Communications Director

Description JOB DETAILS Department:
Public RelationsFTE: 1.00 (80 hours per pay period)
Workdays:
Monday - Friday Shift(s):
Days Shift Length: 8 hours

Location:

In-Person Purpose of this position:
Leads the integrated communications team responsible for enterprise-wide strategic communications across all platforms—internal, external, digital, media, storytelling, executive communications, and organizational change. Ensures consistent, accurate, timely, and high‑quality communications that strengthen organizational reputation, support patient and community trust, and advance system priorities.

Primary leader for crisis communications, media relations escalation, and high‑stakes public messaging within a major public health system, consistent with crisis and emergency readiness expectations identified across peer public hospital systems.  This position will report to the Vice President of Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs.

RESPONSIBILITIESCrisis & Public Relations Leadership Serve as the senior lead for crisis communications, coordinating rapid response, media inquiries, high‑profile issues, and patient‑privacy‑sensitive situations

Act as escalation point for urgent communications needs, ensuring clear decision pathways, timely approvals, and controlled distribution of information

Oversee systemwide media relations operations, including request triage, spokesperson preparedness, message development, and coordinated responses with Legal, Privacy, Security, clinical leadership, and county partners

Maintain emergency communication readiness, participate in emergency management planning, and support PIO functions during incidents or drills—aligned with public hospital PIO models included in major system profiles

Monitor emerging issues and media trends to assess risk, recommend mitigation strategies, and guide leadership through sensitive communications.

Strategic Communications Leadership Lead the communications team responsible for integrated communications across all platforms, ensuring coordination, work sequencing, and consistency of organizational voice

Oversee internal communications channels including Scanner, Scanner for Leaders, CEO messages, intranet/SharePoint updates, newsletters, and enterprise-wide announcements

Direct storytelling, content strategy, digital communication, and message alignment across all audiences—internal, external, community, and media

Ensure a “single source of truth” approach for major organizational messaging, providing leaders with aligned talking points, FAQs, scripts, and toolkits before broader communication

Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on communication opportunities, risks, messaging strategy, public perception, and organizational change

Executive & Leadership Communications Draft executive and CEO messages, scripts, video content, talking points, and systemwide updates; manage review cycles with relevant executives and subject‑matter partners

Support CEO and senior leaders for presentations, board materials, leadership forums, and major organizational announcements.

Provide communication guidance and decision support during high‑visibility initiatives or sensitive public issues

Team Leadership & Operational Management Manage communications staff through structured cadences including weekly 1:1s, staff meetings, workload reviews, coaching, and performance evaluations

Oversee project intake, resource prioritization, work sequencing, and cross‑department coordination

Maintain department policies, communication governance standards, moderation guidelines, approval pathways, and channel ownership documentation.

Review communication metrics, feedback, and performance to refine channels, cadence, content strategy, and leader support…