Communications Director

Baltimore, MD (Hybrid)

$65K/yr – $88K/yrSenior Level3+ years expOther

Posted 1 day ago

Job Summary

Own and execute a comprehensive communications strategy across media, public relations, and events; lead media partnerships, spokesperson training, and crisis messaging; coordinate market-wide campaigns and advocate for Community Impact priorities.

  • Lead media relations, training, and crisis communications
  • Drive market-wide campaigns for Community Impact priorities and fundraising events
  • Coordinate sponsorships, PSAs, and public messaging with partners

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • Develop plans to reach the media, general public, and target audiences through traditional media outlets, social media, press releases, and other relevant materials and sources.
  • Develop an integrated market-wide communications plan and timelines for market advocacy priorities, core fundraising events (including Heart Walk, Go Red for Women, Heart Ball, CycleNation, and other events as added), for the Community Impact priorities, and for all sponsorships that include a media component.
  • Sharing the markets Community Impact story via public and media relations, social media, and video creation.
  • Cultivate media sources both internal and external, providing spokesperson training to volunteer leadership and staff.
  • Support script writing for both internal and external speaking opportunities.
  • Support market events by leading the stage presentation and prepping speakers, working with external production teams to create videos, and working with media outlets the night of events. Handle local relationships with spokespeople (medical authorities, survivors, etc.), marketing, and media organizations/media networks.
  • Work with media and other third-party vendors to provide traditional and non-traditional media sponsorship opportunities.
  • Coordinate all promotional activities with media sponsors, including PSAs, interviews with American Heart Association spokespeople, other media pitches, and more. Run market-specific social media channels.
  • Share critical wellness resources, risk messaging, and communication campaigns for the public to save and change lives in the community. Using AP style writing to create press releases, pitch stories to media, draft briefs, etc.
  • Champion volunteers for the organization, including cardiac and stroke survivors, physicians, philanthropists, and more.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in journalism, marketing, public relations, or related field, preferred.
  • 3 years of experience in journalism, marketing, marketing communications, or public relations.
  • Intermediate to advanced skills with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word.
  • Ability to lift and/or move large objects (such as boxes) with the expectation that heavier items would be broken down into smaller components, or requesting additional assistance may be required before lifting and/or moving
  • Ability to travel within your territory daily; requires access to reliable transportation at all times on an immediate basis.
  • Experience working with groups and/or volunteers with the ability to train, lead, and guide them to achieve program goals.
  • Able to prioritize multiple assignments in a fast-paced, professional setting.
  • Willing to work outside normal hours, including some evenings and weekends as needed.
  • Excellent written and verbal skills, and outstanding social skills with a variety of audiences, including multicultural, and via numerous marketing platforms, including writing for the web and mobile. AP style writing and local media relationships are a plus.
  • Knowledge of not-for-profit healthcare organizations with a focus on medical-related issues is helpful.

Preferred

  • Bachelor’s degree in journalism, marketing, public relations, or related field, preferred.

Benefits

  • Compensation – Our goal is to ensure you have a competitive base salary. That’s why we regularly review the market value of jobs and make adjustments, as needed.
  • Performance and Recognition – You are rewarded for achieving success through annual salary planning and incentive programs; eligibility for an incentive program is based on the type of position.
  • Benefits – We offer a wide array of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, along with a robust retirement program that includes an employer match and automatic contribution. As a mark of our commitment to employee well-being, we also offer an employee assistance program, employee wellness program and telemedicine, and medical consultation.
  • Professional Development – You can join one of our many Employee Resource Groups (ERG) or be a mentor/mentee in our professional mentoring program. Heart U is the Association’s national online university, with more than 100,000 resources designed to meet your needs and busy schedule.
  • Work-Life Harmonization – The Association offers Paid Time Off (PTO) at a minimum of 16 days per year for new employees. The number of days will increase based on seniority level. You will also have a total of 12 paid holidays off each year, which includes several days off at the end of the year.
  • Tuition Assistance - We support the career development of all employees. This program provides financial assistance to employees who wish to further their education and career in relation to their current duties and responsibilities, or for potential future positions in the organization.
American Heart Association logo

American Heart Association

4.3 Glassdoor

Welcome to the American Heart Association’s movement to change the future of health and be the progress that ensures longer, healthier lives for all. By driving breakthroughs in science, policy, and care – together -- we can overcome today’s biggest health challenges and transform lives every day. The American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. We are advocates of good health and promoters of positive behaviors, nutritious eating habits and healthy lifestyles. We also fund cutting-edge research and professional education programs. We promise to have an extraordinary impact on your life by empowering you and your loved ones to save lives, live healthier and enjoy more peace of mind about cardiovascular health.Join our communities:Facebook: http://facebook.com/AmericanHeart X: http://x.com/American_Heart YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/American_HeartPinterest: http://pinterest.com/americanheart Instagram: http://instagram.com/american_heartTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@americanheartassociationHeart News: http://twitter.com/heartnews ASA Facebook: http://facebook.com/AmericanStrokeASA X: https://X.com/American_StrokeScience News: https://x.com/AHAScienceCPR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AHACPRCPR X: https://x.com/heartCPR Go Red for Women Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goredforwomen Go Red for Women X: http://twitter.com/goredforwomenAdvocacy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourethecureAdvocacy X: https://x.com/AmHeartAdvocacy

Founded in 1924
Dallas, Texas, USA
11K employees (645 in marketing)
86% recommend to a friend
95% CEO approval

Salaries

Posted range

$65K/yr – $88K/yr

Taken straight from the job posting.

See all American Heart Association salaries

Funding

Total Funding
$4.6M
Last Raise
$100K
Grant, 7 months ago

Funding History

  • Aug 2025
    Grant • $100K
  • Jul 2024
    Grant • $2.7M
  • Jun 2024
    Grant • $690K

Traffic Signals

Monthly Visitors
7.5M
Monthly Google Ads Budget
$925.3K
Traffic Source Mix
Search
50.5%
Direct
42%
Referral
6%
Social
0.7%
Paid
0.7%

Headcount Trend

Current headcount: ~11.1K

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Communications Director

American Heart Association · Baltimore, MD · Hybrid