Full-time employees are eligible to participate in the following benefit programs: medical, dental, vision, basic life and AD&D, retirement plan, vacation, sick, and holiday pay, tuition reimbursement, flex spending or health savings account, and other voluntary benefits.
Preferred Education:
Masters
Internal Number: 5255
This position is responsible for creating and telling the story of Catholic health care in the United States in a compelling manner. Reporting to the Vice President for Marketing and Communications, the Senior Director will support the development and implementation of a bold communications strategy that proactively advances the vision, mission, and values of CHA. The Senior Director will provide strategic counsel and guidance to CHA leaders and members that advance CHA’s advocacy, brand, and policy objectives in the media. The position will be primarily responsible for earned media relations and ensure that CHA’s crisis communication plan is in place and followed. The position will partner with Advocacy colleagues to advance federal policies important to CHA and its members and will work with external partners to advance CHA’s advocacy agenda. In addition, the position will provide critical contributions to achieving the association’s overall strategic plan. Periodic travel will be required (approximately 15%).
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Reimagine and champion a bold, new media relations strategy to advance CHA’s mission with media outreach and coverage across all channels. Evaluate the strategy on a regular basis to ensure it remains highly effective within the environment in which CHA members operate.
Develop new processes to identify difficult issues early and enable CHA members to act proactively to protect their brand and all of Catholic health care.
Develop and maintain trusted and mutually beneficial relationships with key reporters, editors, bloggers, producers, influencers, and others who can advance the story of Catholic health care in the U.S.
Build relationships with communications executives at CHA member organizations and others who are aligned with CHA, engaging them in initiatives that advance CHA’s shared mission.
Provide counsel, strategic insight, and support for national campaigns that showcase the total value of Catholic care on community health, bring transparency to payers’ influence on pricing, and other initiatives.
Identify opportunities for CHA to generate media coverage, whether proactively or in rapid response to external events. Provide response tools for CHA member organizations.
Counsel the CHA CEO and senior executives on interviews, presentations, testimony, and other public forums.
Work closely with the CHA Advocacy department to promote CHA policy positions and priorities in media outlets, with an emphasis on reaching reporters and editors that cover federal policy.
Lead CHA’s social media team, maximizing AI to boost outreach and engagement.
Provide editorial direction to CHA’s Catholic Health World team and demonstrate the value of this channel.
Write, edit, and distribute opinion pieces, blogs, press releases, and other content – and collaborate with CHA member organizations to multiply impact.
Track outreach with related metrics, setting tangible goals and reporting regularly on effectiveness and opportunities for improvement.
Collaborate with the CHA director of creative services, director of communications, director of member engagement, and external consultants for specific projects throughout the year.
Monitor budgets and oversee work to ensure quality outcomes and on-time delivery.
Experience: At least 7 years of related experience. Political and/or public policy experience is preferred. Vision and aptitude for developing and executing thoughtful, proactive communications strategies. Proven track record of earning media with top-tier outlets. Experience in Catholic health ministry, non-profit organizations and/or health care industry desired. Knowledge of Catholic social teaching is desired.
Skills, Knowledge, and Ability: Excellent interpersonal skills, political savvy, and sound judgment. Exceptional ability to communicate complex ideas to non-experts. Experience writing professional quality high-quality op-eds, blogs, and other publications. Professional and diplomatic demeanor. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Superior organizational skills with thorough attention to detail. Ability to build internal and external relationships and networks. Critical thinking skills and ability to develop communications plans for achieving strategy. Strong sense of teamwork. Ability to develop communications in a variety of print and electronic media. Ability to influence others to act. Exhibits flexibility and ownership of work product. Successful history of working under pressure, meeting deadlines, and managing multiple tasks with competing priorities. Intermediate Microsoft Word, and PowerPoint skills. Basic Microsoft Excel, Outlook and Teams skills.
About Catholic Health Association of the United States
The Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA), representing more than 600 hospitals and 1,600 long-term care and other health facilities in all 50 states, advances the ministry of the Catholic church in caring for people and communities. Grounded by our core values of Respect, Integrity, Stewardship, and Excellence, CHA team members work collaboratively to bring hope and healing to those we serve as we advocate for health equity and access to care for all. CHA and our members promote a culture of inclusion and belonging that brings together people of diverse faiths and backgrounds in our belief that every person is a treasure, every life a sacred gift, and every human being a unity of body, mind, and spirit. Through our mission and values, we will empower bold change to elevate human flourishing.