Director of Marketing and Communications

Position Purpose

The Director of Marketing and Communications is responsible for providing strategic leadership, direction, and oversight for all marketing, communications, public relations, media relations, branding, digital marketing and community engagement initiatives across Pittsburgh Mercy. This role serves as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and is accountable for developing and executing integrated marketing and communications strategies that enhance brand awareness, support organizational growth, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and advance the ministry's mission, vision, and values. The Director leads a high‑performing team and collaborates across service lines, operations, human resources, development, and executive leadership to ensure consistent messaging, effective change management, crisis communications preparedness and measurable marketing performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Brand Management: Lead development, implementation, and evaluation of integrated marketing, communications, branding, and public‑relations strategies; serve as trusted advisor to executive leadership on communications, change management, reputation management, and business development; ensure alignment with mission, vision, values, strategic objectives, and brand standards; direct departmental operations including strategic planning, budget oversight, performance measurement, and staff development; plan and execute communication for organizational transformation efforts such as mergers, acquisitions, and restructuring; enhance visibility through community engagement, partnerships, sponsorships, speaking opportunities, and thought‑leadership initiatives; educate leaders on emerging trends and best practices.
• Marketing & Digital Strategy: Develop and execute comprehensive marketing strategies across traditional, digital, social, content, and emerging channels; oversee market research, website strategy, analytics, branding initiatives, and creation of creative content and multimedia assets; drive initiatives that support growth, referral development, market‑share expansion, and service‑line performance; establish and monitor KPIs to evaluate effectiveness, ROI, and campaign performance; manage relationships with external agencies, media partners, consultants, and vendors; evaluate, implement, and optimize marketing technologies, automation platforms, CRM integrations, and digital tools.
• Communications, Public Relations & Media Relations: Lead internal, external, executive, and strategic communications to ensure consistent, accurate, and impactful messaging; oversee media relations, executive communications, social‑media strategy, content development, and community engagement; direct communication calendars, content planning, publication schedules, editorial standards, and channel governance; serve as organizational spokesperson and prepare leaders for media interviews, public appearances, and speaking engagements; build and maintain strategic relationships with media, community organizations, providers, funders, government entities, and other stakeholders; collaborate with HR, Operations, Development, and service‑line leaders to support colleague engagement, recruitment marketing, sponsorships, events, and priorities; provide consultative marketing and communications expertise to operational leaders; review and approve executive speeches, media statements, press releases, publications, and other communications.
• Crisis Communications & Emergency Preparedness: Lead crisis communications planning, response, and reputation‑management strategies; act as the designated Public Information Officer during emergencies, critical incidents, and crises; develop, implement, and maintain communication protocols, messaging frameworks, and response procedures to ensure timely, accurate, and effective communication, including 24/7 emergency response support.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism, Communications, or a related field (required).
• Master’s degree in marketing or an MBA (preferred).
• 7+ years of senior‑level experience leading a team and operating a department that includes marketing, public relations, communications, and media, preferably in a healthcare setting.
• 5 years of digital‑marketing experience.
• Experience navigating complex matrixed organizations; corporate‑headquarters experience desired.
• Proficiency in all areas of marketing and communications: advertising, integrated campaigns, SEO/SEM, viral techniques, public and media relations, content creation, social‑network and mobile‑app leveraging.
• Crisis‑management experience.
• Website‑management experience.
• Financial and budget‑management skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, written, organizational, and planning abilities.
• Ability to build and sustain relationships with internal and external constituencies, including media, board members, executive team, service‑line leaders, and providers.
• Government and/or public‑health policy experience (beneficial but not mandatory).
• Executive‑level poise and skill sets (mandatory).
• Act 33/34 and FBI clearances.
• Pre‑employment drug screen.
• Valid driver’s license.

Schedule

Exempt – Monday through Friday, with some non‑traditional business hours as needed. May be required to work beyond normal hours, on weekends, and be on call during emergency conditions. May also be required to work on shifts other than originally hired.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefit package starts Day 1 of employment, including Medical, Dental, Vision; Life Insurance; 403(b) with employer match; Paid Time Off (PTO); Paid Holiday Days; and additional offerings.

About Pittsburgh Mercy

We are a community‑based health and human services organization using person‑centered care to treat our area’s most vulnerable populations. We work with families in safe, familiar settings and view them as equal partners in planning, developing, and monitoring care. Our mission is to be a compassionate, transforming presence within our communities, offering help and hope to people experiencing mental illness, substance use, physical health needs, intellectual disabilities, traumatic events, homelessness, or abuse. Rooted in our mission and core values, we honor the dignity of every person and recognize the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents each colleague brings, fostering a stronger, more compassionate organization.