Senior Communications & Creative Specialist

Nebraska Association of Local Health Directors (NALHD) is looking for a Senior Communications & Creative Specialist. This position leads the development and execution of NALHD’s communications strategy, ensuring that the organization’s work is clearly understood, visually compelling, and positioned for influence.

The Senior Communications & Creative Specialist partners with leadership to develop strategic messaging, identify communication opportunities, and enhance NALHD's visibility through high-quality, impactful communications. This hands-on role leads the execution of communication initiatives while producing polished content across a variety of platforms. Working in a collaborative, fast-paced environment, the ideal candidate is adaptable, strategic, and ready to lead communications efforts in an evolving public health landscape.

In this role, you'll:

• Develop and lead NALHD's communications strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and advancing the association's mission through effective, strategic communications.


• Partner with executive leadership to develop messaging that supports advocacy efforts, member engagement, stakeholder communications, and public health initiatives.


• Lead the development and execution of high-quality communications, including reports, presentations, publications, digital content, marketing materials, and other creative assets that translate complex information into clear, engaging, and impactful messaging.


• Maintain and strengthen NALHD's brand identity by ensuring consistency in messaging, visual design, accessibility, and communication standards across all organizational materials. Develop and manage communication workflows, editorial calendars, and external creative partnerships to support timely and effective communications.


• Provide leadership and oversight for organizational communications by advising leadership, mentoring staff, supervising communications team members, and promoting best practices in strategic communications.


• Strengthen communication capacity across Nebraska's local health departments by providing consultation, technical assistance, training, and resources that support effective public health communication and encourage the adoption of innovative communication strategies and best practices.
  

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• 5+ years of experience in communications, design, or a related field, with demonstrated growth in responsibility


• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Graphic Design, Journalism, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.


• Proven experience developing and executing comprehensive communication strategies while producing high-quality, polished communication and creative materials.


• Strong portfolio showcasing reports, publications, visual assets, branding materials, communication campaigns, and other examples of creative and strategic work.


• Demonstrated ability to translate complex information—including data, policy, research, and program content—into clear, compelling, and audience-focused communications.


• Experience coordinating multiple, complex projects simultaneously while collaborating effectively across diverse teams, departments, and stakeholders.


• Experience supervising, mentoring, coaching, or providing guidance to staff and colleagues to strengthen communication practices and professional development.


• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with a strong understanding of audience, tone, messaging, and clarity.


• Advanced proficiency with industry-standard design and communication tools, including
  Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, and other creative platforms used to produce professional communications.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in communications, public health or another related field


• Experience in public health, nonprofit, government, or a mission-driven environment


• Demonstrated experience supporting policy and advocacy communications


• Experience translating data into visual or narrative formats


• Skilled in health literacy and accessible communication practices and standards


• Experience using collaboration and project management tools (e.g., Basecamp, Miro)


• Experience providing training, facilitation, or technical assistance, and presentations to diverse audiences and stakeholders


• Proficiency in written or spoken Spanish or other additional languages

What NALHD's Senior Communications & Creative Specialist Can Expect: 

At NALHD, communication drives our mission, As our Senior Communications & Creative Specialist, you'll help shape how public health is understood across Nebraska while working along a team that's passionate about making a difference. 

This is a full-time (40 hours/week), primarily onsite position based in Lincoln, Nebraska, reporting to the Senior Programs Manager. Some in-state and out-of-state travel, including occasional overnight stays and infrequent weekend work, is required. NALHD offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement benefits, and short- and long-term disability coverage.