Director of Communications

NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH CENTER•Tigard, OR

7d•$123,724 - $185,586•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Communications provides strategic leadership and oversight of all communications, marketing, community relations, and brand management functions at NHC. This position is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive communications strategies that increase visibility and community engagement in support of the organization's mission. Working collaboratively with the CEO, Executive Leadership Team (ELT), and Board of Directors, the Director ensures that all internal and external messaging aligns with NHC's mission to provide high-quality, accessible care to all individuals, regardless of income or insurance status. The role requires a blend of strategic thinking, operational oversight, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to build lasting relationships with community stakeholders, media, and policymakers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism, or related field required.
Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible communications and marketing experience, including at least 4 years in senior leadership, required.
Demonstrated success managing multi-channel communications campaigns, media relations, and brand management functions required.
Exceptional written, verbal, and public speaking skills.
Strong public affairs capabilities.
Proven ability to develop and execute strategic communications plans with measurable results.
Ability to lead cross-functional teams and foster collaboration.
Proficiency in digital marketing and social media platforms.
Experience developing plain language, health-literate content accessible to underserved audiences.
Experience developing or executing crisis communications plans and rapid response protocols.
Proficiency in communications analytics tools with the ability to translate data into actionable strategy.
Demonstrated commitment to racial equity, cultural competency, and anti-racist communications practices.
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all communications practices.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred.
Experience in a nonprofit, community health, or healthcare setting strongly preferred.
Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead comprehensive communications and marketing strategies that elevate NHC's brand awareness and community engagement.
Oversee all external communications, including social media, website, newsletters, press releases, annual reports, and media relations.
Manage internal communications to enhance organizational cohesion, knowledge sharing, and employee engagement.
Initiate and steward community partnerships and outreach initiatives aligned with NHC's strategic goals.
Develop and maintain brand messaging frameworks and communications style guide to ensure consistent, mission-aligned communication across all staff, board members, and public-facing materials.
Lead audience-specific communications strategies tailored to NHC's unique stakeholders, including patients, donors, policymakers, community partners, and staff.
Support Director of Advancement in guiding Board of Directors in communications engagement efforts.
Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure alignment with NHC's mission, values, and long-term objectives.
Serve as NHC's primary media spokesperson (often referred to externally as Public Information Officer (PIO)), ensuring consistent, brand-aligned messaging across all platforms.
Oversee brand management and engagement strategies that promote NHC's mission and programs internally and externally.
Direct digital presence, including website, social media, and digital marketing campaigns to increase awareness, engagement, and patient access.
Lead internal and external messaging strategies, ensuring consistent communication with staff, patients, donors, policymakers, and the community.
Guide public relations and media engagement efforts to strengthen NHC's visibility and influence.
Produce and oversee all organizational publications, including newsletters, annual reports, and press releases.
Develop and maintain brand messaging frameworks and communications style guides to ensure brand and mission consistency across all channels and spokespeople.
Develop and execute audience-specific communications strategies for NHC's stakeholders — including patients, donors, policymakers, community partners, and staff — ensuring each group receives appropriately tailored messaging.
Lead the organization’s crisis communications response, including Incident Command Center (ICC) executive level support along with maintenance of protocols for media relations and managing public reputational risks to NHC.
Track and analyze key communications performance metrics and use insights to inform and continuously improve communications strategy.
Develop and steward a patient and community storytelling program that captures and shares the lived experiences of NHC patients to humanize the organization's mission for donors, media, and policymakers.
Ensure all patient- and community-facing communications meet plain language and health literacy standards, with attention to accessibility for multilingual, low-literacy, and underserved audiences.
Champion an anti-racist, culturally competent communications approach across all platforms and materials, ensuring NHC's messaging reflects and advances its commitment to health equity and the communities it serves.
Pursue and support strategic partnerships with community organizations, healthcare providers, and local stakeholders to expand NHC's brand reach, donor prospects, and referral network.
Oversee community relations initiatives, ensuring they align with organizational goals.
Guide educational campaigns that promote health literacy and awareness of NHC's services.
Provide Communications strategy and tactical support to the Advancement team to help drive awareness and engagement among prospective donors, local and national policymakers.
Lead, mentor, and evaluate Communications team members, promoting a culture of innovation, accountability, and excellence.
Oversee budgeting for Communications functions, ensuring resource allocation aligns with strategic goals.
Promote workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion across all communications activities.
Support executive-level special projects as needed, including but not limited to All Staff meetings, Executive Town Halls, proposals, presentations, communications, strategic initiatives, and other tasks or activities requiring a high level of visioning, judgment, and organizational alignment.