Communications Director

About the position

Since our founding in 1924, we've cut cardiovascular disease deaths in half, but there is still so much more to do. To overcome today's biggest health challenges and accelerate this progress, we need passionate individuals like you. Join our movement, be part of the progress, and help ensure a healthier future for all. You matter, and so does the impact you can make with us. We are currently hiring for a Communications Director in our Toledo/Dayton territory. The Communications Director will set and execute our communications strategy to promote the Association's health and development priorities in the Toledo/Dayton market including earned media, social media, paid media, PSAs, media advocacy, messaging and storytelling. This full-time, home-based position requires significant fieldwork include dividing time between Toledo and Dayton, with frequent travel to the Dayton market. The Association offers many resources to help you maintain work-life harmonization through your changing needs and life situations. To help you be successful, you will have access to Heart U, our award-winning corporate university, as well as additional training and support, locally.

Responsibilities

• Proactively pitch American Heart Association programs, campaigns, and events to the media on a local level.
• Oversee local social media sites, including the creation and promoting of posts.
• Negotiate and coordinate local media sponsorships for Association programs, campaigns, and events.
• Execute strategy for media advocacy that advances local and state policy goals.
• Lead creation of market messaging for events and issues.
• Recruit, engage and train local volunteers and staff to serve as Association spokespeople in traditional, non-traditional and social media.
• Work outside of normal business hours and on weekends as needed.

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in public relations communications, public relations, marketing, or journalism. This experience may also count towards satisfying this position's educational requirement. Nonprofit experience preferred.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• Knowledge of media and communications principles, ethics, practices and techniques, including technical requirements.
• Working knowledge of news media operations and news gathering.
• Ability to create and maintain key contacts within the media.
• Ability to recruit, organize, train, manage volunteers as well as ability to accomplish goals through them.
• Exceptional skill in written and oral communications.
• Must have at least basic knowledge and skill with Microsoft Office used for word processing, email, presentations, and spreadsheets. Advanced knowledge and skill with these programs is preferred. These skills are subject to testing.
• Ability to lift and/or move large objects (such as boxes) with the expectation that heavier items would be broken down into smaller components or requesting additional assistance may be required before lifting and/or moving.
• Ability to do daily local travel up to 40%; requires access to reliable transportation at all times on an immediate basis.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary.
• Merit increases and incentive programs.
• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Robust retirement program that includes an employer match and automatic contribution.
• Employee assistance program and employee wellness program.
• Telemedicine and medical consultation.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) at a minimum of 16 days per year for new employees.
• 12 paid holidays off each year.
• Tuition Assistance for further education and career development.