Dir of Communications & Strategic Outreach

Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network•Detroit, MI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the general direction of the Vice President of Strategic Engagement and Community Impact, the Director provides strategic leadership and operational oversight of DWIHN’s internal and external communications, public relations, strategic outreach, stakeholder engagement, executive communications, organizational events, and member engagement functions. The Director develops and implements coordinated communications and outreach strategies to advance DWIHN’s mission, organizational priorities, and public presence, and works directly with the CEO and executive leadership on messaging, public statements, presentations, strategic initiatives, and stakeholder engagement. The role oversees departmental personnel, budgets, operations, and performance to ensure consistent messaging, effective collaboration, and accountability. The Director leads and manages the Communications and Strategic Outreach Department; develops departmental goals, policies, procedures, and operations plans; supervises staff; administers budgets; and evaluates initiatives. The Director oversees communications and media strategy, organizational messaging, public information, media relations, branding, digital communications, social media, website communications, publications, promotional materials, and audiovisual services. The role ensures communications are accurate, accessible, appropriately reviewed, and compliant with applicable requirements, and maintains media monitoring and preparedness processes. The Director develops executive communications and supports CEO appearances, executive engagements, organizational announcements, and strategic initiatives. The role oversees strategic outreach, stakeholder engagement, community-facing initiatives, organizational events, and member engagement functions, while coordinating with relevant departments and supporting partnerships. The Director establishes approval and distribution processes for official communications, monitors assignments and timelines, represents the department in meetings and external engagements as assigned, and handles sensitive matters with sound judgment and confidentiality. The position requires a bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field; a master’s degree in a related field is preferred. Applicants must have seven years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience, including at least three years of supervisory or management experience. A valid State of Michigan driver’s license with a safe and acceptable driving record is required. Work is usually performed in an office setting and requires driving to different sites throughout Wayne County and Michigan.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
Seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in communications, public relations, public affairs, community engagement, or a related field.
At least three years of supervisory or management experience.
Experience developing and executing comprehensive communications and media strategies, managing personnel, advising executive leadership, and overseeing complex organizational initiatives.
Experience developing operational plans with measurable objectives, implementation timelines, resource allocation, and evaluation of results.
Experience leading or collaborating with teams of diverse professional, cultural, and lived-experience backgrounds.
Valid State of Michigan driver’s license with a safe and acceptable driving record.
Comprehensive knowledge of strategic communications, public relations, media relations, and organizational messaging.
Knowledge of community engagement, stakeholder relations, public-sector communications, and executive communications.
Knowledge of communications planning, branding, digital media, and reputation management.
Demonstrated understanding of Michigan’s public behavioral health system, including MDHHS, PIHPs, CMHSPs, contracted service providers, and the needs of the populations they serve.
Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, incorporate diverse perspectives, and manage operations, personnel, and budgets.
Ability to advise executive leadership on sensitive communications and public affairs matters.
Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, presentation, and organizational skills.
Ability to prepare and review executive correspondence, speeches, public statements, and other high-level communications.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, manage competing priorities and sensitive issues, adapt to changing circumstances, and deliver accurate, high-quality work under tight deadlines.
Strong judgment, discretion, and ability to maintain confidentiality.
Ability to build effective working relationships with organizational leadership, employees, community stakeholders, and external partners.
Ability to develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive media strategies, departmental operations plans, and outreach initiatives aligned with organizational priorities and measurable outcomes.
Familiarity with the Michigan Mental Health Code, particularly recipient rights and confidentiality requirements relevant to communications and outreach, and ability to collaborate with Legal, Compliance, and clinical leadership on their application.
Ability to translate complex behavioral health, policy, and service information into clear, accessible, culturally responsive communications for members, families, employees, providers, media, and community partners.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a related field.
Behavioral health experience, particularly within Michigan’s public behavioral health system.
Experience in healthcare, government, nonprofit, or other public service organizations.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic direction, leadership, and day-to-day management of the Communications and Strategic Outreach Department.
Develop, implement, and evaluate departmental goals, priorities, policies, procedures, and comprehensive operations plans aligned with DWIHN’s strategic objectives.
Supervise assigned management, professional, and administrative personnel, including performance management, work assignments, staff development, and accountability.
Develop and administer departmental budgets, monitor expenditures, and steward assigned resources.
Coordinate departmental activities across communications, public relations, strategic outreach, member engagement, and related organizational functions.
Establish performance expectations and evaluate departmental initiatives using operational measures and outcomes.
Direct the development, implementation, and evaluation of internal and external communications strategies and comprehensive media strategies.
Oversee organizational messaging, public information, media relations, public statements, press releases, and communications about significant organizational developments.
Provide strategic direction and supervisory oversight to the Public Relations Manager on media inquiries, media relationships, public-facing information, and reputation management.
Oversee organizational branding, digital communications, social media, website communications, publications, promotional materials, and audiovisual services.
Ensure communications materials are accurate, consistent with approved organizational positions, accessible, and appropriately reviewed before release.
Maintain proactive media monitoring and communications preparedness to identify emerging issues and coordinate timely responses.
Collaborate with departments to ensure communications comply with confidentiality, accessibility, and organizational requirements.
Work with the CEO and executive leadership to develop speeches, talking points, presentations, public statements, correspondence, and other executive communications.
Coordinate communications and logistical support for CEO appearances, executive engagements, organizational announcements, and strategic initiatives.
Advise the CEO and executive leadership on communications considerations related to organizational priorities, stakeholder relationships, and public-interest matters.
Coordinate with the Vice President of Strategic Engagement and Community Impact to align executive communications and engagement with organizational priorities.
Oversee strategic outreach, stakeholder engagement, and community-facing initiatives through the Senior Administrator Community Impact.
Ensure outreach activities and organizational events align with communications priorities, DWIHN’s mission, and strategic objectives.
Oversee integration of member engagement functions, including member voice, advocacy, education, peer participation, and Constituents’ Voice programming.
Promote coordination among Community Impact, Customer Services, Quality, and other departments while maintaining established customer service and regulatory responsibilities.
Support stakeholder engagement strategies and organizational partnerships in coordination with executive leadership and designated personnel.
Collaborate with organizational leadership and departments to coordinate communications, outreach, public information, and engagement activities.
Establish processes for reviewing, approving, and distributing official communications and public-facing materials.
Monitor departmental assignments, project timelines, and operational priorities to support timely completion and accountability.
Represent the Department in internal leadership meetings, organizational planning activities, and external engagements as assigned.
Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive organizational, executive, personnel, and public affairs matters.
Perform other related duties consistent with the scope and responsibilities of the position.