Sr. Director - External Communications - Indiana

at  Ascension

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Ten to fifteen years of communications experience with strategic decision-making responsibilities, ideally in the Indiana market or with oversight for Indiana
• Experience driving local thought leadership campaigns, in partnership with advocacy and marketing teams
• Demonstrated experience and comfort regularly engaging with local 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

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.

THE ROLE

As the external communications leader for Ascension in Indiana, you will be responsible for developing and implementing external communications strategies that strengthen Ascension’s reputation in Indiana, drive market objectives, advance public affairs efforts, and create a trusted partnership with key external audiences. You will directly support our Ministry Market Executive in Indiana, partnering with advocacy, marketing and internal communications to demonstrate our commitment to the communities Ascension Indiana serves. As both a strategic and hands-on communicator, you are comfortable engaging the media, community, government and executives in support of the organization’s vision, achievements and unique identity in Indiana.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop the external communications market strategy for Indiana and drive execution of the external communications plan, in partnership with advocacy, marketing, and internal communications
• Act as the chief storyteller for Ascension Indiana, crafting our local narrative and developing impactful messages that support our market objectives
• Partner with Ascension Indiana’s Advocacy team to develop public affairs and community engagement campaigns, using external communications strategies to advance advocacy goals that align to organizational priorities
• Provide external communications counsel and support to our Indiana Ministry Market Executive and to other market partner teams
• Act as media spokesperson for the Ascension Indiana market
• Lead day-to-day management of the strategic communications, public affairs, social media, media relations and external messaging development in Indiana
• Create thought leadership campaigns that elevate and protect Ascension’s reputation in Indiana
• Lead local crisis communications efforts, in partnership with other communications and advocacy leads
• Manage an external agency and the budget for all Indiana external communications activities
• Drive data based KPIs for Indiana, 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