Program Manager, Communications

Sutter Health • Los Altos, CA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

In partnership with the Communications Leadership Team and Marketing colleagues, this role will design and execute innovative, audience-centered communications strategies that advance Sutter Health’s enterprise priorities while reflecting the unique needs of Sutter’s community-based Greater Silicon Valley Division. The position requires a proactive, research-informed approach to developing creative, integrated campaigns that inform, influence, and inspire key stakeholders across internal and external audiences. Serving as a trusted strategic advisor to Division dyad leaders, CEOs and system partners, this position will lead communications planning and execution that supports operationalizing Sutter’s enterprise strategy—including growth initiatives, clinical service lines, ambulatory expansion and patient experience priorities. The role will drive integrated storytelling and public relations in close coordination with the media and team, ensuring compelling, consistent narratives that elevate Sutter’s brand and reputation. The incumbent will partner closely with External Affairs, Issues Management and Marketing to align on Division-based communications, service line positioning, patient segmentation and health plan priorities. They will develop and implement multi-channel communications strategies—spanning digital, social, print, video and experiential platforms—to engage employees, physicians, community leaders and other key constituents. Additionally, this role will oversee strategic communications and engagement efforts that strengthen Sutter’s visibility and standing among community organizations and influencers in Greater Silicon Valley. Ultimately, this role will help translate Sutter’s enterprise strategy into meaningful, locally resonant communications that drive impact across the Greater Silicon Valley Division and the broader health system. This is not a remote role and the person selected must live in the Greater Silicon Valley (Santa Clara or San Mateo County) and may be asked to come on site for meetings, etc.

Requirements

• Bachelor's: Communications, English, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations (PR), or related field. Equivalent experience will be accepted in lieu of the required degree or diploma.
• 5 years of recent relevant experience.
• Knowledge of strategic communications planning; social networking; graphic standards and corporate identity management; graphic design principles and production; news, feature, leadership presentations; script writing and editing techniques; publications development, production, and management; principles of photography and audio/video production; Web site development and maintenance; audience list maintenance, and special events coordination.
• Professional communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills, presentation and negotiation competencies, with the ability to interpret corporate goals and translate them into an effective communications/constituent relations plan.
• Current knowledge of regional, state and national health care and medicine issues, Northern California current events, and cultural and health care trends.
• Business acumen and exceptional analytic skills with the proven ability to provide innovative communication solutions to complex problems and to meet business objectives.
• Exceptional attention to detail with time management and organization skills, including the demonstrated ability to maintain production schedules and strictly adhere to multiple timelines and budgets.
• Functional knowledge of selecting/hiring third-party talent for creative services, graphic design and production, publication development and management, market research and advertising.
• Understanding of and experience with Lean or other process improvement philosophies and methodologies.
• Competency in Microsoft Office suite, including working knowledge of graphic design, data management, and statistical analysis software.
• Assess and understand target audience attitudes, opinions, and preferences; and then, develop communications to build consensus, awareness, or inform.
• Energize, mobilize, and influence by fostering productive and collaborative working relationships with internal and external constituencies, including the effective management of resources.
• Synthesize information and ideas across a variety of subject matter areas and to create communication plans that generate an engaging and positive reader experience.
• Manage, prioritize and drive multiple projects in an ever-changing environment to deliver quality products and services on-time and on-budget.
• Negotiate effectively with staff, senior management, vendors, media partnerships, external agencies and organizations.
• Identify and solve complex problems, generate actionable recommendations, and make informed decisions based on the analysis of multiple sources of information while providing new perspectives on existing solutions.
• Build collaborative working relationships with peers, other departments, stakeholders, management, and vendors to achieve marketing goals and corporate objectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead communications planning and execution that supports operationalizing Sutter’s enterprise strategy—including growth initiatives, clinical service lines, ambulatory expansion and patient experience priorities.
• Drive integrated storytelling and public relations in close coordination with the media and team, ensuring compelling, consistent narratives that elevate Sutter’s brand and reputation.
• Develop and implement multi-channel communications strategies—spanning digital, social, print, video and experiential platforms—to engage employees, physicians, community leaders and other key constituents.
• Oversee strategic communications and engagement efforts that strengthen Sutter’s visibility and standing among community organizations and influencers in Greater Silicon Valley.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level