Director Public Relations

Job Description Summary

The Director Public Relations will be responsible for representing Communications and developing and executing comprehensive external and internal strategic public relations initiatives. These initiatives aim to increase visibility and enhance the public image of the only comprehensive academic health system in South Carolina. The Director will ensure the tripartite messaging is present, consistent, effective and on-brand. This position will supervise and mentor the media relations team, fostering a collaborative work environment and direct the crisis management sub-team. Additionally, the Director PR will contribute to MUSC’s internal and external publication channels (The Catalyst, newsletters, etc.)

Entity

Medical University Hospital Authority (MUHA)

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type​

Regular

Cost Center

CC002257 SYS - Brand Marketing

Pay Rate Type

Salary

Pay Grade

Health-35

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Work Shift

Job Description

This position reports to the Senior Executive Director Communications and works closely with the Senior Director Enterprise Communications to enhance the organization's reputation, engage stakeholders, and promote key initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Planning: Represent Communications in the integrated PR planning process, including researching, planning, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive communication plans (internal and external) that align with the academic health system's goals and objectives.  Collaborate and engage with key stakeholders and subject matter experts across various departments to ensure cohesive messaging and support for organizational initiatives.
• External Communications: Lead the media relations team, providing guidance and support to ensure effective media engagement and coverage, analytics and reporting. Manage processes, approves press releases, and public statements and foster relationships with journalists and media outlets to ensure positive coverage for MUSC. Represent the organization as a spokesperson, when needed. Organize and manage PR events, including press conferences and media briefings. Lead media training to prepare subject matter experts and leaders for media interviews and/or public appearances.
• Enterprise/Internal Communications: support the development of internal communication strategies through campaign development and processes creation that keep all internal stakeholders informed and engaged. Develop newsletters, intranet (Horseshoe) content, and internal announcements. Manage information shared with employees and key stakeholders, write and approve internal messages and stories, engage subject matter experts to find the right voice to tell the stories. The Director will collaborate closely with the internal communicators across the organization.
• Content Creation and writing: Oversee the production of high-quality PR materials including content for various platforms such as social media, websites, and print (newspapers), etc. Ensure all content such as press releases, articles, etc. are accurate, engaging, and aligned with the organization's brand.
  Create compelling stories, speeches and presentations, ensuring messages are clear, impactful, and aligned with organizational goals.
• Crisis Management: Direct the crisis management team, ensuring preparedness and timely, transparent, effective response during emergencies.
• Thought leader Social Media Content: Support the develop, posting, measurement, and reporting of thought leader social media content to enhance the organization's online presence and engagement. Collaborate with the social media manager and team.
• Measurement, Reporting and other duties as assigned: Build dashboards to track and analyze communication metrics to assess the effectiveness of strategies and make data-driven improvements. Oversee special communication projects from inception to completion, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with strategic objectives, as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field.
• Minimum of 12 years of experience in PR, communications, crisis communications, with a focus on strategic planning and evaluation.
• Proven track record of developing and executing successful communication strategies.
• Mastery of AP style writing.
• Proven experience in managing communications during high-pressure situations and crises.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong leadership and team management experience, with the ability to inspire to collaborate with diverse teams and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization. Ability to manage a team.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities is required.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and discretion in handling sensitive information.
• Experience in healthcare and academic institutions.
• Strong understanding of internal communications, social media, government workings (including in SC) and experience working with journalists and media outlets. Relationships with SC media required; national relationships a plus.
• Strong media relations experience and crisis communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency in digital communication tools and platforms (ie. Meltwater, etc.)

Additional Job Description

Education: Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Work Experience: 8 years progressive work experience and 3 years management experience

Physical Requirements:

Ability to perform job functions while standing. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions while sitting. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions while walking. (Continuous) Ability to climb stairs. (Infrequent) Ability to work indoors. (Continuous) Ability to work outside in temperature extremes. (Infrequent) Ability to work from elevated areas. (Frequent) Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces. (Frequent) Ability to perform job functions from kneeling positions. (Infrequent) Ability to bend at the waist. (Continuous) Ability to twist at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to squat and perform job functions. (Frequent) Ability to perform "pinching" operations. (Frequent) Ability to perform gross motor activities with fingers and hands. (Continuous) Ability to perform firm grasping with fingers and hands. (Continuous) Ability to perform fine manipulation with fingers and hands. (Continuous) Ability to reach overhead. (Frequent) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Continuous) Ability to fully use both legs. (Continuous) Ability to use lower extremities for balance and coordination. (Frequent) Ability to reach in all directions. (Continuous) Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs. unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift/lower objects 50 lbs. from/to floor from/to 36 inches unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift from 36" to overhead 25 lbs. (Infrequent) Ability to exert up to 50 lbs. of force. (Frequent) Examples include: To transfer a 100 lb. patient that can not assist in the transfer requires 50 lbs. of force. For every 100 additional pounds, assistance will be required from another healthcare worker. 20 lbs. of force is needed to push a 400 lb. patient in a wheelchair on carpet. 25 lbs. of force is required to push a stretcher with a patient with one hand. Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand or at a distance. (Continuous) Ability to match or discriminate between colors. (Continuous) Ability to determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception. (Continuous) Good peripheral vision capabilities. (Continuous) Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction. (Continuous) Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Continuous) Ability to deal effectively with stressful situations. (Continuous) Ability to work rotating shifts. (Frequent) Ability to work overtime as required. (Frequent) Ability to work in a latex safe environment. (Continuous) Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions. (Continuous) (Selected Positions) *Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function. (Continuous) *(Selected Positions) *Ability to be qualified physically for respirator use, initially and as required. (Continuous) (Selected Positions)

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

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