Communications Director

Role Overview

• Develops, manages and motivates Knight Cancer Institute communications team members to maximize priorities and fosters personal performance growth.
• Demonstrates recognition of the value of individual and cultural differences to team effectiveness; creates a work environment where diverse viewpoints and abilities are valued and that emphasizes an innovative mindset, teamwork, accountability and professionalism.
• Develops metrics to effectively measure team success, with mechanisms for adapting strategies in response to results.
• Leads collaboration to align the communications strategy of the Knight Cancer Institute and OHSU to meet shared goals.
• Develops omnichannel communications strategy to effectively reach audiences.
• Inclusive of emerging technologies, written, graphic, audio or video materials distributed through a wide variety of physical and digital channels.
• Develops effective messaging strategy to convey complex topics to diverse audiences.
• Serves as communications counsel to executive leaders to enhance successful, goal-aligned communication.
• Demonstrates strong decision-making and problem-solving judgment when managing competing priorities amid ambiguity.
• Tracks trends and impacts, applying data insights to accomplish strategic communications goals.
• Ensures strategic priorities are conveyed with consistency and efficiency.
• Responsible for crafting and distributing internal and external communications in support of strategic priorities.
• Optimizes communication timing and message alignment based on audiences.
• Identifies priorities and opportunities that could be advanced by media relations and public affairs strategy and tactics in collaboration with OHSU Brand and Communications Strategy.
• Develops earned media plans that benefit the Knight Cancer Institute.
• Regularly engage with members of the media to field requests, pitch relevant stories.
• Facilitates virtual and in-person interviews with media and Knight Cancer Institute. On-site event management and virtual speaking engagement oversight to include: pre-walk space for speaking engagements, attend prep meetings and prepare executives for event.
• Ensure support services are prepared and ensure all is managed throughout the event during speaking engagements.
• Provide media training to experts across OHSU in preparation for media interviews and other public speaking opportunities.
• Supports earned media activities, including the creation of stories/announcements for the OHSU News website, backgrounders, program/research descriptors, video interviews and other materials.
• Identifies public relations implications of proposed strategic activities as well as emerging issues, and shares these with leaderships.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field. (i.e. Communication, Public Relations); OR Equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in communications or related role.
• At least 1 year supervising employees or demonstrated experience in leading a continuous project or program for at least 2 years.
• Excellent writer/editor.
• Comfortable working with senior executives and faculty.
• Ability to develop presentations.
• Strong consensus-building skills.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong data-informed analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage people with diverse skill sets.
• Ability to work in highly matrixed work environment.
• Strong diplomacy skills; ability to work effectively across organizational units.
• High degree of organization needed to manage projects from inception to on-time completion.
• Ability to think clearly and act strategically in difficult or crisis situations.

Benefits

• Healthcare for full-time employees covered 100% and 88% for dependents.
• $50K of term life insurance provided at no cost to the employee.
• Two separate above market pension plans to choose from.
• Paid time off
• 208 hours per year, prorated for part-time.
• Extended illness bank
• 64 hours per year, prorated for part-time.
• 9 paid holidays per year.
• Substantial Tri-Met and C-Tran discounts.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Childcare service discounts.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Employee discounts to local and major businesses.