Director of Community Engagement -- Tulsa, OK

OU Health•Tulsa, OK

22d

About The Position

The Director of Community Engagement will lead the development and execution of OU Health’s community strategy in northeast Oklahoma and the greater Tulsa region, with the main focus of the position on building visibility, trust, and alignment ahead of the 2028 opening of OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center in Tulsa. This role serves as OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center’s community-facing leader in northeastern Oklahoma — forging partnerships, creating outreach programs, and engaging diverse audiences to position OU Health as a trusted healthcare partner and anchor institution for the region. Working under the leadership of the Vice President of Marketing and Community Relations, this leader will lay the foundation for sustained, measurable impact across community health, cancer prevention and screening, and access to academic healthcare. Once the cancer center opens, the Director will transition focus toward operationalizing community-based oncology engagement, outreach partnerships, and health equity programs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Communications, Business, or related field required.
5 years of progressive leadership experience in community relations, healthcare outreach, nonprofit leadership, or public affairs required.
Demonstrated success in building community partnerships, launching regional initiatives, and leading cross-sector collaborations.
Knowledge of healthcare systems, public health frameworks, and cancer prevention or population health initiatives.
Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills; proven ability to represent a complex organization in the community.
Expertise in community health and outreach.
Familiarity with cultural and health equity.
Expertise in program development and evaluation.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in academic medicine, hospital systems, or community-based health organizations.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Regional Engagement Develop and implement a Tulsa regional community engagement strategy aligned with OU and OU Health’s mission, brand, and community health priorities.
Serve as an extension of OU Health’s Community team, scaling programs and activations in the Tulsa region.
Build and strengthen relationships with Tulsa community organizations, civic leaders, local government, schools, tribal partners, and nonprofits across northeastern Oklahoma.
Partner with the OU Foundation on deepening relationships with philanthropic partners.
Serve as the primary representative for OU Health community engagement in Tulsa, ensuring alignment with statewide outreach strategies and leadership direction.
Partner with the OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center leadership team to ensure early community awareness, education, and partnership development in advance of the 2028 opening.
Cancer Center Readiness and Community Activation Develop and implement community-based cancer awareness and prevention programs, including screening events, educational initiatives, and patient navigation partnerships.
Identify barriers to care and collaborate with health equity and population health teams to design interventions that address disparities in cancer outcomes across the region.
Partner with the Stephenson Cancer Center teams to integrate community outreach with research, education, and patient access initiatives.
Lead activation and outreach efforts tied to the cancer center’s pre-opening and launch phases, including milestone events, public forums, and community advisory engagements.
Brand Development and Visibility Identify strategic sponsorships, community partnerships, and events that position OU Health as a leader in improving health outcomes for all Oklahomans.
Identify strategic community partnerships and engagement events that position the OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center as the leader in cancer care in NE Oklahoma.
Collaborate with OU Health Marketing and Communications to elevate stories of local impact, partnerships, and community health improvement.
Serve as a visible and trusted ambassador of OU and OU Health at community events, media engagements, and stakeholder meetings.
Program Design and Implementation Collaborate with the Community Partnership Allocation Committee (CPAC) to ensure community partnerships, sponsorships, and donation strategies in Tulsa align with OU Health’s mission and measurable community benefit.
Design and implement a regional framework for community engagement operations that can scale across service lines and community needs as the system grows.
Create tools, processes, and metrics to evaluate the impact of partnerships, programs, and events on brand awareness and health outcomes.
Oversee local sponsorships, community benefit reporting, and program evaluation for the Tulsa region.
Contribute to the development of Tulsa County’s Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and OU Health’s Community Health Implementation Plan (CHIP).
Foster collaboration between community partners, providers, and OU Health clinical teams to ensure cohesive execution of outreach and education initiatives.
Equity and Health Impact Ensure community engagement activities support OU Health’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and health access, especially in underserved populations.
Partner with academic and public health collaborators to connect community programs with measurable improvements in cancer prevention and health outcomes.
Represent OU Health in local coalitions and public health working groups addressing cancer, chronic disease, and health disparities.
General Responsibilities: Performs other duties as assigned.