Senior Director Of Public Relations And Corporate Communications

Community Health Systems is one of the nation's leading healthcare providers. Developing and operating healthcare delivery systems in 40 distinct markets across 15 states, CHS is committed to helping people get well and live healthier. CHS operates 71 acute-care hospitals and more than 1,000 other sites of care, including physician practices, urgent care centers, freestanding emergency departments, occupational medicine clinics, imaging centers, cancer centers and ambulatory surgery centers.
Role:
The Senior Director ofPublic Relations and Corporate Communications is an important leadership role responsible for developing and executing comprehensive communication strategies and programs for Community Health Systems (CHS) and its hospitals. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and adept communicator and has experience in building communication strategies, plans and messaging, media relations, internal communications, community relations, issues/crisis management, and other communication functions. As part of an elite Corporate Communications team, the Senior Director in this role must be able to build and maintain strong relationships and effectively collaborate with the company's executive leaders, hospital CEOs, hospital marketing directors, and external stakeholders.
Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute communication strategies for a wide variety of purposes, including conveying important company developments, assisting the executive team and Corporate department leaders with communications about their key initiatives, supporting market-specific communication opportunities or needs at the local hospital level, guiding teams through unexpected issues, and more.
• Cultivate key relationships to understand business objectives and perspectives across the organization and to earn trusted advisor status with company leaders.
• Lead media relations functions, including developing relationships with reporters who cover the company, proactive pitching and outreach, timely response to media inquiries, crisis communication management, and ensuring positive media coverage for CHS. Work with local hospital leaders to assist in developing media outreach strategies and responses to press inquiries in support of positive media coverage for CHS hospitals.
• Ensure communication messaging is engaging, well written and presented, aligned with the CHS brand, and consistent across various channels. Strong, high-quality writing skills, attention to detail, and accuracy are required.
• Develop and implement crisis communication plans and protocols to mitigate risks, manage issues, and ensure that information is shared in an appropriate, effective, and timely manner.
• Develop and support community relations programs to enhance the reputation of CHS and its hospitals.
• Coach and mentor hospital marketing directors and other colleagues to enhance communications across the organization.
• Manage multiple projects and activities simultaneously, thoughtfully prioritize work, and meet pressing deadlines.
• Work effectively in teams and independently.
• Follow news, trends, best practices and threats, to remain knowledgeable about the healthcare industry, policies affecting healthcare delivery, and other developments that may affect the business to ensure relevant perspective and positioning in communication strategies and materials.
• Contribute information to support editorial calendars for social media, company newsletters, the intranet, and other communication channels.

Qualifications: #LI-RK1
Requires a BA/BS in journalism, communications, business or other related fields; 10 or more years working in the healthcare Public Relations arena in a hospital, corporate, or agency environment (or a combination of education and experience, which would provide an equivalent background.)
Capabilities and Experience:

• Demonstrated ability to work well with senior leaders and collaboratively across a highly-matrixed organization.
• Strong understanding of media relations, crisis communication, and stakeholder engagement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to develop effective messages for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated leadership and team management skills.
• Experience managing external agencies and consultants.