Director of External Communications - Operations and Integration

at  Ascension

WORK EXPERIENCE:

• Ten plus years in a senior program management role, ideally as part of a broader communications or marketing team
• Deep experience with developing, managing and measuring communications plans, setting standards and processes, and driving a steady and successful operating cadence
• Proven driver and communicator across matrixed organizations, helping to gain internal buy-in and support for communications programs
• Experience developing clear KPIs and reporting out to multiple teams, including senior executives
• Experienced people manager

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.

RESPONSIBILITIES

As the Director of Communications Operations and Integration for Ascension’s External Communications team, you will be responsible for driving the development, implementation, measurement and reporting of the Catholic health system’s organization-wide external communications plan. As an experienced program manager, you will facilitate development of and drive implementation for the overall external communications plan. You will develop the team’s operating system and standard processes, manage meeting cadence and agendas, coordinate training opportunities for the group, and proactively measure and report external communications results. You’re highly organized, data-driven, analytical and self-motivated. In this role, you will report to the Vice President of External Communications.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• In partnership with external communications leadership team, develop, manage and measure the organization’s strategic external communications plan
• Set metrics for external communications, analyze results and develop a standard reporting structure and cadence
• Recommend any needed changes to the strategic plan, based on quantitative and qualitative data, feedback and results
• Develop a clear and well-communicated operating system for the team and help to ensure all external communicators understand how they fit within the system
• Research, recommend and manage set processes, programs and a document repository system for the team
• Establish a set cadence and process for team meetings and reports
• In partnership with the human resource team, facilitate any need for recruitment and onboarding of new associates
• Supervise the completion of communication projects and initiatives, including budget analysis
• Create an environment of ongoing learning and team developmentCombine a big-picture perspective with a program manager’s attention to detail, clarity and focus
• 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