Director, Academics & Strategy Internal Communications
About The Position
Advocate Health is seeking a strategic communications leader to shape internal and executive communication strategies supporting academic, research, clinical trials, National Service Line and enterprise strategy priorities. The Director serves as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, translating complex academic, clinical and business strategies into clear, compelling communications that build understanding, alignment and connection across the organization. The role connects the stories of academic excellence, research and discovery, clinical trials and enterprise strategy to Advocate Health’s broader direction. It supports executive communications and leadership visibility and develops engagement, listening and strategic storytelling approaches for faculty, researchers, investigators, clinicians, leaders and teammates. The Director works across a complex, matrixed organization to align communications across Academics, the National Center for Clinical Trials, Strategy, National Service Lines, divisions and enterprise functions. This is a full-time, remote position scheduled Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week. Remote work is approved in specified states: AL, AK, AR, AZ, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL (Midwest only), IN, LA, KS, KY, ME, MI, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV and WY.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing or a related field.
- Seven or more years of progressive strategic communications experience, including significant experience in internal and executive communications within a large, complex organization.
- Demonstrated success advising senior executives and developing executive communications, leadership messaging and strategic communication plans.
- Experience supporting complex organizational priorities, change and transformation.
- Proven ability to translate complex business, clinical or organizational strategies into clear and engaging communications for diverse and highly specialized audiences.
- Ability to build trusted partnerships across functions and organizational levels.
- Experience connecting multiple strategies and stakeholder groups while navigating ambiguity.
- Ability to lead complex communication strategies from development through execution.
- Strong business acumen, strategic storytelling and executive communication capabilities.
- Sound judgment, discretion and risk-management skills.
- Ability to balance strategic thinking with strong execution.
- An enterprise mindset and experience working across matrixed organizations.
Nice To Haves
- Experience developing communications related to academics, research, clinical trials, health care or similarly complex subject areas.
- Experience creating multimedia content for internal communication channels, leadership events and town halls.
- Experience using communication, engagement and listening insights to evaluate and strengthen communication strategies.
- Strong coaching, collaboration and talent-development capabilities.
Responsibilities
- Develop and implement communication strategies and activation plans aligned with Academics, the National Center for Clinical Trials, Strategy, National Service Lines and broader enterprise priorities.
- Serve as a strategic communications advisor to senior leaders during organizational change, complex issues and key strategic initiatives.
- Create people, engagement and change communication strategies that strengthen leadership activation, understanding and adoption.
- Translate complex academic, research, clinical and business priorities into clear, concise and compelling messages for diverse internal audiences.
- Partner with People Operations and Optimization to develop and distribute multimedia content across intranet, email, town halls, video and print channels.
- Collaborate with People Activation Events to support enterprise leadership events and town halls.
- Lead strategic storytelling that demonstrates the collective impact of academic excellence, research, clinical trials, National Service Lines and enterprise strategy.
- Ensure message consistency and alignment across functions, divisions and enterprise stakeholders.
- Advance listening and two-way communication strategies that strengthen feedback loops and facilitate meaningful dialogue.
- Foster collaboration across internal communications, academic and research partners and other enterprise communication functions.
- Promote a culture of high performance, continuous improvement and strategic partnership.
- Measure communication and engagement efforts, using insights and best-practice measures to improve communication effectiveness.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Benefits
- Paid Time Off programs
- Medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability benefits
- Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
- Adoption assistance and paid parental leave
- Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
- Educational Assistance Program
- Competitive compensation
- Premium pay such as shift and on-call pay for eligible positions
- Incentive pay for select positions
- Opportunity for annual increases based on performance
- Career development programs
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
