[Hiring] Public Relations Manager @Baptist

Role Description

We are looking for a strategic and collaborative public relations professional to lead external communications initiatives for Baptist Memorial Health Care, a mission-driven health care organization. This is a highly visible role with significant ownership and autonomy, reporting directly to the director of public relations and internal communications.

The position is ideal for a creative storyteller and communications strategist who can:

• Identify meaningful media opportunities
• Shape public perception
• Strengthen brand visibility across health care and community-focused sectors

This individual must be a strong writer and editor with experience in:

• Media relations
• Strategic communications
• Executive communications
• Issues management
• Event planning

Additionally, the individual must:

• Be a self-starter who can work independently
• Prioritize multiple projects and manage deadlines with minimal supervision
• Build working relationships across the business in a fast-paced, matrixed environment
• Be available to work some weekends and evenings for media issues, media inquiries, and events

Responsibilities

• Day-to-day PR Functions and Operations:
  • Overseeing and conducting day-to-day public relations functions for Baptist Memorial Health Care
  • Telling Baptist Memorial’s story through traditional and digital media
  • Writing and editing news releases, media advisories, executive thought leadership content, organizational statements, bylines, and op-eds
  • Responding to media inquiries and preparing talking points, briefing materials, Q&A documents, and messaging guidance for spokespeople ahead of media and public appearances
  • Identifying and pursuing creative public relations opportunities, including podcasts, awards programs, partnerships, community events, and speaking engagements
  • Maintaining essential public relations tools, updating content on the public relations newsroom, proofreading/editing newswriting, preparing reports that summarize and quantify the PR team’s activities, and updating public relations policies
  • Staying up to date with public relations trends to ensure the public relations staff uses best practices in their work
  • Staying within an annual public relations division budget
  • Having a working knowledge and expert use of Associated Press Style
  • Helping schedule and manage video production
• Media Relations and Event Planning:
  • Manage media inquiries in a timely manner, arranging interviews with the appropriate Baptist Memorial representatives
  • Providing accurate information and monitoring all media coverage about Baptist
  • Establishing media relationships or the ability to rapidly build strong journalist and media networks
  • Organizing news events, media announcements, service launches, and public-facing communications activities
• PR Staff Supervision:
  • Supervising public relations employees, hiring and training PR staff
  • Dealing with employee issues and concerns, promoting teamwork, mentoring and fostering professional growth
  • Holding regular one-on-one meetings with the PR staff
  • Ensuring staff have the necessary tools to perform top-quality work
  • Continuously improving team processes and communications approaches
  • Fostering a dedication to professional development, growth, and advancement
• Building Relationships and Providing Strategic Counsel:
  • Establishing communication with internal customers regarding their needs and expectations from PR
  • Increasing customer satisfaction with the performance and results of PR efforts
  • Acting as a strategic advisor, providing strategic counsel on high-impact communications, including crisis response, business continuity, customer messaging, and stakeholder engagement
  • Collaborating with marketing teams to align public relations initiatives with broader brand and campaign strategies
• Issues Management and Crisis Support:
  • Supporting the director of public relations and internal communications in crisis management
  • Staying apprised of issues that may affect Baptist Memorial’s reputation and the corporate communications department
  • Advising clients on reputational risk, emerging public issues, and communications strategy
• Media Monitoring:
  • Monitoring, tracking, and analyzing media coverage, media trends, and industry conversations
  • Identifying timely and relevant opportunities for brand visibility and public engagement
  • Maintaining media databases, tracking media coverage, and regularly reporting on reach, audience sentiment, and campaign impact

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in communications or a similar major
• At least five years of experience in public relations, media relations, issues management, or a related field
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• Experience working in a corporate environment with people at all levels of an organization, from frontline workers to senior leaders
• Demonstrated success in earned media strategy and public relations campaign execution
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under deadline pressure
• Ability to thrive in a remote environment
• Experience supervising public relations professionals and social media experience is a plus

Company Description