[Hiring] Director, Academics & Strategy Internal Communications @Advocate Health

Role Description

We’re seeking a strategic communications leader to serve as Director, Academics & Strategy Internal Communications . In this highly visible role, you’ll shape internal and executive communication strategies that advance academic, research, clinical trials, National Service Line and enterprise strategy priorities.

• Support executive communications and leadership visibility.
• Develop engagement, listening and strategic storytelling approaches for faculty, researchers, investigators, clinicians, leaders and teammates.
• Work across a complex, matrixed organization to ensure priorities are clearly communicated and aligned.
• Develop and implement communication strategies and activation plans aligned with Academics, the National Center for Clinical Trials, Strategy, National Service Lines and broader enterprise priorities.
• Serve as a strategic communications advisor to senior leaders during organizational change, complex issues and key strategic initiatives.
• Create people, engagement and change communication strategies that strengthen leadership activation, understanding and adoption.
• Translate complex academic, research, clinical and business priorities into clear, concise and compelling messages for diverse internal audiences.
• Partner with People Operations and Optimization to develop and distribute multimedia content across intranet, email, town halls, video and print channels.
• Collaborate with People Activation Events to support enterprise leadership events and town halls.
• Lead strategic storytelling that demonstrates the collective impact of academic excellence, research, clinical trials, National Service Lines and enterprise strategy.
• Ensure message consistency and alignment across functions, divisions and enterprise stakeholders.
• Advance listening and two-way communication strategies that strengthen feedback loops and facilitate meaningful dialogue.
• Foster collaboration across internal communications, academic and research partners and other enterprise communication functions.
• Promote a culture of high performance, continuous improvement and strategic partnership.
• Measure communication and engagement efforts, using insights and best-practice measures to improve communication effectiveness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing or a related field.
• Seven or more years of progressive strategic communications experience, including significant experience in internal and executive communications within a large, complex organization.
• Demonstrated success advising senior executives and developing executive communications, leadership messaging and strategic communication plans.
• Experience supporting complex organizational priorities, change and transformation.
• Proven ability to translate complex business, clinical or organizational strategies into clear and engaging communications for diverse and highly specialized audiences.
• Ability to build trusted partnerships across functions and organizational levels.
• Experience connecting multiple strategies and stakeholder groups while navigating ambiguity.
• Ability to lead complex communication strategies from development through execution.
• Strong business acumen, strategic storytelling and executive communication capabilities.
• Sound judgment, discretion and risk-management skills.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with strong execution.
• An enterprise mindset and experience working across matrixed organizations.

Requirements

• Experience developing communications related to academics, research, clinical trials, health care or similarly complex subject areas.
• Experience creating multimedia content for internal communication channels, leadership events and town halls.
• Experience using communication, engagement and listening insights to evaluate and strengthen communication strategies.
• Strong coaching, collaboration and talent-development capabilities.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off programs.
• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.
• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave.
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs.
• Educational Assistance Program.