Vice President, Strategic Communications & Public Affairs

The Preeclampsia Foundation; Melbourne (FL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Base salary

Medical premium coverage

Dental & Vision premium coverage

Parental Leave

Employee Assistance Program

Life Insurance

401(k) with employer match

Paid holidays & PTO

Job summary

The Preeclampsia Foundation seeks a strategic, hands-on Vice President of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs to elevate the Foundation's voice and visibility. You will translate strategy into action, lead a lean team, and partner with the CEO to align communications, advocacy, and external engagement around shared priorities.

With 10+ years in nonprofit communications, you will drive brand visibility, audience engagement, and effective stakeholder relationships while guiding executive

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in communications and marketing across brand strategy, PR, digital comms, executive comms, and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience building brand visibility and audience engagement at scale in national campaigns, advocacy, or public health.
• Strong vision-to-execution with ability to translate strategy into priorities, plans, and measurable results.
• Nonprofit or mission-driven experience in lean, collaborative environments.
• Experience building strategic partnerships across organizations and sectors.
• People leadership including building teams, setting priorities, and driving accountability during change.
• Master's degree in communications, marketing, public health, business, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Foundation's communications strategy to life with focused priorities, campaigns, and measurable outcomes.
• Strengthen brand positioning and national visibility through storytelling, thought leadership, media engagement, and trust-building communications.
• Oversee public affairs and government relations to align advocacy, policy messaging, and communications with organizational priorities.
• Advise the CEO and leadership team on reputation, external stakeholder perspectives, and communications strategy.
• Direct executive communications and thought leadership across media, public, policy, and stakeholder audiences.
• Guide media relations, crisis communications, and reputation management with credibility and sound judgment.
• Build partnerships across healthcare, research, policy, advocacy, industry, and philanthropy to widen impact.
• Develop a lean communications function with clarity, collaboration, and accountability.

Skills

Leadership

Brand strategy

Public relations

Digital communications

Executive communications

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic planning

People leadership

Strategic partnerships

Education

Master's degree in communications/marketing/public health/business

Job description

We're seeking a strategic, hands-on communications leader to elevate the Foundation's voice and visibility. The Vice President of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs will build upon and operationalize an established communications strategy, strengthen a lean team, and develop partnerships that amplify our mission.

This role is well suited for a leader who can move comfortably between strategy and execution bringing structure to an evolving function, partnering closely with the CEO and leadership team, and connecting communications, public affairs, advocacy, and external engagement around shared organizational priorities.

What You Bring

We're looking for an experienced communications leader who can build visibility, translate strategy into action, and lead effectively in a hands-on, mission-driven environment.

Must-Have

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in communications and marketing with demonstrated responsibility across areas such as brand strategy, public relations, digital communications, executive communications, and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience building brand visibility and audience engagement at scale, whether through national awareness campaigns, advocacy initiatives, public health campaigns, or other mission-driven efforts.
• Strong vision-to-execution capability, with a track record of turning strategic direction into clear priorities, actionable plans, and measurable results.
• Nonprofit or mission-driven organization experience, with an understanding of how to operate effectively in a lean, collaborative environment.
• Strategic partnership experience, with the ability to build productive relationships across organizations, sectors, and stakeholder groups.
• People leadership experience, including developing teams, establishing priorities, and creating clarity and accountability during periods of change.
• Master's degree in communications, marketing, public health, business, or a related field.

Preferred

• Experience in healthcare, public health, patient advocacy, or a related sector.
• Exposure to healthcare industry partners, including healthcare systems, life sciences, payors, digital health, or other healthcare organizations.
• Experience working alongside public affairs, advocacy, government relations, or policy functions.
• Ability to work in a hybrid capacity, with proximity to Melbourne, Florida preferred.

What You'll Lead

• Bring the Foundation's communications strategy to life, translating established strategic direction into focused priorities, integrated campaigns, and measurable results.
• Strengthen brand positioning and national visibility through compelling storytelling, thought leadership, media engagement, and communications that build awareness and trust.
• Provide strategic oversight of public affairs and the Director of Government Relations, aligning legislative and federal advocacy initiatives, policy messaging, and communications with broader organizational priorities.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and leadership team, bringing communications, reputation, and external stakeholder perspectives to key initiatives and decisions.
• Lead executive communications and thought leadership, helping organizational leaders communicate with clarity and influence across media, public, policy, and stakeholder audiences.
• Guide media relations, crisis communications, and reputation management, ensuring the Foundation communicates with credibility, consistency, and sound judgment.
• Build strategic partnerships across healthcare, research, policy, advocacy, industry, and philanthropy that expand the Foundation’s reach and advance shared priorities.
• Strengthen and develop a lean communications function, creating greater clarity, collaboration, accountability, and effectiveness across staff, contractors, and external partners.

Benefits

• Base Salary: $120,000-$135,000 annually
• Medical: Employer pays 50% of employee premium; eligibility begins the first of the month following 30 days of employment
• Dental & Vision: Employer pays 100% of employee premium; eligibility begins the first of the month following hire date
• Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employer-Paid Life Insurance
• 401(k) with Employer Match
• Paid Holidays, Sick Time, and PTO

Equal Opportunity

The Preeclampsia Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building an inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives and experiences are valued. We encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.