Manager - External Communications, Austin, Texas

External Communications Manager

As a passionate and accomplished communicator, you will be responsible for managing and implementing communications campaigns for Ascension Texas, executing external communications strategies that strengthen Ascension's brand and reputation and support business and public affairs priorities in the market. In this role, you will help build a positive reputation across Texas, in support of our goal to provide quality care to the citizens we serve. This role requires a balance of strategic vision and hands-on execution. You will partner with our internal communications and marketing managers in Texas and support our market executives, helping to drive engaging and action-oriented messaging. You are both a strong program manager and skilled storyteller an inspiring writer and communicator who brings Ascension's Mission, Vision, and Values to life for our communities and who is comfortable working across a matrixed organization to deliver measurable results.

Responsibilities include:

• Strategy and execution: Manage day-to-day execution of a cohesive external communications strategy and plan for Texas that advances our market reputation and supports business objectives, in coordination with other enterprise and local communication teams.
• Leverage enterprise resources: Adapts toolkits, messaging documents, creative content, channel management and strategic planning support from our enterprise communications teams and customize them as appropriate for the Texas market.
• Counsel and advisement: Partners with the Sr. Director, External Communications to provide external communications counsel and support to Ascension Texas market leaders and other partner teams.
• Content development and storytelling: Develops, writes, edits, and distributes a variety of external communications including press releases, op-eds, articles, social media content, campaigns and event materials that support local business objectives and reinforce the organization's brand. Collects and shares impactive stories that inspire audiences and highlight the ministry's contributions to the community.
• Media and stakeholder engagement: Builds and maintains strong relationships with media, community partners, and stakeholders to enhance the organization's reputation.
• Events and campaigns: Supports external events and campaigns that advance local priorities and reinforce the organization's brand.
• Metrics and reporting: Establishes and tracks KPIs, manages reporting dashboards and presentations, and communicates results to senior executives and cross-functional teams.
• Mission alignment: Ensures all communications reflect the Mission, Vision and Values of Ascension as a healing ministry of the Catholic Church.
• Flexibility: Maintains responsiveness during and outside of normal work hours, as needed.

Complexity of work includes:

• Requires excellent writing and project management skills, as well as critical thinking, strategic counseling and decisive judgment.
• Knowledge of the healthcare landscape, local market issues and communications best practices is highly valuable.
• The manager combines a big-picture perspective with attention to detail, clarity, and focus to deliver consistent, high-quality work.
• Must be able to work in a stressful, fast-paced environment.

Work experience includes:

• Eight plus years in an external communications management role, ideally with experience working in a healthcare provider system or similar services organization
• Experience with executive communications and counsel
• Familiarity with local issues management and the media environment
• Adept at the rapid development of content in support of local business, market and organizational communications needs
• Experience developing clear KPIs and reporting results to multiple teams, including senior executives
• Strong project and time management skills, with the ability to oversee several initiatives simultaneously
• Storytelling ability that highlights the organization's impact and secures meaningful coverage

Education:

• High School diploma equivalency with 3 years of cumulative experience OR Associate's degree/Bachelor's degree with 2 years of cumulative experience OR 7 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required. 3 years of leadership or management experience preferred.

Why Join Our Team

Ascension associates are key to our commitment of transforming healthcare and providing care to all, especially those most in need. Join us and help us drive impact through reimagining how we can deliver a people-centered healthcare experience and creating the solutions to do it. Explore career opportunities across our ministry locations and within our corporate headquarters.

Ascension is a leading non-profit, faith-based national health system made up of over 134,000 associates and 2,600 sites of care, including more than 140 hospitals and 40 senior living communities in 19 states.

Our Mission, Vision and Values encompass everything we do at Ascension. Every associate is empowered to give back, volunteer and make a positive impact in their community. Ascension careers are more than jobs; they are opportunities to enhance your life and the lives of the people around you.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

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