Director, Communications - Media - #1 Hospital in CA
About The Position
The Director of External Communications leads strategic communications for Cedars-Sinai, working with the External Communications team and other departments to develop compelling content and secure news coverage that strengthens the organization’s national and international reputation. The role shapes stories for the news media, manages crisis communications, enhances content on the Cedars-Sinai Newsroom, and serves as a primary editor, maintaining high standards in digital and video storytelling. The Director manages direct reports and collaborates with Marketing, Social Media, and other teams to support priorities across Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital, Cedars-Sinai Medical Network, and affiliated hospitals. The position uses metrics to evaluate and evolve earned media strategy and deploys SEO and AI strategies to increase newsroom traffic. The successful candidate brings significant communications leadership experience in a large, matrixed organization, preferably an academic medical center or other healthcare setting. The role calls for exceptional writing and editing skills, sound news judgment, and the ability to address communications challenges calmly under tight deadlines. The Director must manage multiple projects on a busy team producing more than 500 stories annually about patients, medical research, and other relevant subjects, while contributing to a supportive team environment and developing enterprise projects and stories.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, or Writing.
- At least 8 years of communications experience related to journalism, public relations, or media relations.
- Significant experience leading communications in a large, matrixed organization.
- Exceptional writing and editing skills, sound news judgment, and the ability to solve communications challenges calmly under tight deadlines.
- Ability to manage numerous projects and contribute effectively to a supportive team environment.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in an academic medical center or other healthcare setting.
Responsibilities
- Partner with the Chief Communications Officer and External Communications leaders to oversee communications strategy, including Cedars-Sinai Newsroom content, media pitches, and statements.
- Use sound news judgment and experience to solve communications challenges calmly under tight deadlines.
- Conceive stories and projects with the team, and write and edit communications plans, news releases, media statements, and messages for organizational leaders.
- Develop and implement strategic, targeted communications and tactics for special projects, events, and campaigns across the health system to support and advance the organization’s reputation and identity.
- Help advance communication strategies and tactics in partnership with counterparts in Marketing, Digital Strategy, Creative Studio, and related departments.
- Provide counsel and support for executive-level institutional crisis messaging as needed.
- Evaluate and implement external communications strategic plans in conjunction with service line leadership and others across the institution.
- Manage direct reports and collaborate with relevant teams across Cedars-Sinai entities and affiliated hospitals.
- Use metrics to measure and evolve earned media strategy and deploy SEO and AI strategies to boost newsroom traffic.
- Serve as a primary editor and uphold high standards in digital and video storytelling.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
