Communication Specialist (Hybrid, Contract)

About the role

The Tennessee Department of Health is hiring a contract Communications Specialist to support statewide maternal health initiatives. In this hybrid role you will create clear, engaging, and culturally relevant communications that inform and inspire positive health outcomes for Tennesseans.

Key responsibilities

• Assist the design team in developing and managing content for websites, newsletters, social media, print materials, and reports.
• Translate complex health topics into clear, engaging communications for diverse audiences.
• Collaborate with subject‑matter experts, clinical teams, and community partners to produce culturally relevant, visually compelling materials.
• Ensure program documents meet ADA, WCAG 2.1 AA, and Section 508 accessibility standards.
• Produce a monthly newsletter using My Emma and track engagement metrics.
• Prepare quarterly performance reports and recommend improvements.
• Support communication planning and outreach for the Maternal Health Task Force and partner organizations.
• Build and sustain relationships with internal and external partners to enhance visibility of maternal health initiatives.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, graphic design, or a related field, or an equivalent non‑collegiate portfolio.
• 2–5 years of experience in public health, nonprofit, or government communications preferred.
• Detail‑oriented, able to follow established TDH processes, and comfortable working in a mission‑driven, multidisciplinary team.
• Strong collaborative and creative thinking abilities.

Required skills

• Proficiency in Canva.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience with My Emma email marketing platform.
• Ability to apply accessibility standards (ADA, WCAG 2.1 AA, Section 508).
• Graphic design and content development skills across multiple media formats.