Director, Public Relations

Your job is more than a job

The Director of Public Relations directly leads and manages communications strategies and activities that promote, enhance, and protect LCMC Health and its hospitals' brand reputation. They will be responsible for the development, integration, and implementation of a broad range of public relations activities relative to the strategic direction and positioning of the system and its leadership, as well as managing communications around a range of corporate and crisis situations. This individual will be an ambassador for the system and will need to build relationships with the media. The Director of Public Relations manages comprehensive public relations and media relations programs to support strategic goals and system marketing and public relations plans for LCMC Health and its hospitals. The position reports to the AVP of Marketing and Communications for LCMC Health and develops and executes strategic communications plans for the system, its hospitals and service lines which contribute to larger system strategy plan. The Director of Public Relations communicates the system mission and vision to the media through an ongoing media relations program. Specific responsibilities include the development and dissemination of news, feature and photo releases, proactive and reactive media contacts and crisis communications. The position provides public relations counsel, editorial services and crisis planning/response for key strategic initiatives, programs, special projects, events and/or breaking news or potential crises.

Your Everyday

PR Strategy, Vision, and Priorities:

• Determines and directs Public Relations strategy, vision and priorities, including promoting, enhancing and protecting the reputation of LCMC Health, its hospitals, and leadership via media, communications, awards and accolades and other creative extensions.

• Develops and implements an integrated strategic communications plan to advance LCMC's brand identity; broadens awareness of its hospitals, service lines and priorities; and increases the visibility of its across key stakeholder audiences.

• Identifies challenges and emerging issues faced by the organization and works with leadership team and staff to recognize internal and external communications opportunities and solutions and defines and executes appropriate strategies to support them.

• Cultivates and enhances meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences, including the media and key influencers.

• Serve as PR/external communications counselor to LCMC Health leadership.

Media Strategy & Crisis Communications:

• Serves as the media strategist for the health system. Recommends proactive strategies to obtain media coverage (local, regional, and national levels) and advance health system messages.

• Serves as a spokesperson and lead point person on media interactions that help promote and/or impact LCMC Health.

• Provides communication counsel to senior leadership, marketing communications team, hospital teams, and other leaders. Develops key messages and strategies for use with internal and/or external audiences.

• Provides crisis planning/response for key strategic initiatives, programs, special projects, events and/or breaking news or potential crises. Leads preparedness and live response for both internal and external audiences.

• Responds to media requests for information in a timely and accurate manner, keeping vice president informed. Makes appropriate arrangements for interviews with hospital personnel and volunteers. Escorts media representatives on system property. Prepares talking points, speeches, presentations, and other supporting material as needed.

• Oversees media relations program responses to media inquiries in accordance with media relations' procedures and represents the system in a professional manner to the media and other outside organizations.

• Oversees media activity and placements related to system, its hospitals, its key constituencies, its competitors, and issues affecting the healthcare industry. Ensures timely and convenient distribution of media clips, along with periodic reports for system and individual events/topics.

• Provides after-hours media coverage for system for media relations and acts as first point of contact for crises, issues or other non-routine after-hours needs. Supports hospital marketing teams with after-hours media coverage, as needed.

• Develops and manages media training program for senior leadership and other identified spokespeople.

Daily Operations & Content Creation:

• Identifies, researches, writes, disseminates, and places stories that publicize the activities and achievements of the system and its hospitals and that educate the public about health and wellness. Includes news releases, features stories, photo releases, and story pitches to appropriate media and special presentations, speeches, talking points and other communication pieces for CEO and other system leaders.

• Reviews and edits all written materials and reports with a keen eye for detail, including oversight of content created or written by the team.

• Provides research, writing, and editing for system and hospital publications as needed.

• Oversees the creation of and submission for system awards and accolades.

Team Leadership & Collaboration:

• Develops strategic and tactical plans to support system and hospitals, and identifies appropriate methods, tools, and vehicles to achieve plan goals. Manages and assists with internal communication and social media-driven initiatives.

• Oversees the day-to-day activities of the public relations including budgeting, planning, and team development/cross training.

• Manages and works collaboratively with outside agency partners used in public and media relations efforts.

• Demonstrates a high degree of professionalism, maintains confidentiality, and has the ability to comfortably and effectively advise local leadership on PR strategy to drive positive external reputation engagement.

• Takes a proactive approach to identifying new public relations opportunities, obtaining stakeholder alignment, and implementing recommendations.

• Serves as a role model by demonstrating commitment to continuous improvement in organizational performance. Leads by example in staying on top of industry news and shares relevant articles to provide insight and context into PR activities.

The Must-Haves

Minimum:

EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS

• Required: 7 years of experience in a public relations or related position. (Written samples and/or work portfolio will be requested.)

• Required: Experience leading Public Relations strategies and priorities, including elevating the reputation of an organization and its leadership. Includes targeted thought leadership and identifying and placing reputation-building placements and opportunities (speaking, events, and writing).

• Required: Experience in healthcare marketing communications.

• Preferred: Previous experience in crisis communications, including issues preparedness and handling live crisis response for both internal and external audiences.

• Preferred: Previous experience pitching, crafting, and placing content externally through guest blogging or op-ed development and experience with event management and sponsorships.

• Preferred: Previous experience writing news releases, features stories, photo releases, and story pitches to appropriate media.

EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS

• Required: Bachelor's Degree in public relations, marketing, journalism or a related field.

• Preferred: Master's Degree.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrated skills in crisis communications, including managing communications around a range of corporate and crisis situations, including issues preparedness and handling live crisis response for both internal and external audiences.

• Ability to effectively communicate and build consensus in a complex, heavily matrixed environment.

• Ability to work and function in a complex corporate system environment and a demonstrated understanding of healthcare dynamics.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite.

• Strong critical thinking ability to clearly and effectively communicate the impact of public relations into high-level, easy-to-understand reports that tell a clear story that connects to business goals and impact (revenue, growth, experience).

• Ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills. Includes writing and creating key messages, presentations, speeches, talking points and other communication pieces.

• Deep understanding of best practices in media relations, crisis communication, and issues management. Ability to conduct media training for senior leadership and spokespeople.

• Knowledge of social media (blogs, Facebook, Twitter) principles and practices in the healthcare or comparable industry.

• Excellent presentation and communications skills, with ability to create and deliver presentations to diverse stakeholder teams.

• Ability to work and thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly changing work environment.

• Must be able to work well under pressure and deadlines and be flexible and adaptable to unexpected changes.

• Excellent leadership and self-direction. Must be comfortable taking initiative, demonstrating innovative thinking and be an energetic, self-assured high performer able to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.

• Excellent organizational and time management skills. Proven track record of successful project management and ability to balance multiple priorities and tasks within tight timeframes with minimal supervision.

• Team-oriented outlook and the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues across the organization and within the department.

• Ability to regularly work after normal business hours for an unspecified time frame, until a media issue has concluded.

WORK SHIFT:

Days (United States of America)

LCMC Health is a community.

Our people make health happen. While our NOLA roots run deep, our branches are the vessels that carry our mission of bringing the best possible care to every person and parish in Louisiana and beyond and put a little more heart and soul into healthcare along the way. Celebrating authenticity, originality, equity, inclusion and a little "come on in" attitude is the foundation of LCMC Health's culture of everyday extraordinary

Your extras

• Deliver healthcare with heart.

• Give people a reason to smile.

• Put a little love in your work.

• Be honest and real, but with compassion.

• Bring some lagniappe into everything you do.

• Forget one-size-fits-all, think one-of-a-kind care.

• See opportunities, not problems - it's all about perspective.

• Cheerlead ideas, differences, and each other.

• Love what makes you, you - because we do

You are welcome here.

LCMC Health is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The above job summary is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. LCMC Health reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as necessary.

Simple things make the difference.

1.To get started, take your time to fully and accurately complete the application for employment. Incomplete applications get bogged down and are often eliminated due to missing information.

2.To ensure quality care and service, we may use information on your application to verify your previous employment and background.

3.To keep our career applications up-to-date, applications are inactive after 6 months and, therefore, require a new application for employment to be completed.

4.To expedite the hiring process, proof of citizenship or immigration status will be required to verify your lawful right to work in the United States.