Vice President - Communications and Public Affairs

MaineHealth; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 244,000 - 252,000; Full time

Job summary

MaineHealth seeks a strategic Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs to develop and execute integrated communication strategies that advance our mission across MaineHealth's Mountain and Coastal Regions and corporate entities.

Serving as a trusted advisor to regional and system leaders, the role translates priorities into effective internal communications, media relations, and public affairs programs, while ensuring brand alignment and stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Masters preferred in marketing, communications, journalism, or public relations.
• Ten years of progressive experience in marketing, planning, communications, public relations, or healthcare; ten years supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement long-term and short-term integrated communications and public affairs strategies for regional and system-wide priorities.
• Advise senior leadership on organizational initiatives, reputation management, stakeholder engagement, and change communications.
• Lead communications planning for complex organizational changes across hospitals, service lines, and entities.
• Direct crisis communications preparedness, planning, and response for timely and effective communications.
• Advance visibility and influence through strategic media relations, public affairs, and community engagement initiatives.
• Collaborate with senior leaders to translate objectives into internal communications, local marketing, and public relations plans.
• Align regional priorities with system-wide branding and digital strategies while reflecting local market perspectives.
• Set performance goals, priorities, and staffing plans; manage budgets and resources.
• Mentor and develop a high-performing team; oversee personnel management and succession planning.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Media relations

Crisis communications

Internal communications

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Vice President - Communications and Public Affairs

The Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive, integrated communication and public affairs strategies that advance the mission, vision, and strategic priorities of MaineHealth's Mountain and Coastal Regions and Corporate Entities.

Serving as a key strategic advisor to regional and system leadership, the Vice President partners with executives and stakeholders to translate organizational priorities into effective internal communications, community engagement initiatives, media relations strategies, and public affairs programs. The role ensures alignment of messaging across the Mountain and Coastal Regions while supporting broader MaineHealth system objectives and brand standards.

The Vice President leads a high-performing communications and public affairs team of six direct reports, and is responsible for fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability. The position also provides executive leadership for crisis communications, reputation management, stakeholder engagement, and strategic visibility initiatives that strengthen the organization’s standing among patients, employees, community partners, elected officials, and the public.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement long-term and short-term integrated communications and public affairs strategies that support regional and system-wide priorities.
• Serve as a strategic communications advisor to senior leadership, providing counsel on organizational initiatives, reputation management, stakeholder engagement, and change communications.
• Lead communications planning and execution for complex organizational changes across multiple hospitals, service lines, and operational entities.
• Direct crisis communications preparedness, planning, and response efforts, ensuring timely, transparent, and effective communications during critical events.
• Advance the organization’s visibility, reputation, and influence through strategic media relations, public affairs, community engagement, and executive communications initiatives.
• Partner with MaineHealth senior leaders and key stakeholders to translate strategic objectives into effective internal communications, community engagement, local marketing, and public relations plans.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications leadership to align regional priorities with system-wide marketing, digital, communications, and brand strategies, while ensuring local market perspectives are represented.
• Establish performance goals, priorities, and operational plans for the department; ensure appropriate staffing and resource allocation to achieve strategic objectives.
• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain high-performing team members while fostering a positive, inclusive, and results-oriented culture.
• Oversee all aspects of personnel management, including performance management, succession planning, and professional development.
• Accountable for the development and stewardship of departmental budgets and resources.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Education: Bachelor's degree required, Masters a Plus with an emphasis in marketing, communications, journalism, public relations or related field preferred.
• License/Certifications: N/A
• Experience: Ten years of progressive experience in marketing, planning, communications, public relations, market research, or equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience in a healthcare setting. Project/process management, account management or related capabilities a plus. Ten years supervisory experience required

MaineHealth is committed to fostering a supportive, inclusive environment where care team members can thrive while making a meaningful impact in the communities we serve across Maine and New Hampshire. We offer competitive benefits including paid parental leave, flexible work options, student loan assistance, professional development opportunities, and well-being resources - so you can grow your career while feeling supported both personally and professionally.

We recognize the value each team member brings to our organization.Any offer of employmentwill depend onqualificationssuch asskills, relevant experience, education, certifications,and otherjob-relatedfactors. Thebase rangeis an estimate and does notreflect the full valueofourtotal compensationpackage.

The pay range for this position is $244,000 to $252,000.00per year, which includes a %15 bonus potential.

In addition to base pay, MaineHealth offerscomprehensivebenefits, recognition programs, career growth opportunities, and,where applicable,shiftdifferentials or other incentives.

MaineHealth policy requires all care team members to be vaccinated, including for influenza, subject to eligibility for medical or religious exemptions which can only be granted in compliance with applicable law.

Notice Regarding Maine Employer Surveillance Statute: Pursuant to Maine's Employer Surveillance Statute, prospective care team members are notified that MaineHealth may monitor, collect, record, review, or retain information related to the use of its systems, networks, applications, files, data, communications platforms (including notified recordings), smart badges, building access, company vehicle GPS data, business calls, and workplace security cameras.

Information collected may be used for legitimate business purposes, including security, safety, compliance, investigations, training, quality assurance, and operational management.

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