Director, Beyond Blue Communications

BBSS Beyond Blue; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Beyond Blue seeks a Director of Communications to lead strategic employee, executive, and change-management communications across its entities. The role partners with senior leaders to ensure timely, accurate, audience-specific messaging aligned with priorities, while coordinating across UK and US entities to support engagement and transformation.

The successful candidate will develop plans, materials, and governance to drive change, improve engagement, and ensure consistent communications

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, English, Business Administration, Human Resources, Organizational Leadership, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in employee communications, executive communications, organizational communications, or related field; experience in large, distributed or matrixed organizations.
• Professional certification in Communications, Change Management, Project Management, Public Relations, or related discipline preferred.

Responsibilities

• Leads planning, strategy development, and execution for major Beyond Blue initiatives and enterprise projects.
• Serves as primary communications advisor for employee, executive, and change-management communications.
• Develops comprehensive plans to support objectives, engagement, and change readiness.
• Coordinates communications across Beyond Blue entities and related groups.
• Develops employee-facing materials, including announcements, FAQs, toolkits, talking points, and guides.
• Transforms complex policy, benefits, and technology information into clear communications.
• Ensures messaging is tailored by entity, location, and audience needs.
• Supports executive communications with messaging and briefing materials.
• Provides leadership for organizational transformations, system implementations, and policy changes.
• Establishes governance for consistency and effectiveness of communications.

Skills

Communication strategy

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Change management

Public relations

Writing/editing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Beyond Blue Job Posting Title: Director, Beyond Blue Communications Requisition Number: R-000004128 Department Name: Dual Platform User Work Location: 2317 Alumni Park Plaza Grade Level: 15 Type of Position: Regular Position Time Status: Full time Equivalency Link https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies Shift: Day (United States of America)

Job Summary

Responsible for developing, leading, and executing strategic employee, executive, and change-management communications across Beyond Blue entities. Serves as the primary communications strategist and advisor for Beyond Blue, ensuring communications are timely, accurate, audience-specific, and aligned with organizational priorities. Partners with executive leadership, Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, Operations, and other stakeholders to support organizational integration, employee engagement, operational transformation, and change initiatives across a large and geographically dispersed workforce. Leads communication planning, message development, stakeholder engagement, and communication governance to ensure consistent, coordinated, and effective communications across all Beyond Blue organizations.

Essential Functions

• Leads communication planning, strategy development, and execution for major Beyond Blue initiatives, organizational changes, and enterprise projects.
• Serves as the primary communications advisor and point of coordination for Beyond Blue employee, executive, and change management communications.
• Develops and executes comprehensive communication plans that support organizational objectives, employee engagement, and change readiness.
• Coordinates communications across Beyond Blue entities, including UK King’s Daughters, UK St. Claire, Champions Blue, and Beyond Blue Shared Services.
• Partners with Human Resources, Benefits, Finance, Information Technology, Operations, and executive leaders to develop and deliver coordinated communications.
• Develops employee-facing communication materials, including announcements, FAQs, leadership toolkits, talking points, presentations, guides, and informational resources.
• Transforms complex policy, benefits, operational, and technology-related information into clear, actionable, and audience-appropriate communications.
• Ensures communications are appropriately segmented and tailored based on organizational entity, employee group, location, and business needs.
• Supports executive communications by developing messaging, presentations, briefing materials, and communication strategies for senior leaders.
• Provides communications leadership for organizational transformations, system implementations, policy changes, benefits changes, and other enterprise initiatives.
• Establishes and maintains communication standards, processes, and governance practices to ensure consistency and effectiveness across Beyond Blue communications.
• Monitors employee feedback, communication effectiveness, and recurring communication needs to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Advises leaders on communication risks, stakeholder impacts, message development, and communication timing.
• Tracks communication outcomes and develops metrics to assess engagement, reach, and effectiveness.
• Builds strong partnerships across multiple business functions to support coordinated communication efforts.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education Requirement

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, English, Business Administration, Human Resources, Organizational Leadership, or a related field. Master's degree preferred.

Experience Requirement

7 years of progressively responsible experience in employee communications, executive communications, organizational communications, public relations, change management communications, or a related field. Experience supporting communications for large, complex, distributed, or matrixed organizations required. Demonstrated experience developing and executing strategic communication plans for organizational initiatives, operational changes, and executive leadership priorities. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. All experience must be paid and in the same related field. Part-time and PRN experience will be prorated based on hours worked per week. Volunteer work and internships for academic credit are not counted.

Certifications & Licensures

Professional certification in Communications, Change Management, Project Management, Public Relations, or a related discipline preferred.

Working Conditions

• A. Lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects up to 50lbs: 2. Occasional (<10% of the time)
• B. Lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects over 50lbs: 1. Never
• C. Standing or walking with objects up to 10lbs: 2. Occasional (<10% of the time)
• D. Standing or walking with objects up to 25lbs: 1. Never
• E. Sitting at computer workstation for extended periods: 4. Regular (>50% of the time)
• F. Risk of back injury from moving, lifting, or positioning equipment or materials: 1. Never
• G. Repetitive motion: 4. Regular (>50% of the time)
• H. Working at heights above 4 feet: 1. Never
• I. Working in confined spaces: 1. Never
• J. Risk of injuries from use of equipment on the job: 1. Never
• K. Job-related travel: 2. Occasional (<10% of the time)
• L. Loud noises: 1. Never
• M. Temperature extremes: 1. Never
• N. Hazardous chemicals and fumes including waste: 1. Never
• O. Radiation: 1. Never
• P. Burns: 1. Never
• Q. Cuts/Punctures: 1. Never
• R. Bloodborne/airborne pathogens: 1. Never
• S. Recombinant DNA or viral vectors: 1. Never
• T. Combative/violent people: 1. Never
• U. Animal handling (including carcasses): 1. Never
• V. Please specify other(s) and amount of exposure (i.e. Occasional, Intermittent or Regular): N/A

Physical Demands

This position requires regular sitting at a computer workstation for extended periods of time; regular use of computers and communication technologies requiring repetitive motion; and occasional standing, walking, and movement between meetings, offices, and work locations. Responsibilities may include occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling objects weighing up to 50 pounds. Occasional travel may be required to support meetings, organizational initiatives, leadership events, training activities, and stakeholder engagement opportunities.

Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus. The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status. Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.

Our Work Experience

Our Work Experience is the combination of everything that's unique about us: our culture, our core values, our company meetings, our commitment to sustainability, our recognition programs, but most importantly, it's our people. Our employees are self-disciplined, hard working, curious, trustworthy, humble, and truthful.