Director, External Communications

American Academy Of Family Physicians; Leawood (KS); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) seeks a strategic Director, External Communications to lead a team of professionals delivering high-impact programs that enhance trust in family physicians and extend AAFP’s mission. This role oversees PR, FamilyDoctor.org, funded initiatives and campaigns engaging public and physician audiences.

You will guide crisis communication, stakeholder messaging, and cross‑functional collaboration to support organizational priorities and partnerships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 10–15 years of experience leading integrated multichannel communications.
• 5+ years managing teams, budgets and cross-functional projects.
• 5+ years in media relations with national, regional and trade media.
• Clear, proactive communication with stakeholders; identify risks and propose next steps.

Responsibilities

• Lead external communications strategy, advising and managing a team of communications professionals.
• Oversee public relations, FamilyDoctor.org, funded initiatives and sponsored campaigns.
• Develop programs that engage both public and physician audiences and build trust in family physicians.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional partners to support organizational priorities and partnerships.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Budgets

Cross-functional collaboration

Media relations

Stakeholder communication

Problem solving

Risk assessment

Crisis communications

Healthcare communications

Nonprofit/ membership communications

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Thank you for your interest in careers at AAFP! The American Academy of Family Physicians and its chapters proudly represent more than 124,500 family physician, resident, and medical student members. Family physicians play a critical role in improving the health of patients, families, and communities across the United States. The AAFP is committed to helping family physicians improve the health of Americans by advancing the specialty of family medicine, saving members time, and maximizing the value of membership. Our focus every day is to help family physicians spend more time doing what they do best: providing quality and cost-effective patient care. The AAFP delivers value to its members through each of its strategic priorities.

SummaryHOURS: Monday-Friday ((Hybrid) Additional hours as needed TRAVEL: Possible 10-15 days per year

Job Description

When you join the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), you help advance work that supports family physicians and improves health care delivery.

The Director, External Communications is a strategic leader, advisor and people manager overseeing a talented team of communications professionals responsible for delivering high-impact programs that build trust in family physicians, support organizational priorities, strengthen external partnerships and extend the reach of AAFP’s mission.

You will provide leadership for public relations, FamilyDoctor.org, funded communication initiatives, sponsored products and targeted communication campaigns that engage both public and physician audiences.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 10-15 years of experience leading integrated communication strategies and complex, multichannel initiatives.
• 5+ years of experience managing teams, budgets and cross-functional projects.
• 5+ years of experience in media relations working with national, regional and trade media.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly with stakeholders at multiple levels, solve problems proactively, and surface risks with recommended next steps.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in crisis communications and issues management.
• Experience working in health care, health communications, public health, membership associations, nonprofit organization or mission-driven organizations.
• Experience working in advocacy or government relations communications or supporting a government relations/advocacy team.

#LI-Hybrid

At the AAFP we are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, marital status, religion, physical or mental disability, military/veteran status, or any other protected status.

EEO Employer/Vets/Disabled For the Hearing Impaired our TTY number is: [phone]

We thank all respondents for their interest in AAFP.

Helping Family Physicians Advance Health

Why work for us? The work of the AAFP serves family physicians so they can best care for their patients and communities. Our work is driven by this mission.

Employment Strategy

Attracting good people, and keeping them, is essential to the strategy of a successful organization. We recognize that our success depends on the quality of our staff. We need to attract talented, qualified professionals and provide them with opportunities for advancement in all aspects of their professional life.

All AAFP work locations and the entire Leawood campus are tobacco free workplaces.

Visit our website for more information about the AAFP