Manager Public Relations - Communications

About the role

The Manager, Public Relations serves as a strategic, proactive communications leader responsible for advancing and protecting the reputation of CHRISTUS Health. Reporting to the Director of Public Relations, the manager works with ministry leaders, communications partners, and other stakeholders to identify meaningful stories, anticipate emerging issues, and translate insights into public‑relations opportunities that elevate the organization’s mission, leaders, ministries, and impact. The role also acts as the onsite communications lead for media visits and provides day‑to‑day leadership, coaching, and mentorship to direct reports.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and mentor direct reports, fostering strong performance, professional growth, sound judgment, and a proactive, service‑oriented approach to public‑relations support.
• 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 CHRISTUS Health’s mission and objectives.
• 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 for external visibility.
• Identify, develop, write, and pitch compelling stories that elevate CHRISTUS Health, its ministries, leaders, clinicians, and mission in timely, strategic, and audience‑relevant ways.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with key media outlets and reporters, emphasizing an understanding of the local and regional media landscape.
• 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 media interactions.
• Provide strategic recommendations informed by ministry leaders’ priorities, shaping story ideas, messaging opportunities, and media outreach to increase meaningful visibility.
• Serve as a trusted communications partner to leaders and colleagues by offering 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 ensure an integrated communications approach, 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 a 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, protecting the confidentiality and integrity of organizational, leadership, and patient‑related information.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or a related field (required).
• 5+ years of experience in public relations, media relations, strategic communications, or a related discipline (required), including developing story ideas, writing 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 generate proactive visibility and strategic storytelling.
• 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.

Work Schedule

8 AM – 5 PM, Monday‑Friday (Full‑time)