Director of Public Relations and Communications
Are you a creative, hardworking, and skilled public relations, communications, and media professional? In this role, you will help to increase the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's (IHI's) global reach via engaging with the media and helping to drive and manage IHI communications and publications. The Director of Public Relations brings deep understanding of the media environment and the needs and interests of reporters to IHI's activities. This person plays a key role in fostering and protecting IHI's reputation and integrity in media coverage and in the public sphere.
The ideal candidate for this role is an exceptionally strong writer with a "get stuff done" mentality, a talent for distilling and shaping complex topics into accessible concepts and messaging, and an ability to use data-driven insights to improve performance and inform strategy. The person in this role will be charged with executing strategies and multi-channel processes that generate timely media coverage relevant to IHI and that highlight signature initiatives and results to boost awareness of IHI (in North America and priority countries around the world.) This position will be remote until IHI management deems a return to our Boston office is safe.
IHI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, political beliefs, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation to complete our application, please let us know.
Position Responsibilities:
- Lead the strategy discussion and development of IHI communication plans for major initiatives and oversee the enactment and improvement of these plans, working in collaboration with IHI's Marketing/Communications and project teams.
- Develop strategic, persuasive, and timely internal and external messaging on initiatives and priorities at IHI as well as reputational issues (in consultation with IHI senior leaders as needed) by advising and advocating for appropriate action steps.
- Work in collaboration with others to find and test new external communications and PR opportunities to highlight IHI programs and results to extend IHI's reach globally.
- Foster and safeguard IHI's reputation and integrity in media coverage and in the public sphere.
- Scope and manage the work, priorities, and responsibilities of IHI's external public relations firm.
- Help organize, write, edit, and pitch IHI thought leadership pieces, redesigning processes as needed.
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with media and influential professionals.
- Arrange interviews and write press releases and other content to promote IHI, IHI's work, and our products, and services.
- Establish relevant success metrics, drive toward achieving the metrics, and oversee ongoing measurement against those metrics.
- Work cross-functionally and collaboratively with other teams and external partners.
- Other duties, as assigned.
Position Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
The successful candidate will have a rich mix of many of the following skills and abilities:
- Strong strategic thinker skilled in distilling down the most important concepts and making the complex digestible
- Skilled in creating communications plans and executing on those plans
- Good connector ability to bridge concepts and language across programs and teams, and with the needs of the audience in mind
- Experience working with external media and press
- Skilled at working with external vendors (e.g. PR or media agencies)
- Excellent organizational and communication skills
- Highly developed writing and editing skills
- Extremely collaborative and collegial with highly refined team skills recognized in previous positions as a strong team member
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment managing multiple projects and tasks simultaneously
- Energetic, motivated, creative, and resourceful
- Ability to remain calm in busy periods
- Willingness to pitch in when necessary at all task levels
- Commitment to IHI Values
- Commitment to equity, anti-racism, and the improvement of societal systems
Position Qualifications:
- Over 7 years' experience in Communications, Public Relations, or Marketing requested
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Understanding of both digital and traditional media outlets and benefits
- Above-average tenacity, strong work ethic, and desire to constantly improve and share insights
- Knowledge of best practices for writing for the web, press releases, media coverage, and other external trade publications
- Energetic mindset with the talent to produce multiple options fast, under pressure, and within specifications (i.e., word count, target audience, voice, style, etc.)
- Enthusiasm for web metrics that gauge content performance
- Knowledge of SEO best practices desired
- Experience with Sprout Social and HubSpot a plus
- Experience in health care industry a plus
To be considered for this position, please submit a cover letter along with your resume.
About IHI
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) is an independent not-for-profit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. For more than 25 years, IHI has used improvement science to advance and sustain better outcomes in health and health systems across the world. IHI brings awareness of safety and quality to millions, catalyzes learning and the systematic improvement of care, develops solutions to previously intractable challenges, and mobilizes health systems, communities, regions, and nations to reduce harm and deaths. IHI collaborates with a growing community to spark bold, inventive ways to improve the health of individuals and populations. IHI generates optimism, harvests fresh ideas, and supports anyone, anywhere who wants to profoundly change health and health care for the better.
For more information, or to apply now, you must go to the website below. Please DO NOT email your resume to us as we only accept applications through our website.