Responsibilities

• Oversees the planning, execution and evaluation of enterprise-wide external communications, including media relations, press releases, public statements and proactive reputation management; produces consumer daily health radio series that airs on public radio affiliates nationally
• Oversees public relations and public affairs activities, maintaining positive relationships with media, government and community stakeholders; provides leadership guidance to manage issues, crises and response strategies
• Oversees all facets of internal strategic communications, ensuring timely, consistent and engaging messaging for UF Health faculty, staff and students
• B uilds and sustains relationships with media, government and community stakeholders
• Implements proactive reputation-building initiatives, including thought leadership
• Monitors media landscape, public sentiment and emerging issues to inform communications strategies
• Serves as senior advisor on crisis and issues communications, providing strategic guidance to executive leadership
• Develops and maintains crisis communication protocols, messaging frameworks and rapid-response strategies
• Protects and enhances organizational reputation through proactive risk identification and mitigation
• Collaborates with cross-functional leaders, MarComm leaders and subject matter experts to align messaging with UF Health mission, vision, values and goals in support of culture-building organizational initiatives and change communications

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations or related field required.
• Master’s degree in relevant area of specialization preferred.
• Experience: 10+ years of progressive communications leadership experience
• Significant supervisory and client management experience at the director level or above, leading enterprise-level communications in a complex, matrixed organization
• Experience in health care, academic medicine, higher education or similarly complex environment strongly preferred
• Proven success in media relations, crisis communications and executive communications
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and work effectively with senior leadership

Preferred

• Master’s degree in relevant area of specialization preferred.
• Experience in health care, academic medicine or higher education strongly preferred.