Director, Public Relations

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Summary:

The Director of Public Relations reports to theVice President of Public Relations, Corporate Communications. This individual is responsible for researching, planning, implementing, and evaluating external communications strategies and tactics that promote and support Cook Children'sPromise, values, and strategic initiatives.

This role serves as asystem spokespersonandleads media relations. The director organizes and executes external communication strategies using media relations, social media, online newsrooms, podcasting, and crisis communication. This individual ensures the Cook Children's brand is appropriately executed through all external communication channels. This position is responsible for both the strategic and tactical execution of these efforts.

Public-facing communications, such as articles, press releases, and videos, require a strong attention to detail, excellent writing skills, and the ability to work under tight deadlines. The PR director will create and execute strategies for public-facinghealth carecommunication initiatives, including campaigns for vaccines, mental health, and disease/injury prevention. This individual also guides leadership on strategies for communicating important messages.

This position directs the content and visual identity for social media, news media, and CheckupNewsroom.com. They will oversee all aspects of external publications, including media interviews, articles, social media content, and various communication efforts with external partners. The director is also theproducer for the Raising Joy podcast. The director works closely with leadership and CCPN physicians, who serve assubject matter experts, to ensure all external communication is accurate, timely, and relevant to Cook Children's audiences. This individual also manages crisis communication efforts, which includes planning, training, and tabletop drills, and works effectively in tandem with the Director of Internal Communications.

This position manages multiple complex communications projects from concept to completion and must be an excellent multitasker. The director is also responsible for analyzing the results and effectiveness of outreach efforts. The director manages a team of 5-10 PR professionals, writers, and interns, and is responsible for mentoring, coaching, making hiring decisions, and performing performance reviews. The position regularly interacts with senior executives, physicians, employees, patients, families, volunteers, community leaders, and partners. The director must be aware of legal and regulatory guidelines related to the release of public information, privacy, HIPAA, PHI, etc.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required in business, journalism, communications/public relations, marketing, education, or liberal arts.

• Master's degree in PR/comms preferred as well as accreditation in public relations (APR) from Public Relations Society of America.

• 7-10 years of experience required in external communications or public relations in a mid-to-large size organization, either at headquarters level or within a major business or operating unit.

• Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.

• Has ability to effectively communicate with individuals on all levels of the organization.

• Relevant experience in health care, insurance, government, consulting, advertising/public relations agencies.

About Us:

Cook Children's Health Care System

Cook Children's Health Care System offers a unique approach to caring for children because we are one of the country's leading integrated pediatric health care delivery organizations. Patients benefit from the integrated system because it allows Cook Children's to use all of its resources to treat a patient and allows for easy communication between the various companies by physicians with a focus on caring for children and adolescents.

Cook Children's is an equal opportunity employer. As such, Cook Children's offers equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected class in accordance with applicable federal laws. These opportunities include terms, conditions and privileges of employment, including but not limited to hiring, job placement, training, compensation, discipline, advancement and termination.