Communications Consultant

About the Role

This is a full-time remote position as a Communications Consultant 3 for the Prior Authorization project, funded through 06/30/2028. Employees are required to be Washington state residents. Occasional in-person meetings or events may be required.

The Opportunity

This project communications consultant will build a communications strategy from the ground-up for the Federal and State Interoperability and Prior Authorization Project (FSIPAP), and support other clinical health care programs. You will use plain talk principles to share information with stakeholders, including providers, clients, the legislature, and other government officials.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and maintain FSIPAP strategic communications plan, including mapping audiences, drafting key messages, and creating tactical plans.
• Plan, organize, and schedule mass email bulletins to inform project stakeholders of important updates.
• Use plain talk principles to translate highly complex, technical language into user-friendly communications.
• Support prior authorization-related change management needs, including developing and distributing internal messaging to HCA teams.
• Coordinate external communications to managed care organizations, providers, and health care associations.
• Coordinate the creation and distribution of prior authorization-related internal and external materials.
• Coordinate and submit content updates for webpages.
• Support the development and editing of clinical and provider communications materials.
• Plan, organize, and schedule email bulletins to inform Apple Health billers, providers, and other stakeholders of program updates.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Familiarity with health IT infrastructure and terminology.
• Experience with change management projects and principles.
• Experience creating strategic stakeholder communication plans.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to clearly communicate complex technical information verbally and in writing to a non-technical audience, including the application of plain language principles to legally precise documents.
• Ability to work independently and in groups.
• Excellent writing and proof-reading skills.
• Demonstrated ability to plan strategically, identify communications needs, and develop goals and comprehensive work plans for achieving those goals.
• Knowledge of state health care programs, commercial health care insurance and current health care issues.
• Demonstrated skills working with government agencies, health care providers, health care insurers and/or public/private health care stakeholders/customers.
• Understanding of health equity principles and how to apply them to communications strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to use social media tools to communicate with multiple audiences.
• Demonstrated skills in public relations.

Required Competencies

• Equity lens: Consider equity in decisions, processes, and daily work.
• Ability to take action to learn and grow: Seek new perspectives, learn from experiences, and continuously improve.
• Ability to take action to meet the needs of others: Listen, understand different perspectives, and respond with care, respect, and solutions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of health IT, software development, or similar technical fields.
• Prosci change management certification.
• General knowledge of health care systems.
• Knowledge of plain language writing techniques.
• Experience participating in change management projects as part of a communications team.
• Expertise preparing and coordinating internal communications.
• Expertise creating stakeholder management plans.
• Bachelor’s degree in English, communications, journalism, humanities, public relations, or related field and three years of writing/editing experience; or equivalent education/experience.
• Seven years of work experience or training in communications, journalism or related public relations/community information positions that included writing, editing, and planning.

About the Division

The Communications Division provides strategic leadership and operational support for external and internal communications on agency business and strategic initiatives for HCA.

About the Washington State Health Care Authority

At HCA, we work to ensure people across Washington have the opportunity to be as healthy as possible. As the State’s largest health care purchaser and behavioral health authority, HCA serves nearly 3 million Washington residents through Apple Health (Medicaid), Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) and School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) programs, and behavioral health services.

Work Location and Schedule

• Full-time, 40-hour-per-week remote position.
• Standard business hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Alternative work schedules considered.
• Regular collaboration with colleagues, agency leaders, state and federal partners, and external partners or customers.
• Occasional travel may be required.
• All employees are required to report to the Olympia office on their first and final day of employment.

Benefits

• Remote work and flexible schedules
• Medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and 12 paid holidays
• Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)
• Retirement options
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Employee wellness programs