Senior Writer, School of Medicine - UW Medicine, Strategic Communications

Job Description

UW Medicine Strategic Communications has an outstanding opportunity for a Senior Writer to join their team.

About this Opportunity

Reporting to the Director of Internal Communications, the Senior Writer is responsible for creating compelling executive and organizational communications that help inform, engage, and connect audiences across UW Medicine and beyond. This role translates complex, sensitive, and time-sensitive information into clear, strategic messaging across written, digital, presentation, and multimedia formats. The Senior Writer plays a visible role in shaping communications that support senior leaders, strengthen organizational alignment, and advance UW Medicine’s mission through engaging content, thoughtful storytelling and strong editorial judgment.

A primary area of responsibility will be developing internal and executive communications for the UW School of Medicine.

Key Responsibilities

Executive and Leadership Communications – 45%

• Draft and refine high-visibility communications on behalf of senior leaders across UW Medicine, ensuring each message reflects the leader’s voice, priorities, and intended audience.
• Write and adapt content for speeches, talking points, presentations, videos, and multimedia campaigns that translate strategic priorities into clear, compelling messaging.
• Navigate a variety of topics and translate complex and sensitive information into clear, concise, and strategic messages for internal and external audiences consistent with institutional priorities.
• Guide message review and approval processes, exercising sound judgment to ensure communications are accurate, timely, polished, and aligned with institutional goals.

Strategic Communications and Storytelling – 35%

• Create engaging, error-free content for a wide variety of audiences, including faculty, staff, physicians, nurses, researchers, students, and community members, and across channels and formats such as email, intranet, presentations, video, social media, and feature stories.
• Develop, edit, proof, and fact-check content to ensure consistency with UW Medicine’s brand voice, style standards, and accessibility expectations.
• Use communications platforms and digital tools to deliver targeted messaging, monitor engagement, and coordinate timing and channel strategy with communications partners.

Communications Consulting and Editorial Support – 10%

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with leaders, faculty, staff, and other constituents across UW Medicine to stay informed on priorities and emerging communications needs.
• Provide editorial review and strategic communications consultation to help colleagues and partners strengthen message clarity, effectiveness, and audience alignment.

Crisis and Rapid-Response Communications – 5%

• Support urgent and sensitive communications needs by helping develop and deliver timely, accurate messaging for emerging issues and in critical situations.
• Collaborate with leaders, subject matter experts, and communications partners on coordinated crisis and rapid-response communications efforts.

Other – 5%

• Perform related duties as assigned.

This position performs essential services and may be required to work during any period of declared suspended operation.

Required Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with emphasis on communications, writing, public relations, journalism, or related field.
• Three to four years of demonstrated success with organizational and executive communications for a healthcare organization and developing written and video content on behalf of C-suite leaders.

Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Manager.

Additional Qualifications

• Experience in interfacing directly with executives and managing high-profile projects.
• Experience in developing PowerPoint presentations on behalf of senior leaders.
• Experience in developing organization-wide emails on behalf of senior leaders.
• Experience ensuring messaging is consistent, inclusive, and accessible across major channels and audiences.
• Prior experience includes a sole – or primary – focus on writing.
• Experience working on a team of writers.
• Proven ability to collaborate seamlessly with peers.
• High level of computer literacy skills, including experience with MS Office Suite.
• Extensive experience writing and editing organizational and leadership communication materials with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Experience supporting message-driving narratives using video, including writing, editing, and adapting scripts for live presentations, recorded video, and multimedia campaigns.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume and often ambiguous/fast-changing environment.
• Ability to work independently and within a team-based, collaborative environment.
• Ability to occasionally work outside of typical business hours as needed to address urgent situations.
• Ability to proactively identify communications opportunities and develop supporting materials.
• Exceptionally strong communication (oral and written), writing, visual, and organizational skills.
• Ability to write material relevant for diverse audiences.
• Ability to implement and deliver on aggressive timelines.
• Proven ability to multi-task, adjust to diverse roles and remain comfortable in a dynamic environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Five to eight years of demonstrated success with organizational and executive communications for an academic organization, writing on behalf of C-suite leaders.
• Five years of communications experience in an academic health system.
• Experience working in a large, multi-faceted academic health system.
• Demonstrated experience in video creation, including scripting, storyboarding, directing, or producing.
• Familiarity with video editing tools and production workflows (e.g., Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro) is a plus.
• Experience in mission-driven organizations.
• Familiarity with the AP style.
• Experience with different communication tools, such as content management systems like SharePoint, Drupal, WordPress and Simpplr and email platforms such as Marketo.

Working Conditions

• Ability to occasionally work outside of typical business hours as needed to address urgent situations. As an essential and hybrid position, the individual is required to work remotely when the University is under suspended operations due to inclement weather, etc.
• Hybrid – Approximately one day per month in South Lake Union (with the option for more days in-office as desired), and occasional on-site presence at the University of Washington School of Medicine.  This position may also need to sometimes be onsite locally for interviewing, reporting, and/or multimedia creation.

About the Team

UW Medicine’s Strategic Communications team plays a critical role in advancing the organization’s mission to improve the health of all people by delivering clear, timely, and effective communications to internal and external audiences. The team’s work spans media relations, internal and executive communications, hospital communications, crisis communications, social media engagement, and enterprise-wide digital platforms, ensuring our messaging remains closely aligned with leadership priorities and institutional strategy.

This role has a primary focus on supporting UW’s School of Medicine, a leading public medical institution serving the five-state WWAMI region (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho). With a mission rooted in improving the health of the public, the School of Medicine unites a deep commitment to primary care and rural health with cutting-edge specialty care and world-class biomedical research by educating physicians, researchers, and allied health professionals.

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

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Pay Range Maximum:

Other Compensation:

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Temporary or Regular?

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About the UW 

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.  

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

Our Commitment 

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or [email protected]. 

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.