Director, External Communications

Southeastern Regional Medical Center, Inc. (City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta); Zion (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Hope Chicago is seeking a Director of External Communications to lead strategy, planning, and execution of all external communications initiatives. You will oversee media relations, executive communications, social media, influencer engagement, and community outreach.

The role requires strong project management and collaboration with internal teams and agencies to ensure consistent brand voice and measurable results while maintaining market presence through events and press opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, PR, Marketing or related field.
• Minimum 5 years in marketing, communications, PR or related field.
• At least 2 years of leadership or people management.
• At least 1 year of healthcare marketing and communications.
• Experience in media relations, social media, digital marketing, and strategic communications.
• Strong project management, organizational, and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead external communications strategy across media relations and social channels.
• Oversee monthly PR plan with internal teams and agencies.
• Maintain City of Hope brand voice across all channels.
• Collaborate with system-level teams and partners on content and initiatives.
• Monitor and report communication performance.

Skills

Marketing & Communications

Media relations

Leadership

Healthcare marketing

Digital marketing

Public relations

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Director, External Communications

About City of Hope , City of Hope's mission is to make hope a reality for all touched by cancer and diabetes. Founded in 1913, City of Hope has grown into one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S., and one of the leading research centers for diabetes and other life‑threatening illnesses. City of Hope research has been the basis for numerous breakthrough cancer medicines, as well as human synthetic insulin and monoclonal antibodies. With an independent, National Cancer Institute‑designated comprehensive cancer center that is ranked top 5 in the nation for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report at its core, City of Hope’s uniquely integrated model spans cancer care, research and development, academics and training, and a broad philanthropy program that powers its work. City of Hope’s growing national system includes its Los Angeles campus, a network of clinical care locations across Southern California, a new cancer center in Orange County, California, and cancer treatment centers and outpatient facilities in the Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix areas.

The successful candidate:

Position Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director, Marketing and Communications, the Director of External Communications leads the strategy, planning, and execution of all external communications initiatives for City of Hope Chicago. This role is responsible for developing and maintaining a coordinated, consistent communications approach across media relations, executive communications, social media, influencer engagement, and community outreach.

The Director oversees the development and execution of the monthly public relations plan, ensuring alignment across internal teams, agency partners, and cross‑functional stakeholders. This position requires exceptional project management skills to prioritize initiatives, manage timelines, drive execution, and deliver measurable results.

Serving as a key brand steward, the Director ensures that City of Hope's voice, messaging, and brand standards are consistently reflected across all communications channels. The role works closely with internal teams and agency partners to develop content, advance strategic initiatives, and maintain quality and consistency across platforms. Strong collaboration with system‑level communications teams, Business Development, Brand, and Social Media teams is essential.

In addition, the Director leads internal communications related to public relations initiatives, ensuring clinical and non‑clinical stakeholders are informed, aligned, and equipped to support organizational priorities. The role is responsible for monitoring, measuring, and reporting communication performance while maintaining an active presence in the market through press conferences, community events, media opportunities, and brand activations.

The ideal candidate is a highly organized, collaborative, and results‑oriented communications professional who excels at translating strategy into execution in a fast‑paced environment.

Minimum Qualifications

• - Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field. Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of education requirements.
• - Minimum of five (5) years of experience in marketing, communications, public relations, or a related field.
• - Minimum of two (2) years of leadership or people management experience.
• - At least one (1) year of healthcare marketing and communications experience.
• - Demonstrated experience in media relations, social media management, digital marketing, and strategic communications.
• - Strong project management, organizational, and stakeholder management skills.
• - Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication abilities.

City of Hope is an equal opportunity employer.

City of Hope employees pay is based on the following criteria: work experience, qualifications, and work location.

• This position is eligible for an annual incentive bonus.

Please note: City of Hope is committed to a safe and transparent hiring experience. Please be aware that scammers may attempt to impersonate our organization through fake job postings, emails or interviews.

• City of Hope will never request payment or fees at any stage of the hiring process.
• We will not request sensitive personal or financial information prior to the acceptance of a formal offer.
• All communications will come from official @coh.org email addresses.
• Interviews are conducted only through approved, professional channels.
• Be cautious of unsolicited communications, urgent requests or opportunities that seem inconsistent with standard hiring practices.
• If you receive any suspicious communication, please report it to [e-mail] (mailto:[e-mail]).