Responsibilities

• Design and lead a media relations strategy built for today's fragmented, fast-moving media environment, spanning traditional press, trade and specialty media, digital-native outlets, podcasts, newsletters, and influential voices in health and policy conversations.
• Craft compelling messages and narratives that clearly articulate the value of ACS membership, Quality Programs, educational offerings, and beyond, translating clinical, organizational and policy priorities into stories that resonate with journalists and, through them, to surgeons, policymakers, hospitals, healthcare systems, payors, industry partners and patients.
• Continuously identify and develop new pitch angles that connect ACS's work to current events, cultural moments, and emerging trends in healthcare and beyond.
• Seek opportunities to keep the College part of relevant conversations.
• Partner closely with the Division of Advocacy & Health Policy to build awareness of ACS's federal policy priorities and advocacy activities, with a working understanding of the federal policy landscape and the press that covers it, to secure meaningful coverage of ACS's positions and impact.
• Develop and successfully implement effective issues-focused media strategies.
• Maintain and continually expand a strong personal network of reporters, editors, and producers across health, policy, and general media, serving as ACS's primary point of contact and trusted source for the press.
• Continuously monitor how the press is covering topics that are relevant to the ACS. Identify opportunities to cultivate relationships based on this monitoring.
• Use earned media strategically to strengthen the ACS brand, build public and stakeholder trust in ACS's Quality and educational programs.
• Position the College as the leading voice in surgery and advocacy issues that are important to the surgical profession.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required.
• Advanced degree in journalism, communications, or a related field a plus.
• 8+ years of progressive public relations/media relations experience, with significant experience earning coverage in a complex, high-visibility organization is required.
• Demonstrated experience covering or pitching health policy and federal legislative/regulatory issues, with genuine understanding of how Washington and the policy press operate.
• People leadership experience required.
• Healthcare and policy experience required.
• Active, current relationships with reporters and editors across health, health policy, and general-interest media.
• A track record of developing creative, culturally connected pitch angles that have earned meaningful coverage.
• Deep fluency in today's media landscape, including digital-native outlets, podcasts, newsletters, and non-traditional platforms where influential health and policy conversations increasingly happen.
• Ability to understand media, culture, and current events, and translates that fluency into timely, relevant pitch ideas.

Preferred

• Advanced degree in journalism, communications, or a related field a plus.

Benefits

• Vacation, personal, and sick hours including 13 paid holidays per year
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Medical — comprehensive coverage through BlueCross BlueShield
• Dental, Vision, and Prescription drug program
• 403(b) Matching Program
• Pension Plan
• Flexible Spending Medical/Dependent Care
• Employee Assistance Program
• Short Term/Long Term Disability
• Life Insurance