Healthcare Data Communications Specialist

Position Purpose:

The Communications Specialist functions as part of a data research center that aids users on requesting, accessing, and understanding healthcare data. This position supports communication activities related to health data, research support, and customer engagement, ensuring clear, accurate, and professional messaging for researchers and stakeholders.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

The Communications Specialist is responsible for planning, creating, updating, and distributing communications and educational products for data program participants and internal stakeholders.

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop and disseminate clear, accurate, and user-friendly communications and instructional materials that help data program participants understand program rules, requirements, and processes and successfully meet their objectives.
• Create and maintain a full range of communications and educational materials, including tip sheets, FAQs, newsletters, slide decks, training modules, webinar content, recordings, and other collateral to support data sharing programs.
• Review, triage, and analyze participant inquiries, feedback, and program updates to identify recurring issues, knowledge gaps, and opportunities to improve messaging and materials.
• Translate technical and policy information about data requirements into concise, plain-language guidance tailored to different audience levels (e.g., researchers, data managers, program staff).
• Maintain and update web-facing and internal document repositories to ensure materials reflect current program policy, procedures, and timelines.
• Coordinate with program managers, subject matter experts, and technical teams to ensure accuracy and consistency of public-facing information.
• Support the development and maintenance of communication plans and outreach strategies to increase participant awareness of program changes, timelines, and available support resources.
• Provide ad hoc communication support for related projects and stakeholder engagements as requested.
• Ensure communications comply with HIPAA and data privacy regulations and research and healthcare terminology standards.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with 4 years of relevant experience (degree in communications, public health, health policy, information science, or a related field preferred)
• Strong communication skills (writing, editing, and professional communication)
• Highly organized with attention to detail

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience supporting CMS, HHS, or other federal/state health programs, especially programs involving health data access or research data request processes.
• Good analytical skills with the ability to synthesize participant questions, program updates, and policy changes into actionable communications.
• Familiarity with federal data privacy/security requirements (e.g., HIPAA basics) and comfort coordinating with technical experts to ensure compliant messaging.