Communications Director

Communications Director, Pauley Heart Center
School of Medicine/ Department of Internal Medicine/
Division of Cardiology

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. VCU School of Medicine comprises 18 clinical departments, eight basic health science departments, and 11 affiliated institutes and centers, and provides preeminent education to physicians and scientists in order to improve the quality of healthcare for humanity. All full-time university staff are eligible for our generous benefits package that includes choices for health, vision, and dental coverage, life-insurance, short and long-term disability coverage, retirement planning, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, flexible spending accounts, tuition benefits, significant paid-time off,12 paid holidays, and more. Explore our benefits further here: https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/university-and-academic-professional-benefits/

Position Summary :

The Communications Director reports to the Director of the Pauley Heart Center (Center) and is responsible for the day-to-day leadership and operations of the communications and marketing activities for the Center. This Director will focus on audience awareness, perception, knowledge and understanding of the Center’s core story, messaging, and brand identity. Writing about the research, training, education and community outreach activities of the Center. The Director’s role is highly collaborative and will develop and leverage relationships with the School of Medicine chief of staff and communications team, University Relations, Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, Medical Philanthropy and VCU Health marketing, to advance communications initiatives. The Director will also collaborate with Center leadership to drive the long-range planning and implementation of Center strategic communications. Delivering high-quality internal, external and executive communications as both a strategic and tactical partner to Center leaders and the overall Center is a pivotal role of this Director

Required Responsibilities and Job Duties:

The Director of the Pauley Heart Center is responsible for communications planning, implementation of communications tactics, scientific writing, and team management. Duties include and are not limited to the following.
- Develop and implement the communications plan for the Center for both internal and external communications and marketing
- Design and implement a yearly editorial calendar for the Center communications
- Work closely with University Relations, OVPRI, School of Medicine, and various internal offices to develop and leverage content related to scientific research and Center news
- Work closely with VCU Health Marketing on the promotion of the Center clinical services and providers to patients and referring providers
- Manage, develop and disseminate routine communications (e.g. newsletters, updates, blogs, fact sheets, videos, briefing documents, and intranet content)
- Produce multimedia content in support of Center goals and initiatives
Work with SOM and VCUHS web and communications teams to update and enhance Center website
- Provide leadership and support in development of content for Center event communications/marketing and physician and staff recruitment communications
- Customize messages for various audiences, including current and prospective health care providers, team members, students, faculty, staff, government, civic, corporate, cultural and academic leaders, community members and professional associations
- Elevate the reputation of the Center through reporting on scientific advances and awarded grants
- Build new channels for news about the research taking place at Pauley Heart Center
- Collaborate with other university communications professionals for amplifying research news
- Build and supervise a small team of communications and marketing professionals for the Center as the needs evolve

Required Education and Experience:


- Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Public Affairs/ Public Relations, Marketing Mass Communications or related field
- 5 + years minimum experience as a communications professional with progressive roles
- Excellent planning, writing and verbal skills are critical to the success of this position

The successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to :

- Be results-oriented, decisive, and have a can-do attitude
- Understand and explain scientific information, particularly related to Cardiovascular and related fields
- Promote and manage the Pauley Heart Center core story and messaging that elevates and differentiates the Center among its targeted audiences
- Act with independence of thought, high energy and the urgency required to be effective in a fast-paced environment
- Develop and implement fully integrated marketing and communications plans.
- Manage and collaborate with a small communications team, whose responsibilities include but are not limited to content, digital and social media, and design
- Create a business development plan that includes access, community practice and community physician outreach. Justify the need for hiring an individual to fill this roll to join your team
- Adjust to changing priorities and opportunities
- Leverage diversity in functional skills, experience levels and backgrounds for innovation while managing conflicts constructively and maintaining focus on desired deadlines and outcomes
- Speak, write and present information in a timely, proactive, clear, concise and compelling manner
- Develop both long- and short-term strategies and plans for meeting goals while anticipating obstacles

Preferred Education and Experience:
- Managerial experience
- Demonstrated leadership skills, superior, and organizational skills
- Master’s degree in communications or related field
- Work in a university, research organization, hospital or academic medical center
- Strong background in scientific writing
- 10+ years as a communications professional with progressive roles
- Scientific writing capability and experience with adapting content effectively for targeted audiences (scientific, clinical, government policy, patients, and public)
- Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

Job Specific Physical and Cognitive Requirements:

Light lifting (less than 20 lb), fast pace, multiple stimulation, intense customer interaction, frequent change, memory, reasoning, hearing, reading, analyzing, logic, and verbal and written communication.

Additional Information:

FLSA: Exempt
ORP Eligible: - Yes
Hours / weeks - 40 hours weekly
Days /hours - Monday – Friday, Generally 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, with some evenings and weekend hours

Title Details:
University Code: 13334
University Title: Senior Manager CM

Position will remain open until a candidate is selected.University Job Family: Communications

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability.

The School of Medicine continuously strives for our workplace and learning environment to reflect the demographic and social milieu of the communities we serve. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

Salary Range: $95,000 - $125,000



Position Details:

Department: School of Medicine/Internal Medicine/Cardiology, Pauley Heaart Center-1589TH
Employment Type: UF - University Employee FT
Restricted Status: No
FTE: 1
Exemption Status: Exempt



Contact Information:

Contact Name: Brenda Alexander

Contact Email: Brenda.Alexander@vcuhealth.org

Contact Phone: