Director Public Relations Media and Communications

Catholic Health•Melville, NY

About The Position

The Director of Public Relations, Media & Communications shapes, protects, and elevates the reputations of St. Catherine’s and St. Charles Hospital within the hospitals, the community, and beyond. The role leads strategic storytelling that highlights patient experiences, physician expertise, and clinical excellence across earned media, social media, internal communications, and marketing platforms. The Director works closely with Corporate Communications, including public relations, internal communications, and marketing teams, to align messaging, brand voice, and organizational priorities. The Director serves as the primary media contact for both hospitals, develops media strategies, monitors coverage and public sentiment, manages routine inquiries, and supports responses to emerging or sensitive issues. The role develops and oversees stories and content for press releases, feature stories, blogs, digital channels, and internal and external communications. In collaboration with the corporate digital marketing team, the Director leads social media strategy for both hospitals, ensuring content is timely, HIPAA-compliant, and consistent with brand standards. The position supports local presidents with internal communications, collaborates with hospital and corporate stakeholders, participates in bi-weekly communications content meetings at corporate offices, and ensures compliance with Catholic Health communications standards. The Director has one direct report, a public relations/media specialist, and works with Corporate Communications to measure and report on PR and media performance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.
8–10+ years of progressive experience in public relations, media relations, or communications.
Exceptional storytelling and writing skills.
Strong media relationships and proven success securing earned media coverage.
Experience managing crisis communications and sensitive issues.
Experience developing and executing internal communications strategies that engage employees and align with organizational priorities.
Deep understanding of social media strategy and content development.
Ability to collaborate across teams and influence senior stakeholders.
Knowledge of healthcare regulations, including HIPAA, as they relate to communications.
Strong understanding of complex and changing healthcare issues, especially those affecting the communities Catholic Health serves.
Ability to develop clear communications strategies, translate complex issues and topics into accessible language, and tailor messages for diverse audiences across multiple platforms.
Professional presence and expertise to build relationships and provide communications counsel to senior leaders and internal stakeholders.
Ability to thrive in a creative, fast-paced, collaborative environment that emphasizes excellence and teamwork.
Excellent organizational, project management, and time management skills, with a strong ability to meet deadlines.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Healthcare or hospital experience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary media contact for St. Catherine’s and St. Charles Hospital and build relationships with local, regional, and healthcare media outlets.
Develop and execute media strategies to enhance visibility, credibility, and trust.
Monitor media coverage and public sentiment, manage routine inquiries and emerging issues, and coordinate responses with Corporate Communications.
Escalate sensitive or high-risk issues and support crisis communications with Corporate Communications and executive leadership.
Partner with the local community relations colleague to promote campus and community events.
Identify, develop, and promote patient and physician stories that reflect the mission and impact of both hospitals.
Partner with digital and communications teams to create content for intranet, social media, web, and other consumer, employee, and provider channels.
Translate complex clinical topics into accessible content for public audiences.
Oversee content creation for press releases, feature stories, blogs, and digital channels.
Direct social media strategy for both hospitals with the corporate digital marketing team, focusing on engagement, growth, and brand reputation.
Partner with clinical teams to highlight patient journeys and testimonials, physician insights, and service-line strengths.
Ensure social media content is timely, HIPAA-compliant, and aligned with brand standards.
Support local presidents with strategic internal communications and partner with internal communications to amplify key messages and foster employee engagement.
Help position physicians and leaders as thought leaders internally and externally.
Align local initiatives with system-wide priorities in collaboration with corporate public relations, marketing, and internal communications teams.
Collaborate with physicians, nursing leadership, service lines, community relations, foundation, and administration.
Participate in bi-weekly communications content meetings at corporate offices to share upcoming events, story ideas, and content recommendations.
Ensure compliance with Catholic Health brand and communications standards.
Supervise one direct report, a public relations/media specialist.
Partner with Corporate Communications to track and analyze media and PR metrics, including impressions, engagement, and sentiment.
Provide regular reports and insights to leadership with recommendations for continuous improvement.