Responsibilities

• Modern Media Strategy
• 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.
• Narrative & Message Development
• 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.
• Proactive Pitching & Trend Connection
• 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.
• Health Policy & Advocacy Media Relations
• 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.

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.
• Experience preparing and coaching executive or physician spokespeople for media engagements.

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