social media posts, promotional materials, and general project communications.
• Maintain and regularly update PHIL's external website using a CMS, including posting content, adding images, refreshing pages, and ensuring alignment with PHIL branding.
• Assist with the development and layout of presentations, templates, graphics, and other visual materials.
• Contribute to internal- and external-facing email campaigns, including formatting content, scheduling sends, and monitoring basic analytics to inform content performance.
• Support PHIL's media and promotional efforts by drafting updates for PHI's communications team and assisting with light media outreach.
• Incorporate racial and social justice perspectives into communications products and messaging.

Digital Communications & Brand Management

• Maintain PHIL's social media presence by coordinating and posting content, monitoring engagement, and ensuring messaging consistency.
• Support the development of digital collateral and visual assets to enhance PHIL's brand identity.
• Ensure all communications materials adhere to PHIL's style guide and accessibility standards.

Project Communications Support

• Develop and format materials used across PHIL's collaborative projects, such as meeting tools, resource packets, templates, and digital toolkits.
• Support dissemination strategies that ensure PHIL-developed tools, resources, and stories reach appropriate audiences, including community health partners, grantees, and statewide collaboratives.
• Coordinate feedback collection from partners to refine communications products and improve clarity and usefulness.
• Provide communications and logistical support for meetings, webinars, workshops, and conferences.

General Responsibilities

• Assist PHIL staff and project directors with communications needs across the portfolio.
• Manage multiple assignments with strong attention to detail and adherence to deadlines.
• Perform other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Minimum Qualifications

• 2 years of professional communications experience in academic, research, non-profit or science-based communications environment, or other related field.
• Bachelor's degree in English, journalism, communications, public health, or related field; or substitute with four additional years of related experience.

Other Required Qualifications

• Experience managing website content using a CMS (e.g., WordPress, Wix).
• Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to adapt language for diverse audiences, including public health and lay audiences.
• Experience producing newsletters, email communications, and social media content.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 and collaboration tools for document versioning and workflow management (e.g., G-suite, Trello, Asana).
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage deadlines.
• Ability to communicate technical or complex information in a clear, accessible manner.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fully remote environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of EMS/CRM platforms such as Constant Contact and Mailchimp.

FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA) STATUS

This position is classified as exempt based on the job duties. However, based on the FTE, salary level of the employee, or federal/state/local laws, the employee may be classified as nonexempt.

PHIL is committed to fostering an environment in which employees from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. We believe that the lived experiences of our employees and their unique ideas inspire innovative solutions to further our mission. People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, bi-lingual candidates, and others with diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Public Health Institute is committed to a policy that provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and to make all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment opportunity. To this end, the PHI will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are offered employment and employees are treated during employment without regard to these characteristics.

For further information regarding Equal Employment Opportunity, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf

To apply for any position, you must create an account on the Public Health Institute's job application site. After creating your account, you may search the open positions and apply for the specific position that interests you. Please note, mailed and emailed applications will not be accepted.

We're so pleased the Public Health Institute is an organization you would like to work with. Do you have questions about this opportunity? If so, email our recruitment team at Recruitment@phi.org.

Additional information about PHI's benefits and compensation offerings can be found here.

The Public Health Institute is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Recruitment Team at least 48 hours in advance at Recruitment@phi.org.