Manager, External Communications (Research)

Boston Children’s Hospital; Boston, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Boston Children’s Hospital is seeking an External Communications Manager (Research) to lead enterprise-wide storytelling around scientific discovery, clinical innovation and priority areas such as oncology and complex blood disorders.

You will shape messaging with clinical and research leaders, transform breakthroughs into compelling narratives for national and international audiences, and drive proactive media engagement and digital storytelling to bolster the hospital’s reputation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required; Masters preferred.
• Minimum of five years of experience in strategic Communications required. Background in health care, medicine, science and/or biotechnology preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and implement integrated external communications strategies to elevate Boston Children’s scientific research enterprise, clinical innovation, and priority areas—including oncology, hematology, and complex blood disorders—while remaining adaptable to emerging institutional priorities.
• Develop and execute proactive communications strategies that promote Boston Children’s leadership in discovery, translational science, and clinical excellence, translating breakthrough research and innovation into compelling narratives for national and global audiences.
• Serve as a creative producer and strategic storyteller, developing engaging digital and multimedia content that distills complex scientific discoveries and clinical advances into clear, accessible, and visually compelling stories for diverse audiences.
• Partner closely with clinical, research, and executive leadership to align communications strategies with broader institutional messaging, brand strategy, scientific priorities, and enterprise communications goals.
• Lead proactive and reactive media engagement across local, regional, national, and international outlets, identifying opportunities to elevate faculty expertise, scientific breakthroughs, and Boston Children’s role as a leading academic research hospital.
• Coordinate and oversee interviews, briefings, embargoes, and on-the-record engagements.

Skills

Strategic communications

Digital storytelling

Editorial judgment

Storytelling instincts

Media relations

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's degree

Job description

Position Summary/ Department Summary: The External Communications Manager (Research) plays a vital role at Boston Children’s Hospital, serving as both a strategic architect and a frontline representative of the organization’s external image in a dynamic, rapidly evolving communications landscape. This role reflects a shift from conventional media relations to a broader, enterprise-wide approach to external communications—integrating earned media, digital storytelling, executive visibility, and narrative strategy to advance institutional reputation. The External Communications Manager is responsible for shaping how Boston Children’s Hospital is perceived, trusted, and distinguished across media and digital platforms worldwide. A core element of the role is developing and executing proactive communications strategies that elevate the hospital’s scientific research enterprise, clinical innovation, and areas of institutional priority—including oncology, hematology, and complex blood disorders—while remaining responsive to emerging opportunities and evolving organizational priorities. This includes translating pioneering discoveries, translational science, and patient impact into compelling stories for national and international audiences, while helping to strengthen Boston Children’s global profile as a leader in research and pediatric medicine. Working closely with the Director of External Communications, this role helps coordinate strategic communications efforts that advance both scientific visibility and institutional reputation. It requires strong editorial judgment, sophisticated storytelling instincts, reputational acuity, and a passion for communicating science in ways that inform, inspire, and resonate across audiences.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Lead and implement integrated external communications strategies that elevate Boston Children’s scientific research enterprise, clinical innovation, and priority areas—including oncology, hematology, and complex blood disorders—while remaining adaptable to emerging institutional priorities. Drive high-impact digital storytelling that advances institutional reputation, scientific leadership, and patient impact.
2. Develop and execute proactive communications strategies that promote Boston Children’s leadership in discovery, translational science, and clinical excellence, translating breakthrough research and innovation into compelling narratives for national and global audiences.
3. Serve as a creative producer and strategic storyteller, developing engaging digital and multimedia content that distills complex scientific discoveries and clinical advances into clear, accessible, and visually compelling stories for diverse audiences.
4. Partner closely with clinical, research, and executive leadership to align communications strategies with broader institutional messaging, brand strategy, scientific priorities, and enterprise communications goals.
5. Lead proactive and reactive media engagement across local, regional, national, and international outlets, identifying opportunities to elevate faculty expertise, scientific breakthroughs, and Boston Children’s role as a leading academic research hospital.
6. Coordinate and oversee interviews, briefings, embargoes, and on-the-record engagements.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degree required. Masters preferred.

Experience: Minimum of five years of experience in strategic Communications required. A background in health care, medicine, science and/or biotechnology is preferred.