Overview:

• Developing strategic employee communications efforts designed to inform, engage and activate a variety of internal stakeholders across our clinical and research programs. This will include senior-level executives, researchers, physicians, and professional and support staff. These communications advance the strategic goals of the organization and help create a dynamic and rewarding work environment. It also includes issues management communications and crisis response as it relates to internal audiences.
• Serving as strategic counsel to leadership on issues related to internal communications, and supporting the internal and external communication needs of executive leadership
• Overseeing communication to existing patients related to organizational news and operational changes/impacts that could be relevant to their care experience.

Responsibilities:

• Engage with and advocate for employees: Develop internal communication strategies and campaigns that help connect employees to a shared understanding of the Fred Hutch mission and values. Use multi-directional and interactive employee communications to unify and amplify employee voices and activities in ways that advance the organization’s strategic goals, culture and brand. Work in close collaboration with clinical, scientific and administrative leaders across the organization to increase this shared understanding by sharing ideas and resources to align messages that enhance the employee experience.
• Support a strong patient experience: Develop and execute communication strategies and processes that ensure patients receive transparent, timely communication about organizational operational news and changes that could be relevant to their care experience, such as changes in processes, availability of alternative services/locations, potential interruptions in services and other types of non-marketing, non-individualized communications.
• Elevate the Fred Hutch brand: Support Fred Hutch as a great place to work and increase employee loyalty and ambassadorship through transparent communications that that strengthen employee trust, inspire pride in the organization and create a shared commitment to the value of every individual’s role and importance. Strengthen patient satisfaction through support of timely, clear communications affecting their care.
• Plan and manage organizational messaging: Develop comprehensive communications to effectively share, coordinate and cascade messages and announcements in alignment with Fred Hutch’s strategic plan. Maintain editorial calendar of employee-focused and patient-focused content, and partner with extended team members to produce and publish content across a variety of channels and experiences. Comprehensively track and encourage the promotion of notable news, events and achievements in a culture that values diversity, equity and inclusion. Drive internal campaigns around activities that impact employees and patients.
• Define and operationalize channel communications strategy for employee communications: Leverage existing internal communications platforms (intranet, SharePoint sites, email, seminars) to build awareness/community across the organization and work with stakeholders, web producers and writers to promote, create and/or curate relevant content. Develop best practices and standard operating procedures to guide communications to all staff. Develop communications resources and toolkits to support departments and divisions to provide consistent, ongoing and quality communications for their teams.
• Support executive leadership: Serve as a communications expert on executive messaging and communications in written, video and presentation formats. Provide communications support to executive leaders presenting at internal events and town halls. Guide leaders, their teams and departments on communication best practices. Produce high-caliber meeting/event briefings and materials for the President & Director’s Office. Edit, finalize and distribute internal messages to all staff on behalf of the President & Director.
• Develop a high performing team/external resources: Build, lead, mentor and retain a high performing, well-integrated team that works collaboratively with their colleagues in and outside of the department and reflects our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Request, select and manage external agencies and vendors as appropriate to support strategic goals.
• Measure effectiveness and innovate: Develop and deploy methods for ongoing measurement of employee communications effectiveness and impact. Solicit feedback and listen to employees and continually scan the communications landscape to generate new approaches for enhancing internal communications. Use data and other learnings to propose, test and establish new communications channels, content and tools that support employee needs and organizational goals.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or related field, or equivalent experience
• 7+ years of experience in professional communications roles developing organizational multi-channel communications plans and strategies.
• 3+ years leading an employee communications function.
• 3+ years in a role overseeing other professional communications staff.
• Demonstrated success in leading impactful internal communications programs on behalf of an organization, including significant engagement with executive leadership.

• Experience in the following types of organizations is highly preferred: hospital or health care system, scientific research organization, academic organization.
• Experience working in an integrated marketing and communications department.
• Experience with content management systems (preferably Adobe Experience Manager) and email platforms (Eloqua, Convio, etc.).
• Proficient in Office 365 and Asana or other project management tools.
• Comfort level working collaboratively with diverse stakeholder groups andfocused on building strong, trusting relationships with employees across the organization.
• Analytical approach and good problem-solving skills, coupled with creative orientation; keen attention to detail and ability to see the big picture.
• Experience developing a wide range of content for a variety of internal channels.
• Excellent writing, editing and verbal communication skills; demonstrated ability to create and deliver clear and persuasive communications for varying audiences.
• Experience distilling sensitive and often complex information (healthcare, science, research, technology) into compelling communiques.
• Experience evaluating and implementing the latest internal and multi-directional communications tools and channels.
• Rapid responder to internal customers outside of traditional business hours and across time zones. Experience with crisis and issues management.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and complexity.
• Demonstrated ability to establish priorities and meet project deadlines and develop communications solutions and materials that support organizational objectives.
• Positive, proactive, strategic, flexible and able to maintain a sense of humor while delivering results.

Our Commitment to Diversity: We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer. We are committed to cultivating a workplace in which diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, disability (physical or mental), marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, or membership in any other legally protected class. We are an Affirmative Action employer. We encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds to apply and desire priority referrals of protected veterans. If due to a disability you need assistance/and or a reasonable accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to our Employee Services Center at hrops@fredhutch.org or by calling 206-667-4700.