Corporate Communications Director

RWJBarnabas Health; West Orange (NJ); On-site; USD 134,000 - 174,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Medical Insurance

Dental/Vision Insurance

Retirement Plans

Disability Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Wellness Programs

Pet Insurance

Partner Discounts

Job summary

RWJBarnabas Health is seeking a Corporate Communications Director to shape, protect, and elevate the system's reputation across external audiences. You will lead high-impact communications that align with the organization's mission and clinical excellence.

You will partner with system executives, hospital leadership, marketing, government affairs, and digital teams to ensure proactive, consistent messaging and strong media relations. A strong background in executive communications is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in external communications, media relations, or public affairs, ideally within healthcare, large nonprofits, or complex organizations.
• Proven success managing high stakes media relations and crisis communications.
• Experience working with senior executives and subject matter experts in a fast paced, high visibility environment.

Responsibilities

• Shaping, protecting, and elevating the RWJBarnabas Health reputation across external audiences.
• Drive system positioning, executive visibility, and system-wide storytelling.
• Partner with system executives, hospital leadership, clinical service lines, marketing, government affairs, and digital teams to ensure consistent, proactive communication that advances organizational priorities and strengthens public trust.
• Support system media relations and issues management.

Job description

Req #: 0000268389
Category: Marketing / Public Relations
Status: Full-Time
Shift: Day
Facility: RWJBarnabas Health Corporate Services
Department: Corporate Communications
Pay Range: $133,800.00 - $174,100.00 per year
Location: 95 Old Short Hills Road, West Orange, NJ 07052
Job Title: Director
Location: SBC Corporation
Department Name: Corporate Communications
Req #: 0000268389
Status: Salaried
Shift: Day
Pay Range: $133,800.00 - $174,100.00 per year

Pay Transparency

The above reflects the anticipated annual salary range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.
The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.

A Typical Day

The Corporate Communications Director serves as a strategic leader responsible for shaping, protecting, and elevating the reputation of RWJBarnabas Health across all external audiences. This role drives high impact system positioning, executive visibility, and system wide storytelling that reinforces the organization s mission, clinical excellence, and community leadership. This position partners closely with system executives, hospital leadership, clinical service lines, marketing, government affairs, and digital teams to ensure consistent, proactive, and responsive communication that advances organizational priorities and strengthens public trust. Additionally, it also supports overall system media relations and issues management.

Strategic Communications Leadership

• Develop and execute comprehensive external communications strategies that support system goals, brand reputation, and enterprise initiatives
• Serve as advisor to the Vice President of Corporate Communications (External) and executive leadership on system strategy, public positioning, and reputational risk
• Lead integrated communications planning for major announcements, clinical milestones, partnerships, and organizational priorities

Organizational and Executive Positioning

• Oversee system awards and conferencing strategy in support of overarching system strategy
• Manage high visibility elevation opportunities and thought leadership placements for senior executives, clinical leaders and system and service line operations
• Ensure consistent messaging and alignment across all external channels
• Ensure coverage and amplification of all opportunities and accolades

Executive Visibility & Thought Leadership

• Shape and elevate the external profiles of system executives through speaking engagements, op eds, and industry platforms
• Partner with the VP and AVP of Executive Communications to develop executive messaging, positioning strategies, and long term visibility plans

Content Strategy & Storytelling

• Oversee creation of compelling narratives that highlight clinical innovation, patient stories, community impact, and system achievements
• Ensure high quality press materials, statements, speeches, and digital content that reflect RWJBarnabas Health s voice and values

Team Leadership & Cross Functional Collaboration

• Mentor PR specialist, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and creativity
• Collaborate with all members of the Corporate Communications division, digital marketing, corporate affairs, regional and service line communications teams to ensure integrated, aligned communications
• Serve as a system wide resource and for external communications best practices

Issues Management

• Serve as a key member of rapid response, messaging development, and operations as a member of the corporate communications division
• Support crisis playbooks, escalation protocols, and preparedness training for system and hospital leaders as needed

This Role Might Be For You If…

• Exceptional writing, editing, and message development skills
• Strong media relationships and deep understanding ogic insight
• Leadership presence, executive maturity, and the ability to influence at all levels
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver under tight deadlines
• Collaborative, proactive, and solutions oriented mindset
• Increased positive media coverage and strengthened system reputation
• Effective crisis response and mitigation of reputational risk
• Strong executive visibility and thought leadership presence
• High performing communications team and strong cross functional partnerships
• Consistent, aligned messaging across all external channels

Required

• Bachelors degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or related field
• 10+ years of progressive experience in external communications, media relations, or public affairs, ideally within healthcare, large nonprofits, or complex organizations
• Proven success managing high stakes media relations and crisis communicationsExperience working with senior executives and subject matter experts in a fast paced, high visibility environment

Preferred

• Masters degree preferred

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits And Perks

At RWJBarnabas Health, our market-competitive Total Rewards package provides comprehensive benefits and resources to support our employees’ physical, emotional, social, and financial health.

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Medical and Prescription Drug Insurance
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Retirement Plans
• Short & Long Term Disability
• Life & Accidental Death Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Wellness Programs
• Voluntary Benefits (e.g., Pet Insurance)
• Discounts Through our Partners such as NJ Devils, NJ PAC, Verizon, and more!

Choosing RWJBarnabas Health!

RWJBarnabas Health is the premier health care destination providing patient-centered, high-quality academic medicine in a compassionate and equitable manner, while delivering a best-in-class work experience to every member of the team. We honor and appreciate the privilege of creating and sustaining healthier communities, one person and one community at a time. As the leading academic health system in New Jersey, we advance innovative strategies in high-quality patient care, education, and research to address both the clinical and social determinants of health.

RWJBarnabas Health aims to truly make a unique impact in local communities throughout New Jersey. From vastly improving the health of local residents to creating educational and career opportunities, this combination greatly benefits the state. We understand the growing and evolving needs of residents in New Jersey- whether that be enhancing the coordination for treating complex health conditions or improving community health through local programs and education.

Equal Opportunity Employer

RWJBarnabas Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer