Sr. Director, Reputation And Thought Leadership

Details

• Department:  External Communications
• Schedule: Full Time Monday - Friday 8am-5pm CT
• Location: Partially Remote

Benefits

Paid time off (PTO)
Various health insurance options & wellness plans
Retirement benefits including employer match plans
Long-term & short-term disability
Employee assistance programs (EAP)
Parental leave & adoption assistance
Tuition reimbursement
Ways to give back to your community

 

*Please note, benefits and benefits eligibility can vary by position, exclusions may apply for some roles (for example: PRN, Short-Term Option, etc.). Actual compensation offer will vary based upon role, education, experience, location, and qualifications. Connect with your Talent Advisor for additional specifics.

Responsibilities

The Role

As the Senior Director of Reputation and Thought Leadership for Ascension, you will be responsible for developing and implementing Thought Leadership strategies and programs that enhance our reputation across all Ascension markets and directly support our growth initiatives. As a trusted partner to senior executives and other communications and marketing leaders, you’ll help set our differentiated narrative to all of our external partners and communities. This story will come to life through your team’s media relations, executive communications, community impact and Ascension Foundation programs, ensuring that it not only works well at a System level, but is cascaded and customized for each of our ministry markets. You’re a strong people leader, strategist, and counselor to executives, one who is comfortable navigating complex competitive landscapes to deliver measurable results. You are comfortable engaging with national media, community, government and market leaders in supporting the organization’s vision, achievements and unique identity. You will report directly to the Vice President of External Communications.  

Responsibilities

 

• Oversee the development and execution of company-wide Thought Leadership campaigns and programs, in partnership with advocacy, marketing, and internal communications
• With the support of your team of five, manage media relations, executive communications, community impact and Ascension Foundation communication programs for the organization
• Your Thought Leadership program will include day-to-day management of our speaker’s bureau and awards programs, structured to support the key Thought Leadership storylines you and your team will develop and deliver against
• In support of the Vice President of External Communications, you’ll provide executive communications counsel and customized programs for select senior leaders
• Act as a chief storyteller for our Ascension Systems teams, and in collaboration with our market groups, crafting a company-wide narrative and developing impactful messages that support our growth objectives
• Act as media spokesperson for Ascension’s company wide business initiatives
• Oversee the selection, management, results and budget for all external communications agency activities at the System level
• Drive data based KPIs for your programs, tied to strategic, operational and advocacy objectives
• Ensure that communications reflect the Mission, Vision and Values of Ascension as a healing ministry of the Catholic Church
• Maintain flexible availability and responsiveness both during and outside of normal work hours as necessary

 

Complexity of Work

 

• Requires a strong executive presence, media relations expertise, people management background, excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as critical thinking, strategic counseling and decisive judgment.
• Ideally the candidate will also have a knowledge of Ascension history and current initiatives, the rapidly evolving healthcare industry, and external communications practices and standards.
• Must be able to work in a stressful, fast-paced environment

 

Work Experience

 

• Ten to fifteen plus years of communications leadership experience with strategic decision-making responsibilities, including management of media relations programs, executive communications and Thought Leadership/reputation management  
• Experience driving company-wide Thought Leadership campaigns, in partnership with advocacy and marketing teams 
• Demonstrated experience and comfort regularly engaging with reporters on background, off-the-record and on the record
• Experience as an on-the-record spokesperson
• Experience with crisis communications in high-stakes scenarios
• Master’s degree preferred

Requirements

Education:

• High School diploma equivalency with 5 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required, with 2 of those years being in leadership/management OR Associate's degree/Bachelor's degree with 3 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required, with 2 of those years being in leadership/management.

Additional Preferences

#marketingcommunications

 

Why Join Our Team

Ascension associates are key to our commitment of transforming healthcare and providing care to all, especially those most in need. Join us and help us drive impact through reimagining how we can deliver a people-centered healthcare experience and creating the solutions to do it. Explore career opportunities across our ministry locations and within our corporate headquarters.

 

Ascension is a leading non-profit, faith-based national health system made up of over 150,000 associates and 2,600 sites of care, including more than 140 hospitals and 40 senior living communities in 19 states.

 

Our Mission, Vision and Values encompass everything we do at Ascension. Every associate is empowered to give back, volunteer and make a positive impact in their community. Ascension careers are more than jobs; they are opportunities to enhance your life and the lives of the people around you.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Ascension will provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, gender, sexual orientation, gender identification or expression, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, genetic information, carrier status or any other legally protected status or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

 

For further information, view the  EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.

 

As a military friendly organization, Ascension promotes career flexibility and offers many benefits to help support the well-being of our military families, spouses, veterans and reservists. Our associates are empowered to apply their military experience and unique perspective to their civilian career with Ascension.

 

Pay Non-Discrimination Notice

 

Please note that Ascension will make an offer of employment only to individuals who have applied for a position using our official application. Be on alert for possible fraudulent offers of employment. Ascension will not solicit money or banking information from applicants.

 

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