Director, Enterprise External Communications

Nemours Children's Health • $100K — $130K *
Wilmington, DE 19805In-Person
Healthcare
11 - 15 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, or related field required; Master's preferred.
  • 12 to 15+ years of advanced communications experience in external comms and public relations.
  • Proven media relations expertise with health, science, or policy journalists.
  • Experience managing proactive PR strategies in a healthcare setting, particularly hospitals or health systems.
  • Expertise in owned media strategies and digital content curation.
  • Familiarity with national agency and vendor relationships in the communications landscape.

Responsibilities

  • Shape and own a national reputation strategy for Nemours Children's Health.
  • Lead a proactive earned media strategy, focusing on children's health coverage.
  • Develop integrated content strategies for externally facing media, including owned channels.
  • Design integrated external communications campaigns aligned with institutional priorities.
  • Provide strategic counsel on issues management and crisis communications.
  • Collaborate on a thought leadership platform to enhance executive visibility in national discussions.
  • Monitor reputation analytics and develop impact measurement frameworks.

Benefits

  • Collaborative environment fostering professional development.
  • Access to impactful thought leadership opportunities.
  • Engagement with high-profile national media outlets.
  • Opportunity to influence pediatric health narratives at a national level.
Full Job Description
Job Description

Nemours is seeking an Enterprise External Communications Director

The Director, External Communications, serves as a trusted strategic advisor to executive and senior leadership across the organization. Reporting to the Vice President, Reputation and Communications, this director drives the national reputational strategy for Nemours Children's Health while partnering with regional and enterprise leaders to advance regional reputation and patient growth strategies through external communications. The role leads Nemours Children's earned media, external communications, and integrated campaign strategies to strengthen national visibility, support regional market priorities, and ensure the organization shows up with a clear, credible, and differentiated voice across external channels.

Essential Functions
  1. National Reputation and Market Positioning: Shape, drive, and own a national reputation strategy
    for Nemours Children's Health in ways that build trust, strengthen credibility, and support regional
    reputation and patient growth. Collaboratively define the organization's core external narrative and align
    communications efforts to position Nemours as the leading voice in children's health and destination for
    pediatric care. Lead external positioning for executive, clinical service line, research innovation, and
    population health priorities across channels as identified. Help shape awards and recognition strategies
    that advance institutional visibility and influence. Identify emerging reputation opportunities and risks,
    and provide strategic counsel to the VP, Reputation and Communications, and other leaders on
    response strategies.
  2. Earned Media/Media Relations: Lead a proactive, story-forward media relations strategy that
    positions Nemours as an authoritative and sought-after source for national, regional, and specialty
    media on topics that matter in children's health. Build Nemours Children's presence with health,
    science, policy, and general assignment journalists at nationally influential outlets while ensuring our
    geographic footprint is also represented with excellence. Build and maintain an expanding network of
    journalist, editor, and producer relationships that give Nemours access and credibility when it matters
    most. Lead the team in developing pitches, press materials, media briefings, and expert source
    programs with the quality, specificity, and news judgment that helps to create news and earns high
    quality national and regional coverage. Collaboratively lead content strategy and execution of high visibility announcements.
  3. External Content Strategy: Partner with others to develop integrated strategy, content architecture,
    and editorial direction of externally facing owned media, including the institutional newsroom, Well
    Beyond Medicine Podcast, and other digital content platforms through which Nemours speaks to public audiences without a media intermediary. Ensure that earned media is integrated deliberately with owned channels so both reinforce a coherent narrative for external audiences. Develop an editorial strategy for the newsroom that reflects institutional priorities, advances key narrative pillars, and creates a destination resource for media, partners, policy audiences, and healthcare communities. Build content that showcases the depth and breadth of Nemours clinical expertise, research innovation, and thought leadership through compelling storytelling. Contribute to creative idea generation and execution to help create news. Collaborate closely with internal communications, social media, and other Marketing & Communications leaders to ensure narrative coherence and amplification across channels.
  4. Integrated Campaign-Led Communications: Design and lead integrated external communications
    campaigns that continue to move Nemours from a reactive media function to a proactive reputationbuilding institution. Develop campaigns that are grounded in a clear institutional priority, anchored in a differentiated narrative, and executed across earned and owned channels with a defined audience, goals, and disciplined cadence. Lead the team in developing campaign briefs, messaging frameworks, channel strategies, and measurement plans for major external initiatives such as clinical service line launches, research breakthroughs, and health equity advocacy and community impact programs. Partner with others to build and steward an integrated communications calendar that sequences campaigns with institutional priorities, national awareness events, and media opportunity windows. Champion the shift in how communications success is measured: not by how many stories were placed, but by what reputation we built toward.
  5. Issues Management and Reputation Protection: With oversight responsibility for reputation risk, this
    director serves as a strategic advisor on issues management and crisis communications, providing
    counsel on how emerging situations may affect Nemours external standing and ensuring that the
    organization communicates with clarity, consistency, and credibility when it matters most. Stay
    appraised of news, conferences, industry developments, and significant occurrences that could create
    reputational opportunity or risk for Nemours Children's Health. Synthesize emerging topics and trends
    and lead strategies to manage issues and create positive positioning opportunities for the organization. Develop and maintain crisis communications frameworks in partnership with outside agency support, Legal, Risk External Affairs, and the VP, Reputation and Communications.
  6. Thought Leadership: Collaborate with the VP, Reputation and Communications, and the Office of the
    President on an integrated enterprise thought leadership platform that positions Nemours most senior
    voices in national conversations on children's health, health equity, policy, and the future of pediatric
    medicine. This director provides external communications strategy, media access, and channel
    guidance in support of thought leadership efforts that are primarily designed and led through the Office of the President, ensuring that executive visibility is consistent, well-positioned, and amplified through the right earned and owned media vehicles. Identify national speaking opportunities, media platforms, and publication channels that advance a thought leadership narrative and reinforce institutional reputation at the highest levels.
  7. Reputation Monitoring, Analytics, and Impact Measurement: Build and maintain a disciplined
    approach to reputation measurement. Develop and regularly report on a reputation scorecard and
    external communications dashboard for the VP, Reputation and Communications, Marketing &
    Communications, and enterprise leadership. Use data and insights to inform strategy, refine campaign
    approaches, and demonstrate the measurable impact of the external communications function on
    Nemours national standing. Stay appraised of media landscape trends, journalist and audience behavior shifts, and platform changes that should inform how Nemours shows up externally.
  8. Team Leadership and Development: Lead, develop, motivate, and manage a high-performing
    communications team. Teach, coach, and mentor direct reports while serving as an active and
    contributing member of the Marketing and Communications leadership team. Set high standards for
    quality, strategic thinking, and storytelling craft. Foster a team culture of proactive initiative, editorial
    rigor, and accountability to outcomes, not just outputs. Support recruitment, onboarding, performance
    development, and succession planning for the team.
  9. Budget and Resource Management: Coordinate and manage the external communications budget,
    including annual planning, quarterly forecasting, and agency and vendor resource management. Serve
    as the lead contact for national agencies and vendors, accountable for agency results, maximum use of
    resources, and strong return on investment.

Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, or related field required. Master's degree preferred.
  • 12 to 15 years + of progressive communications experience with substantial external communications, public relations, or media relations leadership in a complex organization.
  • Demonstrated experience managing media relationships across health, science, or policy beats, with a consistent record of earning high-quality coverage.
  • Prior experience in PR for a hospital, health system, or healthcare organization strongly preferred.
  • Track record of building and executing proactive, integrated external communications strategies, not just managing inbound media requests.
  • Experience with owned media strategy, including institutional newsroom management and digital content development.
  • Healthcare, nonprofit, or public sector experience preferred.
  • Prior experience with national agency management and vendor partnerships


About Nemours Children's Health

Nemours Children's Health Careers

There has never been a better time to explore the diverse job opportunities at Nemours Children's Health, a leading organization in pediatric healthcare. Nemours Children's Health is renowned for its commitment to innovation and excellence in child health services.

Work You’ll Do

Join Nemours Children's Health to assist in transforming pediatric healthcare and improving the lives of children across the nation. Nemours Children's Health stands at the forefront of medical innovation and patient care, making it an ideal environment for professionals looking to make a significant impact. Engage in meaningful work that combines cutting-edge technology, deep industry expertise, and a passion for enhancing children's health outcomes. Nemours Children's Health offers a unique position in the marketplace, enabling team members to lead in pediatric healthcare through advanced technology and innovative healthcare solutions. Collaborate with a dedicated team of healthcare professionals who are committed to driving change and fostering a culture of excellence and compassion.

Nemours Children's Health Employment Opportunities

The team is actively building its workforce to support and advance pediatric healthcare services. Nemours Children's Health offers a variety of positions, from clinical roles to administrative support, each contributing to the overarching goal of children's health and wellness.

Innovative Work and Career Growth

Nemours Children's Health is home to a vast network of healthcare professionals—each dedicated to pediatric care and committed to leadership and professional growth. The organization encourages continuous professional development and leadership training to ensure that team members are equipped to lead and innovate in their fields.

Be Part of a Diverse and Inclusive Team

Nemours Children's Health prioritizes diversity and inclusion, creating a welcoming environment where all team members can thrive. The organization offers diversity training and promotes a culture where different perspectives are valued and celebrated.

Future-Proof Your Career

Nemours Children's Health provides extensive support for career advancement, including professional development programs, certification support, and leadership training. The potential for growth within the organization is substantial, driven by a commitment to internal promotion and professional enrichment.

Explore Job Opportunities and Internships

Nemours Children's Health offers a range of job opportunities and internships, providing a pathway for those at the start of their careers to gain valuable experience in the healthcare industry. Positions are designed to harness the skills and enthusiasm of new entrants to the professional world, integrating them into a team that is passionate about children's health and well-being.

The Nemours Children's Health Network

By joining Nemours Children's Health, team members become part of a respected network known for its commitment to innovation and quality care. The collaborative environment ensures that all members have access to the tools and resources necessary to excel in their roles.

Stay Connected

Join the Team

Search open positions that match your skills and interests. Nemours Children's Health looks for passionate, curious, creative, and solution-driven team players. SEARCH NEMOURS CHILDREN'S HEALTH JOBS

Keep Up to Date

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