Program Manager, Communications

Sutter Health•Goleta, CA

3d•$106,746 - $160,118

About The Position

The Program Manager, Communications contributes to, develops, and supports innovative communication plans, strategies, and messaging in coordination with leadership for an assigned communications focus area. The role uses research and Lean-based approaches to create and implement internal and external communications for multiple audiences and stakeholders, building awareness, understanding, and commitment to Sutter Health. It supports communications that advance the organization’s culture, explain initiatives, and foster understanding of business strategies. The position manages portions of integrated campaigns, activities, and events across varied channels, helping cultivate a consistent corporate identity and ensuring appropriate use of Sutter Health brand assets. It provides analytical support and guidance to cross-functional teams, proactively identifies and mitigates issues, oversees contract communications professionals, and evaluates communications plans and materials for content and distribution effectiveness. Depending on the assigned focus area, work may involve executive communications, enterprise or systemwide communications, internal communications, issues and reputation management, corporate affairs, or media relations and external communications.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communications, English, journalism, marketing, public relations, or a related field; equivalent experience may be accepted in lieu of the degree.
Five years of recent relevant experience.
Knowledge of strategic communications planning, social networking, graphic standards and corporate identity, graphic design and production, news and feature writing, leadership presentations, script writing and editing, publications, photography and audio/video production, website development and maintenance, audience list maintenance, and special-event coordination.
Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, presentation, and negotiation skills, including the ability to translate corporate goals into effective communications and constituent-relations plans.
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 analytical skills, with the ability to develop innovative communications solutions to complex problems and meet business objectives.
Strong attention to detail, time management, and organizational skills, including the ability to manage production schedules, timelines, and budgets.
Functional knowledge of selecting or hiring third-party creative services, graphic design and production, publication development and management, market research, and advertising.
Understanding of and experience with Lean or other process-improvement methodologies.
Competency in Microsoft Office, including working knowledge of graphic design, data management, and statistical analysis software.
Ability to assess audience attitudes, opinions, and preferences and develop communications to build consensus, awareness, or understanding.
Ability to foster productive relationships with internal and external constituencies and effectively manage resources.
Ability to synthesize information across subject areas into communications plans that create an engaging reader experience.
Ability to manage, prioritize, and drive multiple projects in a changing environment while delivering quality work on time and within budget.
Ability to negotiate with staff, senior management, vendors, media partners, external agencies, and organizations.
Ability to analyze multiple sources of information, solve complex problems, make informed decisions, and develop actionable recommendations.
Ability to build collaborative relationships with peers, departments, stakeholders, management, and vendors.

Responsibilities

Use initiative, creativity, judgment, audience research, and constituent relationships to support communications for designated audiences.
Conceptualize, develop, and implement portions of communications campaigns in support of organizational strategy.
Identify and develop focus-area news and stories for systemwide audiences through relationships with subject matter experts.
Integrate messaging into broader Sutter Health communications and marketing strategies.
Coordinate with department staff to ensure deliverables meet schedule, cost, quality, strategic, performance-indicator, and brand standards.
Develop efficient work and tracking processes, and conduct or support research and audits to assess communications strategies, channels, employee perceptions, and preferences.
Keep the assigned focus area leader informed about key communications activities and their value; follow strategic plans, deadlines, AP Stylebook guidance, and Sutter Health style and brand guides.
Create and maintain a repository of communications materials for the assigned focus area and partner with colleagues on initiatives supporting Sutter Health’s mission and strategy.
Depending on focus area, develop executive communications and engagement strategies, write and edit speeches, create presentations, support executive social media, increase leadership visibility, and arrange presentation or media coaching.
Depending on focus area, advise function leaders, implement enterprise communications plans, develop messages and narratives, and support communications for urgent or crisis situations.
Depending on focus area, plan internal campaigns and employee engagement strategies; oversee employee communications platforms, editorial calendars, systemwide programs, and content for forums and events; and measure engagement and effectiveness.
Depending on focus area, develop and implement issue and crisis communications, track emerging issues and legislation, manage media responses, support spokespeople, and collaborate with leaders, labor relations, and legal counsel.
Depending on focus area, serve as a media spokesperson; develop content for traditional, owned, broadcast, and social media; arrange media training; participate in an on-call schedule; maintain media tracking tools; and respond to events or issues.
Oversee content development and standards for internal communications, including newsletters, announcements, email, scripts, web pages, reports, speeches, presentations, and videos.
Coordinate reviews and production of accurate, timely, error-free communications materials within budget.
Manage vendor, freelance, and agency relationships to support high-quality, cost-efficient communications.
Oversee quantitative and qualitative metrics and analytics to evaluate engagement, effectiveness, and performance and identify opportunities to improve communications strategies.