Health Communications Intern

WHO WE ARE:

With the Health & Insurance Benefits Division, you’ll be joining a passionate team of self-motivated change agents united by our mission: driving to design the delivery of high-quality healthcare for nearly three-quarters of a million active and retired Texas public educators.

The healthcare industry is complex and we’re a team of problem-solvers who are up for the challenge. With a focus on innovation and collaboration to catalyze the market, we spend nearly $4 billion annually on healthcare to make a difference in our members’ lives. With a career at TRS, you’ll be empowered through a culture of continuous learning, front-line decision-making, coaching and mentorship to shape the future of our work, while transforming healthcare delivery for 1 in 41 Texans.

Note:  This position is a temporary, limited term assignment.

The Health Communications Internship presents an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in delivering and developing health care messages to over 700,000 active and retired Texas educators and their families. The Health division at TRS manages three health plans: TRS-ActiveCare (active employees), TRS-Care Standard (under 65 retirees) and TRS-Care Medicare (over 65 retirees). Interns will learn about managing these health plans, particularly engaging and communicating with stakeholders. Key stakeholders include district leaders, benefit administrators, active employees as well as retired educators and their families. 

The Health Communications Intern performs entry-level work related to their field of study and health care. Work involves supporting agency operations with a primary focus on gaining practical work experience and business skills for personal development or to satisfy educational requirements. This position reports to the Sr. Health Engagement Implementation Specialist. 

This position will start June 4th and will end August 8th 2025.
Salary will be dependent upon education level:
Undergraduate (Junior or Senior) - $19.50/hour
Graduate Student - $21.00/hour
 

WHAT YOU WILL DO:
Health Engagement Projects 
•Supports TRS Health Engagement team in creating content for TRS-Active Care projects for the current school year, as well as TRS-Care projects for the plan year. 
•Develops, reviews, edits and updates health plan materials such as participant letters, agency newsletters, website content, social media, and presentations. 
•Coordinates department-wide reviews for member communications and ensures deliverables are being met in a timely fashion. 
•Assists with tracking engagement efforts among TRS health plan participants and stakeholders. 
•Collaborates with TRS and its health partners to organize engagement and outreach events. 
General Functions 
•May assist in researching, compiling, and analyzing data. 
•May assist in editing articles, web content, forms, reports, and other documents for ease of understanding. 
•May assist in reviewing and analyzing agency policies, procedures, and forms and recommending changes to improve efficiency and effectiveness. 
•Assists in completing special projects and performs other work as assigned. 

• Performs related work as assigned. 

WHAT YOU WILL BRING:
 

Required Education
• Currently enrolled in and actively attending an accredited college or university as an undergraduate student with a declared major in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, English, Healthcare Administration, or related field AND within 12 months of graduation; OR 
•Currently enrolled as a graduate student (Master or Doctoral) in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, Public Affairs, Public Heath, English, Healthcare Administrations, or a related field. 
•Applicant will be required to submit a copy of official college transcripts. 
Required Experience
• None.
Required Registration, Certification, Licensure
• None.
Preferred Qualifications
•Areas of study in health care communications, with emphasis on health care literacy or clinical communications 
•Experience measuring message effectiveness. 
•Experience in related fields. 
•Experience using Microsoft Office. 
•Strong writing skills. 
 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

Knowledge of: 
•General office practices and procedures. 
•Concepts and practices of proofing, editing, and preparing informational materials. 
•General health insurance terminology and definitions. 
•Research and data analysis techniques. 
Skills in: 
•Organizing and prioritizing work to manage a high-volume workload in a fast-paced environment and completing work accurately while meeting deadlines. 
•Conducting data searches and evaluations of large amounts of information, performing complex analysis of the data, and preparing concise and accurate reports and written/oral recommendations. 
•Verbal and written communication of complex information that is accurate, timely, and based on sound judgment. 
•Simplifying complex topics into easy-to-understand language. 
•Providing quality customer service. 
•Reviewing documentation; properly applying complex laws, regulations, rules, and policies; and making decisions based on sound judgment. 
•Using a personal computer in a Windows and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) environment, and accurately performing data entry. 
Ability to: 
•Establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with co-workers, agency staff, and other external contacts. 
•Work effectively in a professional team environment. 

 

Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Codes:
Veterans, Reservists or Guardsmen with experience in the Military Occupational Specialty ( https://www.trs.texas.gov/files/trs-military-crosswalk.xlsx > ) along with the minimum qualifications listed above may meet the minimum requirements and are highly encouraged to apply. Please contact Talent Acquisition at  careers@trs.texas.gov  with questions or for additional information.

To view all job vacancies, visit www.trs.texas.gov/careers  or www.trs.csod.com/careersite.

For more information, visit www.trs.texas.gov.