Marketing Specialist - External Relations

The Houston Methodist Academic Institute is seeking a dynamic Marketing Specialist to join our team. This role involves close collaboration with the Office of Continuing Medical Education to develop, implement, and refine innovative marketing strategies that promote a diverse range of continuing medical educational offerings. The Marketing Specialist will manage all aspects of marketing—from planning and execution to performance analysis and optimization—ensuring our initiatives effectively engage healthcare professionals.

Key responsibilities include developing compelling marketing campaigns alongside management and cross-functional teams, including digital, web, and market research, to drive impactful changes in academic operations. The ideal candidate will be resourceful and proactive, with strong project management skills, marketing acumen, and a keen ability to gather and interpret data. Excellent writing skills are essential, as the role involves crafting communications that cross-promote events and highlight offerings for our external audience. Attention to detail and the ability to juggle multiple tasks are critical for success in this position.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience.

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Fosters and maintains positive relationships with clients, marketing stakeholders, sponsored organizations and vendors.

• Demonstrates leadership in meetings and actively participates and provides meaningful contributions that drive decision-making. Clearly identifies next steps.

• Contributes to the education of stakeholders related to strategic marketing initiatives that support the organization.

• Promotes a positive work environment and contributes to a dynamic team focused work environment that actively helps one another to achieve optimal department and organizational goals.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Contributes to development of plans, campaigns, creative kickoffs, and event strategy. Implements and measures defined key performance indicators (KPI) performance and forms insights under guidance of manager.

• Effectively manages projects with vendors, creative teams with clear communication, timely delivery of assets. Fulfills sponsorship elements to deliver against brand objectives and drive results.

• Collaborates with writers, designers to develop content for web, collateral, blog and newsletter articles, advertising and press releases as assigned.

• Provides input to clients in an advisory capacity in order to help them make sound business decisions by identifying needs, making assessments, and problem-solving issues at hand.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Contributes to strategy and performance assessments for programs and service lines, sponsorships and events under guidance of manager. Contributes to the development of effective business cases by gathering and analyzing data and identifying support under guidance of manager.

• Contributes to the optimization of the Houston Methodist experience for consumers by identifying opportunities for excellence.

• Contributes to the development of clear and concise communications, reports, and presentations with compelling data for leadership.

• Develops and reviews marketing collateral and advertising to ensure messaging and photography align with guidelines.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Submits invoices on time and tracks and adheres to budgets for assigned projects.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Contributes to optimizing strategy and initiatives by identifying gaps and opportunities in partnership with manager.

• Proactively problem solves under the guidance of manager. Grows and enhances marketing knowledge and abilities. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications or related field

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Four years experience related to Marketing and Communications

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• N/A

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Demonstrates professional growth and shows initiative and authority in conversations

• Ability to work under pressure and balance many competing priorities and deadlines

• Positive and supportive attitude and demeanor

• Ability to multi-task and work in an organized manner

• Ability to uphold confidential and sensitive information

• Proficient in spreadsheet, word-processing and presentation software

• Sound judgment and decision making ability, with strong critical thinking skills; understand when to escalate issues

• Ability to receive constructive feedback and demonstrate performance improvement including receiving, seeking out and acting on performance feedback

• Open to ideas offered by others; works collaboratively and contributes to dialogue

• Demonstrative initiative in managing projects and communication with stakeholders

• Effective written communication and presentation skills

• Ability to engage with the public/consumers in a positive manner and in alignment with Houston Methodist standards

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs No
• Business professional Yes
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Houston Methodist Academic Institute (formerly the Houston Methodist Research Institute) was formed in 2004 to rapidly and efficiently translate discoveries made in the laboratory and the clinic into new diagnostics, therapies, and treatments. The research institute was created to provide the infrastructure and support for these endeavors, and to house the technology and resources needed to make innovative breakthroughs in important areas of human disease. A 540,000 square foot building dedicated to research and clinical trials, the academic institute houses over 2,047 credentialed researchers conducting 1,470 ongoing clinical protocols.