Communications Director

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.