Communications and Outreach Specialist 1

Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.

Job Summary

The Communications and Outreach Specialist will be a mission-focused storyteller and media professional responsible for developing, executing, and managing strategic communications and outreach for the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for Integrated ALS Care and Discovery (Healey Center) and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute (NCRI) at Mass General Brigham (MGB). This role will focus on creating content for lay and scientific audiences, engaging internal and external stakeholders, raising awareness about the Center's research and programs, and supporting community and professional outreach initiatives. The role may also involve communicating directly with patients and caregivers in coordination with Research Access Nurses and other members of the care and research teams.

The Communications and Outreach Specialist will work closely with the Research Scientist, Communications Specialist, Director of Site Research/Care Innovation of NCRI, NCRI leadership team, Project Management team, MGB External Communications, MGB Development, Marketing and Public Affairs Offices, and our collaborating programs to create cohesive messaging, deliver multi-format content, and support presentations, webinars, and other public-facing outreach activities.

The Communications and Outreach Specialist will also collaborate closely with Research Access Nurses to support patient- and caregiver-facing communications and ensure alignment of outreach efforts with patient needs.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy Development and Implementation:

• Develop and implement Healey Center and NCRI communications and outreach strategies across multiple channels (social media, web, print, email, video, newsletter, community webinars).
• Create communications plans that engage internal and external audiences, including scientific, professional, and patient/community stakeholders.
• Collaborate with leadership, research teams, operational teams, and external partners to ensure alignment of messaging and outreach objectives.
• Partner with Research Access Nurses to create and disseminate patient-friendly materials, ensuring that communication supports enrollment, retention, and patient experience across research programs
• Support communications with patients and caregivers, as appropriate, in collaboration with Research Access Nurses and other members of the research and care teams.

Content Creation and Media Production:

• Produce high-quality mixed media content: photography, video, graphics, blog posts, press releases, web announcements, newsletter issues, and other materials.
• Develop scientific and lay communications for presentations, slide decks, webinars, and public-facing events.
• Translate complex research and clinical information into accessible, engaging content for diverse audiences.
• Implement graphic design standards and maintain consistency across all communications and outreach materials.

Media and Messaging, and Outreach:

• Ensure all communications are consistent, meet brand guidelines, and adhere to compliance standards.
• Lead outreach initiatives to engage the broader ALS community, professional networks, and other key stakeholders.
• Support community engagement and fundraising initiatives, including campaigns, events, and public presentations.
• Contribute to patient- and caregiver-facing outreach activities in partnership with the Communications Team and Research Access Nurses, helping address patient questions and supporting education around research opportunities
• Collect and present feedback from audiences to leadership to continuously improve communications and outreach strategies.

Digital and Online Presence:

• Manage content for the Healey Center and NCRI websites, social media channels, newsletters, and other digital platforms.
• Monitor and evaluate digital performance metrics and recommend strategies for improvement.
• Research emerging tools and best practices in communications and outreach for adoption.
• Facilitate recurring community webinars, including coordinating logistics, communications, and content with internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with communications, IT, development, and marketing teams to maintain and enhance digital content and technical functionality.

Project Support and Program Engagement:

• Attend project-specific team and operational meetings, providing communications and outreach support.
• Assist with webinar hosting, presentation preparation, and related project deliverables.
• Contribute to materials for progress reports, presentations, and publications as needed.
• Support educational activities such as webinars and informational sessions that improve patient, caregiver, and community understanding of ALS research, in collaboration with Research Access Nurses.

Professional Engagement:

• Represent the Healey Center and NCRI at conferences, professional meetings, and community events.
• Take on additional communications- and outreach-related tasks as requested, demonstrating flexibility and initiative.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, media, journalism, psychology, neuroscience, biology, or a related field strongly preferred.
• Experience or schooling in communications, with a background in journalism, writing, or a related field preferred.
• 1-3 years of relevant experience preferred; equivalent experience or relevant schooling may be considered.
• Experience in mixed media content creation (video, photography, graphics, digital platforms).
• Experience in scientific and lay communication, including preparing presentations, slide decks, and public-facing remarks.
• Experience in outreach and community engagement, including digital campaigns, event support, or public presentations.
• Proficiency in PowerPoint, webinar hosting platforms, social media, and web content management.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
• Strong organizational, multitasking, and project management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and independently as needed.
• Comfortable with public speaking and engaging internal and external audiences.
• Motivated, flexible, and adaptable, with initiative and perseverance to complete tasks and projects efficiently

EDUCATION:

Bachelor's Degree within Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, Media Studies, Psychology, Neuroscience, Biology, or related discipline preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

1-3 years of relevant experience preferred; equivalent experience or relevant schooling may be considered

Pay Range

Grade