Director of Community & Government Relations

Position Will Close:
March 15, 2026

The Director, Community and Government Relations leads Craig Hospital’s coordinated external engagement across community relations, community health improvement & required community benefit activities, and coalition-based government relations/advocacy. Reporting to the President/CEO, this role strengthens Craig’s visibility and relationships, stewards mission-aligned partnerships and community investments, and ensures external engagement is disciplined, consistent, and outcomes-oriented.

Craig has an established baseline (experienced internal partners; contracted state and federal lobbyists; existing community commitments). The Director will keep that baseline moving—and will also help build a signature strategic initiative focused on improving “life after discharge” supports for people living with spinal cord injury (SCI) and brain injury (BI).

This position is an individual contributor role that succeeds through influence, clarity, and execution in a matrixed environment.

• Licensure/Certification/Registrations: None
• Education: Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s preferred (e.g., MPH, MPA, MBA/MHA, MSW, JD or related). An equivalent combination of education and experience is considered.
• Experience: 8+ years progressive experience in community affairs, external affairs, government relations/advocacy, public affairs, partnerships, or related cross-sector work; some healthcare experience required (rehabilitation specialty experience welcomed but not required). Demonstrated success leading multi-stakeholder work through influence (matrixed environments; without reliance on direct authority). Experience managing complex projects with clear deliverables, timelines, and external stakeholders.
• Skills & Abilities: Executive presence; excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. Strong relationship-building with political and coalition fluency; able to navigate complex stakeholder environments with tact and integrity. Builder mindset: converts ambiguity into structure (cadence, priorities, deliverables). Strong prioritization; able to protect time for strategic work while maintaining baseline commitments. Sound judgment and comfort escalating “red flag” issues quickly and appropriately.
  
  Ability to rapidly synthesize detailed information and translate it into clear options, recommendations, and messaging. Ability to support occasional after-hours/weekend community engagements as needed. Model expected leadership behaviors (see Leadership Cultural Covenants below).

• Identify, cultivate, and manage partnerships with external entities aligned with Craig’s mission and strategic priorities, improving experiences and outcomes for those we serve.

• Serve as a key “face of Craig” in community and civic settings aligned with mission and strategic priorities.

• Build and maintain relationships with community organizations, civic/business leaders, disability-focused partners, and referral-community stakeholders.

• Coordinate participation in selected events/engagements that support Craig’s mission, visibility, and partnership goals (emphasis on purposeful participation over volume).

• Collaborate with Integrated Marketing & Communications (IMC) to ensure consistent messaging and to share mission-aligned stories and impact.

• Coordinate with contracted state and federal lobbyists and relevant coalitions/associations to monitor and respond to legislative and regulatory issues affecting Craig and the populations served.

• Provide timely updates to the CEO and relevant internal stakeholders; coordinate internal subject matter expertise (clinical, quality/data, compliance/legal, communications) as needed for coalition-based advocacy.

• Maintain a simple tracking/log of priority issues, Craig's letters of support, and coalition activity.

• Support disability advocacy, awareness, and community education consistent with Craig’s mission.

• Serve as a point of contact and organizer for community-facing activities that…