The Director of Communications is a strategic enterprise leader responsible for developing, executing, and optimizing internal communications that foster alignment, transparency, engagement, and culture across Emory Healthcare. This individual oversees a high-performing team and serves as a trusted advisor to executive leadership.
This role carries one of two focuses:
- Patient Communications: Ensuring all patient-facing messaging is clear, compassionate, and aligned with Emory Healthcare's commitment to exceptional care.
- Shared Services Communications: Driving alignment and awareness across system-wide functions such as Human Resources, Finance, IT, and Supply Chain.
The Director builds integrated strategies that support enterprise transformation, elevate the employee and patient experience, and support operational excellence. The ideal candidate brings visionary leadership, exceptional storytelling skills, deep change management expertise, and a commitment to values-driven communication.
- Strategic Communications Leadership
- Design and implement a holistic internal communications strategy aligned with Emory Healthcare's mission, values, and priorities
- Integrate communication priorities across patient engagement and shared services into broader internal communication efforts
- Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership, providing counsel on communication efforts that drive engagement, trust, and organizational alignment
- Lead communication strategies that support organizational transformation, clinical initiatives, and enterprise-wide performance improvement
- Ensure consistency in tone, voice, and messaging architecture across all platforms and audiences
- Team Development and Management
- Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing internal communications team
- Foster a culture of creativity, collaboration, agility, and continuous improvement
- Set clear direction and provide growth opportunities for team members
- Enterprise Engagement & Culture
- Lead communications for key initiatives including cultural transformation, change management, and leadership visibility
- Partner with Patient Experience and Clinical Operations to ensure messages to patients are compassionate, timely, and aligned with care goals
- Collaborate with Shared Services leaders to articulate strategies, reinforce process changes, and drive enterprise alignment
- Champion inclusive and equity-centered communication practices across the organization
- Operational Excellence
- Manage communication platforms, vehicles, and editorial calendars to ensure timely, clear, and consistent messaging across levels
- Develop metrics and reporting tools to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of communication efforts
- Oversee complex communication projects from concept through execution, ensuring high-quality delivery
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Act as a connector across departments to unify messaging and ensure strategic alignment
- Partner with Marketing, Media Relations, Human Resources, Nursing, Digital Strategy, and the Woodruff Health Sciences Center to leverage integrated storytelling opportunities
- Crisis & Responsive Communication
- Lead the strategic internal response to crisis and urgent communications in collaboration with Legal, Executive Leadership, and Media Relations.
- Ensure employees and patients remain informed, aligned, and supported during high-risk situations or organizational transitions
Travel: Less than 10% of the time may be required
Work Type: Hybrid employee - splits time between working remotely and working in the office
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Education - Bachelor's degree in Communications, English, Journalism, or a related field required
- Experience - 8 or more years of progressive communications experience, with a strong track record in employee engagement, internal communications, and change management within large organizations
- Skills - Proven leadership experience managing and developing high-performing teams
- Demonstrated success advising executive leadership and developing integrated communications strategies
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Education - Master's degree preferred
- Knowledge, skills, and ability requirements:
- Exceptional strategic thinking, writing, and storytelling capabilities
- Deep understanding of internal communications, digital engagement trends, and organizational dynamics
- Strong judgment, discretion, and agility in navigating fast-paced environments
- Commitment to Emory Healthcare's mission and values-based leadership
JOIN OUR TEAM TODAY! Emory Healthcare (EHC), part of Emory University (EUV), is the most comprehensive academic health system in Georgia and the first and only in Georgia with a Magnet® designated ambulatory practice. We are made up of 11 hospitals-4 Magnet® designated, the Emory Clinic, and more than 425 provider locations. The Emory Healthcare Network, established in 2011, is the largest clinically integrated network in Georgia, with more than 3,450 physicians concentrating in 70 different subspecialties.