Strategic Communications Director

Network Health; Menasha (WI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Network Health seeks a Director of Communications to lead internal, external and executive messaging for Wisconsin communities. Based in Wisconsin, the role reports to the CEO and partners with Marketing, HR, Legal and agency teams to shape the organization's voice across employees, members and boards.

The position requires exceptional writing, sound judgment and strategic leadership across communications disciplines, including executive communications, media relations and employee engagement,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in corporate communications, public relations, or media relations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted communications advisor and writing partner to the CEO and senior leadership team.
• Develop executive-level communications including speeches, remarks, talking points, presentations, key messages and interview preparation materials.
• Learn and authentically write in the CEO's voice, supporting a highly active executive presence across boards, speaking engagements, community leadership and local, regional and national media opportunities.
• Prepare and support the CEO and other executives for media interviews, public appearances and high-profile engagements.
• Support the development of President's Reports, Board of Directors presentations and other executive-level communications, translating complex business information into clear, concise and compelling narratives.
• Partner with the CEO and senior leadership to identify and shape priority updates for Network Health's owners, owner boards and other key stakeholders.
• Develop and lead an enterprise-wide employee communications strategy that defines how Network Health informs, engages and connects employees across channels, audiences and locations.
• Own the communications strategy and editorial direction for InNetwork, Network Health's employee intranet, ensuring it serves as a relevant, timely and useful destination for organizational news, leadership communication, resources and employee engagement.
• Establish an intentional channel strategy for employee communications, clarifying the role of InNetwork, email, newsletters, leadership communications, employee forums and other platforms so employees receive the right information through the right channel at the right time.
• Serve as the primary communications partner to Human Resources and senior leadership for employee-facing communications.
• Lead the planning and execution of Network Health's quarterly employee forums, including agenda development, executive messaging, presentations, content coordination and overall program flow.
• Develop and manage recurring leadership communications, including monthly leadership talking points and tools that help leaders communicate consistently across the organization.
• Lead the development and management of the internal Marketing newsletter, identifying stories and content that showcase the work, impact and priorities of the Marketing team.
• Continually evaluate employee communications effectiveness and recommend improvements based on engagement, feedback and organizational needs.
• Help develop an integrated communications strategy that connects employee, member and stakeholder communications while recognizing the distinct needs, channels and objectives of each audience.
• Partner with member communications, Marketing and operational teams to improve clarity, consistency, relevance and coordination of communications across the member journey.
• Serve as a strategic communications consultant for Network Health's member and email newsletter programs, providing guidance on content strategy, messaging, editorial approach, audience relevance and overall communications effectiveness.
• Identify opportunities to improve communications governance, channel strategy and audience experience across the organization.
• Serve as the central point of contact for all media inquiries and external communications requests.
• Manage inbound media requests, determine appropriate organizational response and coordinate with subject matter experts, executive leadership, Legal and agency partners.
• Lead Network Health's relationship with its external PR/communications agency, setting priorities and ensuring agency resources are strategically deployed.
• Develop proactive earned media strategies and identify compelling opportunities to tell Network Health's story across local, regional and national outlets.
• Lead crisis and issues communications planning and response, bringing calm, speed, judgment and consistency to high-stakes situations.
• Develop media preparation materials, key messages and anticipated questions, and provide real-time counsel to leaders during sensitive or high-profile situations.
• Help protect and strengthen Network Health's reputation by ensuring external communications are timely, accurate, coordinated and aligned.
• Serve as a member of the content/editorial governance team for Network Health's print publications, helping establish editorial standards, messaging priorities, voice and consistency across member- and stakeholder-facing materials.
• Help establish and maintain communications standards, voice and editorial discipline across channels while partnering with channel owners and subject matter experts.
• Bring an enterprise communications perspective to major print, digital and email communications to ensure content is clear, coordinated, audience-centered and aligned with Network Health's brand.
• Support proactive communications with Network Health's ownership organizations and their boards regarding organizational priorities, accomplishments, developments and issues of strategic importance.
• Partner with executive leadership to determine which organizational stories and updates should be elevated to owners and key stakeholders.
• Ensure owner and stakeholder communications are proactive, concise, strategically relevant and aligned with broader organizational messaging.

Skills

Executive communications

Media relations

Internal communications

Content governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field

Job description

Network Health seeks a Director of Communications to lead internal, external and executive messaging for Wisconsin communities. Based in Wisconsin, the role reports to the CEO and partners with Marketing, HR, Legal and agency teams to shape the organization's voice across employees, members and boards.

The position requires exceptional writing, sound judgment and strategic leadership across communications disciplines, including executive communications, media relations and employee engagement,