Director of External Communications - Functions Lead

Lensa; United States; Remote; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Lensa, a leading career site, is seeking a Director of External Communications to lead communication strategies for Ascension, a healthcare organization. This role focuses on enhancing the organization's reputation through strategic messaging and collaboration across departments, ensuring alignment with Ascension's mission and values. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in strategic communications, particularly in healthcare, and possess strong leadership and communication skills.

Benefits

Paid time off (PTO)

Health insurance options & wellness plans

Retirement benefits with employer match

Long-term & short-term disability

Employee assistance programs (EAP)

Parental leave & adoption assistance

Tuition reimbursement

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in strategic communications, preferably in healthcare.
• Strong track record of cross-functional collaboration and relationship building.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of external communications strategies.
• Build partnerships with cross-functional departments for unified messaging.
• Oversee strategic communications for system-wide entities.

Skills

Strategic Vision and Execution

Cross-Functional Leadership

Reputation Management

Messaging Consistency

Data-Informed Strategy

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field

Job description

Director of External Communications - Functions Lead

Director of External Communications - Functions Lead

2 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Lensa is the leading career site for job seekers at every stage of their career. Our client, Ascension, is seeking professionals. Apply via Lensa today!

Details

• Department: External Communications
• Schedule: Full Time Monday - Friday 8-5pm CT
• Location: Remote
  
  

Benefits

Paid time off (PTO)

Various health insurance options & wellness plans

Retirement benefits including employer match plans

Long-term & short-term disability

Employee assistance programs (EAP)

Parental leave & adoption assistance

Tuition reimbursement

Ways to give back to your community

Benefit options and eligibility vary by position. Compensation varies based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, performance and salary range at the time of the offer.

Responsibilities

Job Summary:

Ascension is seeking a strategic and mission-driven leader to serve as the Director of External Communications - Functions Lead. This role helps lead the development and execution of external communications strategies that protect and enhance Ascension’s reputation. The Director will work closely with department functions across the organization—including internal communications, Mission, marketing, clinical, finance, and more —to ensure clear, aligned messaging that supports organizational priorities and drives unified storytelling. In addition, the Director will oversee and support communication efforts for Ascension’s system-wide entities, including Ascension Living, Ascension Foundation, Ascension Rx, Dispensary of Hope, and more. These relationships require thoughtful coordination and messaging guidance to ensure consistency with Ascension’s Mission, Values, and strategic direction. This position reports to the Associate Vice President of External Communications.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and execution of external communications strategies aligned with Ascension’s Mission, Vision, and Values.
• Build strong partnerships with cross-functional departments—such as internal communications, Mission, marketing, clinical, finance, and more —to support enterprise communications and elevate unified messaging.
• Develop and manage integrated communications plans in collaboration with internal teams to advance reputation, operational priorities, business goals, and awareness.
• Oversee strategic communications support for system-wide entities.
• Serve as the primary communications liaison for these entities, ensuring message alignment, narrative clarity, and consistent voice across all channels.
• Draft and supervise external communications materials, including newsroom stories, blog posts, press releases, message books, talking points, and social media posts.
• Ensure message discipline and consistency across corporate channels and affiliated entities.
• Monitor and analyze engagement metrics to refine strategies and strengthen effectiveness.
  
  

Qualifications:

• 8+ years of experience in strategic communications, preferably in healthcare or mission-driven sectors.
• Proven success leading external communications for complex organizations.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex topics for broad audiences.
• Strong track record of cross-functional collaboration, relationship building, and strategic counsel to senior leaders.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment and lead through ambiguity.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field.
  
  

Key Competencies:

• Strategic Vision and Execution
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Thoughtful Stakeholder Engagement
• Reputation Management
• Messaging Consistency
• Data-Informed Strategy
  
  

Why Join Us?

At Ascension, we are committed to serving our communities with compassion, innovation, and excellence. As Corporate Communications Director, you will play a key role in shaping how our mission is shared with the world—fostering trust, advancing strategic priorities, and reinforcing our position as a leading voice in healthcare.

Requirements

Education:

• High School diploma equivalency with 5 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required, with 2 of those years being in leadership/management OR Associate's degree/Bachelor's degree with 3 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required, with 2 of those years being in leadership/management.
  
  

Additional Preferences

Why Join Our Team

Ascension associates are key to our commitment of transforming healthcare and providing care to all, especially those most in need. Join us and help us drive impact through reimagining how we can deliver a people-centered healthcare experience and creating the solutions to do it. Explore career opportunities across our ministry locations and within our corporate headquarters.

Ascension is a leading non-profit, faith-based national health system made up of over 134,000 associates and 2,600 sites of care, including more than 140 hospitals and 40 senior living communities in 19 states.

Our Mission, Vision and Values encompass everything we do at Ascension. Every associate is empowered to give back, volunteer and make a positive impact in their community. Ascension careers are more than jobs; they are opportunities to enhance your life and the lives of the people around you.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights_10_20.pdf) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRightsSp_10_20.pdf) poster.

As a military friendly organization, Ascension promotes career flexibility and offers many benefits to help support the well-being of our military families, spouses, veterans and reservists. Our associates are empowered to apply their military experience and unique perspective to their civilian career with Ascension.

Pay Non-Discrimination Notice (https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/pdf/pay-transp_%20English_formattedESQA508c.pdf)

Please note that Ascension will make an offer of employment only to individuals who have applied for a position using our official application. Be on alert for possible fraudulent offers of employment. Ascension will not solicit money or banking information from applicants.

E-Verify Statement

This employer participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program. Please click the E-Verify link below for more information.

E-Verify (https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf)

If you have questions about this posting, please contact [e-mail]

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Director

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing

• Industries

  IT Services and IT Consulting

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