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Director, Communications

Job Details

Job Location

Bellevue HQ - Bellevue, WA

Position Type

Full Time

Salary Range

$132800.00 - $199200.00 Salary

Job Posting Date(s)

Start Date

07/17/2025

Description and Qualifications

The Director of Communications leads the development and execution of a comprehensive, integrated communications strategy that supports LifeCenter’s brand, mission, vision, and values. This role oversees all aspects of internal and external communications, including media relations, public relations, marketing, and digital engagement. The Director ensures clear, consistent, and compelling messaging across all channels and audiences, enhancing stakeholder engagement and organizational visibility. This position is also responsible for aligning communication initiatives with organizational priorities and driving measurable outcomes. The Director serves as a member of the Extended Senior Leadership Team (ESLT) and fosters cross-functional collaboration to amplify LifeCenter Northwest’s impact and support strategic goals.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Strategic Communications Leadership

+ Develop and execute an integrated communications and marketing strategy that supports the organization’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities.

+ Serve as the organization’s chief storyteller, ensuring all messaging aligns with brand identity and values, and positions the organization as a trusted industry leader.

+ Provide strategic counsel to executive leadership on communications, public perception, and reputation management.

+ Lead crisis communication planning and response to protect and strengthen organizational trust and credibility.

+ Participates in LCNW’s annual strategic planning, helping to establish organizational strategy and goals.

Brand & Messaging

+ Oversee the development and management of brand guidelines, voice, and narrative across all platforms.

+ Ensure consistent, mission-aligned messaging across all communication channels—internal and external.

+ Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to craft compelling content that drives awareness, engagement, and support.

Media Relations & Public Relations

+ Develops and implements strategic public relations and communications roadmap driven by a content strategy that leverages the stories about LifeCenter’s mission.

+ Oversees the proactive plan to secure media coverage through various channels.

+ Tracks media activity and public sentiment; supports the preparation of leadership for interviews and public appearances.

Marketing & Digital Strategy

+ Oversees the organization’s website, social media presence, and other digital platforms to ensure consistent messaging and engagement with target audiences.

+ Leverage data analytics to measure performance and refine marketing and outreach strategies.

+ Manage brand visibility through targeted campaigns, advertising, sponsorships, and events.

Internal Communications

+ Develop and implement internal communications strategies to keep staff informed, engaged, and aligned with organizational goals.

+ Collaborate with People Resources and leadership to promote a strong internal culture and enhance employee engagement.

+ Supports board communications as requested.

Stakeholder Engagement

+ Collaborates closely with External Affairs to support government affairs, community outreach, and partnership initiatives with compelling communications strategies and materials.

+ Works closely with Clinical Operations to support hospital and transplant center relations, and on-site donor family support with compelling communications strategies and materials.

+ Partners closely with People Resources to enrich the employee experience with transparent, effective models of company-employee engagement that supports employer positioning, especially related to recruitment, retention, and culture.

+ Create and oversee community engagement content, such as newsletters and annual reports.

+ Represent the organization at external events, conferences, and community forums as needed.

Team Leadership & Management Responsibilities

+ Manage, mentor, and grow a high-performing communications and marketing team.

+ Develop and manage the departmental strategic and operational plan, ensuring alignment with the organizational strategic plan.

+ Oversee external vendors, agencies, and consultants to ensure alignment with strategy and brand standards. Ensure effective management of third-party relationships and contracts.

+ Develop and manage the department’s budget, ensuring effective use of resources. Review and approve departmental invoices, timesheets and expense reports.

+ Identify and evaluate existing processes to uncover opportunities for increased efficiency and effectiveness.

+ Develop clear, user-friendly process documentation and deliver staff training to ensure consistent adoption.

Supervision

+ This position is a member of the Extended Senior Leadership Team (ESLT) of LifeCenter Northwest must exercise significant influence across departments and functions, providing guidance and strategic counsel to leaders throughout the organization as needed.

+ This position is accountable for the direction and strategy for assigned department(s) and responsible for the direct oversight of the leadership for that team, and as a result will provide direction to various individuals within the department.

+ This position directly supervises the Communications team members, as well as relationships with external contracted service vendors including a Public Relations firm.

Other Responsibilities

+ Ensure communications adhere to all legal and regulatory requirements for media.

+ Stay informed on communications trends, tools, and best practices within the nonprofit and healthcare sectors.

+ Understand the OPO environment at the local and national level, ensuring knowledge of the relevant issues for OPOs, innovations and changes in the transplant ecosystem that will impact the future success of the organization.

+ Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and LifeCenter policies and procedures.

+ Perform other related duties as required by the needs of the General Counsel and Vice President Administration and the President & CEO.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

+ Experiential knowledge of hospitals and health care system in general, with ability to learn and understand applicable local/state/federal OPO regulations.

+ Experience working with media, and external partner entities to manage the organization’s public image and reputation and achieve goals.

+ Ability to navigate crisis situations and guide organizational leaders on responsive and proactive communications to various stakeholders.

+ Ability to create and lead high-performing teams and achieve results.

+ Experience and high level of comfort with public speaking.

+ Strategic planning, budget development, and implementation of operating plans.

+ Ability to analyze and use data to drive decision-making and action planning.

+ The ability to take initiative and ownership to meet personal and team goals.

+ Demonstrated accountability and strategic thinking; the ability to develop and support a high-performing team.

+ A commitment to continuous improvement, seeing feedback as a positive part of the learning process.

+ Must be able to perform analysis and create deliverables from general direction.

+ Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively with staff at all levels of the organization, and staff in remote locations.

+ Ability to persuade others in sensitive and complex situations while preserving relationships.

+ Must be highly organized and analytical; able to track details and see the big picture.

+ The ability to prioritize and complete work despite competing objectives.

+ Ability to work in a matrixed, fast-paced, constantly changing and ambiguous environment.

+ Ability to build relationships based on trust, diplomacy and collaboration at all levels.

BEHAVIORAL REQUIREMENTS

The employee in this position must uphold the core values of LifeCenter; these include:

+ Integrity : We are trustworthy, reliable, respectful, and accountable.

+ Collaboration : We work in partnership with others, seeking to understand and be understood, and finding common ground and shared goals to build upon together.

+ Courage : We take personal responsibility and face challenges head-on.

+ Service : Through professionalism and dedication, we honor our commitment to serve others and our obligation to be good stewards of the gift of life.

Physical Activities/Requirements

+ Travel is essential to this position; consequently, the employee must be prepared to travel by automobile and airplane.

+ Position functions while sitting and standing, use of keyboard, mouse, telephone, and specialized office equipment.

+ This position requires manual dexterity sufficient to effectively operate phones, computers, and other office equipment.

+ The individual must have the ability to communicate in English to accurately convey information and be able to hear at normal speaking levels both in person and over the phone.

+ Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

+ Generally, working conditions do not require exposure to hazardous materials nor extremes in health and safety hazards. Work is normally performed in an office or hospital setting, as well as other business environments.

+ May be asked to move equipment up t o 35 pounds with or without assistance

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & JOB REQUIREMENTS

+ A bachelor’s degree is required.

+ A master’s degree in relevant discipline is preferred.

+ Additional coursework/training in communication, leadership, and management is preferred.

+ Minimum of ten (10) years of communications, marketing or public relations experience is required.

+ Work experience in healthcare and/or nonprofit, with proven results, strongly preferred.

+ Relevant work experience can be considered as a substitution for academic requirements

+ Minimum of Five (5) years of leadership experience, directly managing employees and programs, is required.

+ Requires a valid driver’s license and access to an insured automobile or the ability to arrive and depart from work and work-related functions at expected times.

+ Proof of COVID-19 vaccination or applicable medical or religious exemption will be required as a condition of employment upon offer.

Benefits and Compensation

LifeCenter Northwest offers medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, accidental death & dismemberment insurance, long-term disability insurance, and travel accident insurance. Employees have the option of enrolling in the following supplemental or voluntary plans: life insurance, short-term disability, accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness coverage and pet insurance. Employees enrolled in our 403(b) program will receive an employer match of up to 7% after one year, employees are auto enrolled at 3% and may change their enrollment at any time. LifeCenter encourages all employees to find balance and well-being and provides all employees access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and provides a quarterly Wellness Reimbursement. Employees enjoy paid holidays throughout the calendar year and earn 119 hours of PTO annually (to start) as well as Health Time Off hours that is earned 1 hour per 30 worked, paid living donor leave, two weeks paid jury duty leave after 6 months of service, and three weeks of paid parental leave after one year of service is complete. A comprehensive review of benefits can be found at https://lcnw.org/about/employment-opportunities/.

The pay range for this role is provided above. Where a candidate’s compensation falls within this range is based on several bona fide factors such as experience, tenure, and other specialized knowledge. LifeCenter Northwest is committed to providing its employees equitable and competitive compensation.

This position is eligible for additional compensation to the base pay rate, in the form of a Management Incentive Compensation Bonus.

LifeCenter Northwest is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.