Vice President, Strategic & Integrated Communications

Sutter Health•Sacramento, CA

About The Position

Sutter Health is one of California’s most comprehensive healthcare systems and one of the nation’s largest, generating approximately $19.7 billion in revenues. Sutter Health is a not-for-profit, integrated healthcare system committed to health equity, community partnerships and innovative, high-quality patient care. Sutter’s 63K+ employees, 12,000+ physicians and clinicians, serve more than 3.6 million patients through its network of hospitals, medical foundations, ambulatory surgery centers, urgent and walk-in care centers, telehealth, home health and hospice services. The Vice President (VP), Strategic and Integrated Communications plays a pivotal role in advancing Sutter Health’s brand and reputation, engagement initiatives, and mission-driven storytelling, and aligning these efforts across internal and external audiences. In close partnership with the System Vice President, Communications and Public Relations, this leader supports the strategic planning, operational rhythm, integration, and advancement of enterprise-wide communications priorities, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic partnerships. This role serves as a key integrator across the Communications function and in partnership with Brand, Marketing, Consumer Strategy, Human Resources and other enterprise leaders to deliver unified, high-impact communications that strengthen culture, elevate leadership visibility, and support business transformation. This VP plays a key leadership role in managing internal and executive visibility, messaging and engagement, ensuring clear and consistent communication of organizational priorities to internal stakeholders, including leaders, clinicians and employees. This leader partners across the full Communications team to drive integrated communications and implement scalable processes and operational improvements that deliver results. As a trusted advisor to senior executives, this role guides executive messaging, supports large-scale transformation and change initiatives, and stewards the voice of the organization in alignment with Sutter Health’s mission, values and long-term strategy. This position requires a collaborative, strategic thinker with exceptional judgment, executive presence, and the ability to lead through complexity in a fast-paced healthcare environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field.
10–15 years of progressive communications and public relations experience, preferably in healthcare or other complex, matrixed organization.
Demonstrated expertise leading enterprise-wide strategic communications, including internal and executive communications, brand and reputation management, and stakeholder engagement.
Proven experience developing and executing integrated communications strategies and campaigns across internal and external audiences.
Experience supporting organizational transformation, change initiatives, and culture-building efforts, including aligning communications to business strategy and workforce engagement priorities.
Demonstrated success leading communications for mergers, acquisitions, affiliations, or large-scale integrations, including transaction and integration communications.
Proven ability to operate as an enterprise integrator, aligning messaging and efforts across communications, marketing, brand, digital and public relations functions.
Strong experience building or advancing communications operating models, including editorial planning, messaging frameworks, and cross-functional processes that improve efficiency and consistency.
Demonstrated ability to advise and influence senior executives, including developing executive messaging and supporting leadership visibility.
Experience in content development, channel optimization, and digital/communication platform management.
Advisory experience at the executive/C‑suite level.
Experience using data, insights and performance metrics to inform communications strategies and measure impact.
Proven track record of leading cross-functional teams and driving alignment across diverse stakeholder groups.
Proven ability to partner across brand, marketing, and communications functions to deliver unified programs.
Experience managing agencies, consultants, and internal staff through periods of integration, change and transformation.
Advanced knowledge of communications planning, public relations, digital/multimedia content development, branding, graphic standards, community relations, events, publications, and web management.
Strong business and financial acumen with the ability to develop innovative solutions to complex problems.
Working knowledge of selecting and managing third-party creative and research partners.
Advanced understanding of digital and traditional marketing (B2C and B2B), including consumer behavior and lifecycle marketing.
Strong executive communication capability, including vision articulation and polished public speaking.
Ability to energize, motivate, and influence diverse groups toward shared goals.
Skilled negotiator with agencies and internal stakeholders.
Strong analytical capabilities and strategic planning skills.
Solid budget and financial management skills.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Business, Advertising, Communications, Economics, Marketing, Marketing Management, Public Relations, or a related field, OR equivalent experience.
Familiarity with Lean/process improvement methodologies preferred.