Program Manager, Communications

Sutter Health•Los Altos, CA

22h•Onsite

About The Position

This role involves designing and executing innovative, audience-centered communications strategies that advance Sutter Health’s enterprise priorities, specifically for the 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 internal and external stakeholders. The Program Manager will serve as a trusted strategic advisor to Division dyad leaders, CEOs, and system partners, leading communications planning and execution to support Sutter’s enterprise strategy, including growth initiatives, clinical service lines, ambulatory expansion, and patient experience priorities. The role drives integrated storytelling and public relations in close coordination with the media 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 oversees strategic communications and engagement efforts that strengthen Sutter’s visibility and standing among community organizations and influencers in Greater Silicon Valley. Ultimately, this position translates Sutter’s enterprise strategy into meaningful, locally resonant communications that drive impact across the Greater Silicon Valley Division and the broader health system.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Communications, English, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations (PR), or related field, or equivalent experience
5 years of recent relevant experience
Knowledge of strategic communications planning
Knowledge of social networking
Knowledge of graphic standards and corporate identity management
Knowledge of graphic design principles and production
Knowledge of news, feature, leadership presentations
Knowledge of script writing and editing techniques
Knowledge of publications development, production, and management
Knowledge of principles of photography and audio/video production
Knowledge of Web site development and maintenance
Knowledge of audience list maintenance
Knowledge of special events coordination
Professional communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills
Presentation and negotiation competencies
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
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
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
Working knowledge of graphic design, data management, and statistical analysis software
Ability to assess and understand target audience attitudes, opinions, and preferences; and then, develop communications to build consensus, awareness, or inform
Ability to energize, mobilize, and influence by fostering productive and collaborative working relationships with internal and external constituencies, including the effective management of resources
Ability to synthesize information and ideas across a variety of subject matter areas and to create communication plans that generate an engaging and positive reader experience
Ability to manage, prioritize and drive multiple projects in an ever-changing environment to deliver quality products and services on-time and on-budget
Ability to negotiate effectively with staff, senior management, vendors, media partnerships, external agencies and organizations
Ability to 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
Ability to build collaborative working relationships with peers, other departments, stakeholders, management, and vendors to achieve marketing goals and corporate objectives

Responsibilities

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
Develop creative, integrated campaigns that inform, influence, and inspire key stakeholders across internal and external audiences
Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to Division dyad leaders, CEOs and system partners
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
Partner closely with External Affairs, Issues Management and Marketing to align on Division-based communications, service line positioning, patient segmentation and health plan priorities
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
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