Manager Public Relations - Communications

About the role

The Manager, Public Relations serves as a strategic, proactive, and highly regarded communications leader responsible for advancing and protecting the reputation of CHRISTUS Health through strong media relations, story development, message counsel, and integrated communications support. Reporting to the Director of Public Relations, this role helps shape how CHRISTUS Health is seen, understood, and valued across the communities it serves. The manager works closely with ministry leaders, communications partners, and other key stakeholders to identify meaningful stories, anticipate emerging issues, understand local and system priorities, and translate those insights into strategic public‑relations opportunities that elevate the organization’s mission, leaders, ministries, and impact.

Key aspects of the role include cultivating trusted relationships with ministry leaders, developing productive relationships with key media outlets, serving as the onsite communications lead for media visits, providing day‑to‑day leadership and mentorship to direct reports, and partnering with social media and internal communications colleagues to ensure a coordinated, integrated storytelling approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and mentor direct reports, fostering strong performance, professional growth, sound judgment, and a proactive, service‑oriented approach to public‑relations support across the system.
• Create an environment of accountability, collaboration, and continuous development by setting clear expectations, providing meaningful feedback, and helping team members grow in confidence, capability, and leadership presence.
• Support the development and execution of strategic public‑relations plans that advance ministry and system priorities, strengthen reputation, and align with the mission and objectives of CHRISTUS Health.
• Build and maintain strong, trust‑based relationships with ministry leaders and key stakeholders to stay informed of local priorities, emerging opportunities, sensitive issues, and stories that can be developed for external visibility.
• Identify, develop, write, and pitch compelling stories that elevate CHRISTUS Health, its ministries, leaders, clinicians, and mission in ways that are timely, strategic, and relevant to target audiences.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with key media outlets and reporters, emphasizing an understanding of the local and regional media landscape and identifying the right opportunities for engagement.
• Serve as the onsite communications lead for media visits, acting as a liaison between media and facility or ministry leaders, coordinating logistics, accompanying media onsite, preparing leaders and subject‑matter experts for interviews, and supporting interviews and other media interactions to ensure a professional, well‑coordinated experience.
• Provide strategic recommendations informed by ministry leaders’ priorities and objectives, helping shape story ideas, messaging opportunities, and media outreach that further organizational goals and increase meaningful visibility for CHRISTUS Health.
• Serve as a trusted communications partner to leaders and colleagues by bringing thoughtful counsel, strong instincts, and a forward‑looking approach to public‑relations planning, story development, and reputational support.
• Partner closely with the Director of Public Relations and other communications leaders to support proactive and responsive public‑relations efforts, including media inquiries, issue response, and reputation management.
• Collaborate with social media and internal communications colleagues to support an integrated communications approach and ensure message consistency, coordination, and alignment across channels.
• Monitor news coverage and mentions of CHRISTUS Health, identify relevant developments, and maintain accurate records of media inquiries, responses, coverage, and related activity through the media log.
• Draft and refine messaging, statements, briefing materials, and other communications to support public‑relations activity, media engagement, and issue management as needed.
• Exercise sound judgment in handling sensitive information and communications matters, while protecting the confidentiality and integrity of organizational, leadership, and patient‑related information.

Requirements

• Education/Skills: Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or a related field (required).
• Experience: 5+ years of experience in public relations, media relations, strategic communications, or a related communications discipline (required). Includes experience developing story ideas, writing materials for external audiences, supporting media outreach or issue response, and providing day‑to‑day guidance or leadership to others.
• Preferred experience leading, coaching, or mentoring team members in a communications setting.
• Preferred experience cultivating relationships with media outlets, reporters, leaders, or community stakeholders to identify proactive visibility and strategic storytelling opportunities.
• Preferred experience in healthcare, not‑for‑profit, or mission‑driven communications environments.
• Preferred experience supporting integrated communications efforts across public relations, social media, internal communications, or related functions.
• Preferred experience working with ministry or organizational leaders to translate strategic priorities into communications recommendations, story development, and outreach opportunities.

Schedule

Full‑time position, Monday‑Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM.