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Job Description

**Location:** Chicago, Illinois

**Business Unit:** Rush Medical Center

**Hospital:** Rush University Medical Center

**Department:** RUSH Marketing Communications

**Work Type:** Full Time (Total FTE between 0.9 and 1.0)

**Shift:** Shift 1

**Work Schedule:** 8 Hr (8:00:00 AM - 5:00:00 PM)

Rush offers exceptional rewards and benefits learn more at our Rush benefits page (https://www.rush.edu/rush-careers/employee-benefits).

**Pay Range:** $144,372 - $215,113 per year

Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rush’s anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case.

Summary:

The senior director of executive and internal communications guides the strategy, planning and execution of Rush's internal and executive communications to engage and inform employees, ensure alignment to business strategies, and enhance the organization's status as a leading U.S. academic medical center. The person in this role leads an internal and executive communications program that extends across all business and academic units across Rush.

Guiding a team of skilled content strategists and storytellers, the senior director ensures that internal communications in a wide variety of formats and channels are designed to engage and energize diverse stakeholder groups. The successful candidate possesses a high level of professionalism and integrity, including the ability to handle sensitive, confidential information with utmost discretion. The person in this role is a consummate collaborator and consensus builder, a creative thinker, an adaptive problem solver and an inspirational leader able to motivate and mobilize effective, efficient and collaborative teams.

Reports to the associate vice president, marketing communications at Rush. Works directly with the Rush leaders, departments and teams across system on communications critical to the institution’s employee engagement, image and reputation. Collaborates with leaders and communications professionals at other Rush system hospitals on issues related to or reflecting on Rush.

Models and inspires innovation, collaboration, accountability, respect and excellence. Exemplifies the Rush mission, vision and values and acts in accordance with Rush policies and procedures.

Responsibilities:

+ Deliver innovative, consistent, best-in-class communications support and partnership to leaders and business owners across the Medical Center.

_Act as a trusted consultant and expert for senior leaders:_

+ Advise senior management on emerging issues and trends that may affect staff through a robust, transparent approach to internal communications.

+ Guide the activities of executive communications in the writing, editing and presentation of key executive communications.

+ In collaboration with Rush leadership and media relations, lead crisis communications planning and execution. Required to join emergency calls, on-call via Rush device, such as Hospital Incident Command, to assess and strategize solutions.

+ Partner with senior leaders to ensure that positions on key issues and initiatives affecting the institution — especially in the areas of public health and safety, social equity, community engagement and economic development — are aligned to promote, protect and enhance the organization as a whole.

_In collaboration with other leaders, develop communication programs to support the Rush’s key “people” goals:_

+ Work with HR talent management team and marketing to envision, design and implement culture-building activities and campaigns to engage and inspire employees

+ Act as communications consultant on matters related to labor relations.

+ Develop clear and comprehensive benefits communications.

+ Develop communications to support employee recruitment and retention goals.

+ Partner with teams to support the efforts of the faculty recruitment and engagement.

_Ensure that communication tools meet the ongoing and developing needs and preferences of employees through the following:_

+ Regularly survey employees to gauge their attitudes and opinions about Rush.

+ Use readership data to drive insights and continuous improvement.

+ Develop personas to capture the special needs and perspectives of different segments of the internal Rush community

+ Analyze employee feedback received internally and in external forums (such as Glassdoor).

_Nurture business unit client relationships._

+ Establish business unit stakeholder relationships, including with the executives we support and their staff.

+ Participate in integrated content planning efforts with marketing, media relations and fund-raising communications professionals.

+ Partner with the Information Services Division to manage the Rush intranet.

+ Meet regularly with operational leadership to explore ways the internal communications team can support their goals.

_Staff and Resource Management_

+ Motivate, coach and manage Internal Communications Department responsible for writing, editing and publishing compelling, persuasive copy that supports corporate strategy, using an array of channels and communication formats. Team includes writers, editors, an experienced executive communicator.

_Implement processes and policies to ensure efficient and effective communications:_

+ Identify and implement best practices and repeatable activities through the creation of playbooks, communication templates and guidelines.

+ Develop a comprehensive roadmap for team growth and evolution to align the team’s efforts to meet institutional goals.

+ Train staff in the use of tools and methods that enable efficient, on-time delivery of projects.

+ Manage department Internal Communication budget

+ Strategically select, negotiate with and manage relationships with outside vendors to support communications initiatives and projects.

Requirements:

+ Bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, organizational communication, organizational development, marketing, public relations or a related field.

+ Ten or more years of communications management experience, with a record of achieving business results using internal and external communications strategy and tactics.

+ Experience building and implementing a successful internal communication program to influence, educate and engage large numbers of people.

+ Exceptional leadership skills, with proven ability to recruit, train and inspire highly accountable, collaborative and talented teams.

+ Ability to communicate strategic direction through narratives that promote understanding among diverse audiences.

+ In-depth awareness of issues and trends in health care and academic medicine.

+ Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communications skills.

+ Ability to interact successfully at all levels of the organization and to build confidence through exemplary work.

+ Solid experience and results in managing crisis and issues communications.

+ Expertise in managing large projects involving cross-functional teams of internal and external talent.

+ Flexibility, resilience and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred **Requirements:**

+ Master’s degree in communications, marketing or a related communications field preferred.

+ Experience at a large, complex academic medical center.

Competencies

+ Familiarity with commonly used editorial style guides; AP style preferred.

+ Proofreading, copy editing and structural editing skills.

+ Facility in a wide range of writing styles for diverse audiences and channels.

+ Agile project management.

+ Training in leadership and management techniques.

+ Ability to design and deploy digital communication channels, including internet, intranet, email and social media.

+ Familiarity with survey tools, web analytics and reader engagement metrics.

+ Budget management skills.

Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.

**Position** Sr Director Executive & Internal Communications

**Location** US:IL:Chicago

**Req ID** 18465