Senior Director, External Communications & Thought Leadership

About the Role

Lyra Health, a leader in evidence-based mental health care, is looking for a senior, strategic communications professional to run external communications. This is an exciting leadership opportunity to drive the communications engine of a mission-driven organization tackling one of the greatest problems of our time. We need a cross-functional operator who excels at coordinating high-level strategy alongside senior stakeholders then thrives in on-the-ground execution.

Because you will work closely with our leadership team, it is imperative that you can build trust quickly with executives, drive alignment across functions, and master nuanced, effective messaging. You will help Lyra clearly articulate how its commitment to clinical rigor, following the science, and responsible innovation sets it apart to deliver the best care possible. You will report to the VP of Communications and Corporate Affairs, working with a collaborative team to help connect the dots across brand, corporate affairs, executive communications, marketing, and multiple business verticals. Part of this role will be building out the platforms of our clinical experts, so a background in the health sector and understanding of evidence-based mental health care is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Strategy & Execution: Create and execute communication plans in close partnership with the executive team while guiding the broad strategic communication plan and narrative for the company.
• Executive Support: Act as a trusted partner to executives, preparing and coaching spokespeople for media interviews, speeches, and internal events.
• Storytelling: Build corporate messaging, themes, and storylines that increase brand awareness and protect our reputation.
• Thought Leadership: Drive thought leadership programs, particularly for our clinical team, that resonate deeply with our customers, members, and partners.
• Content Creation: Write and oversee original content, including press releases, bylined articles, and presentations.
• Media & Analyst Relations: Establish and maintain strong relationships with key media outlets and industry analysts.
• Operations & Metrics: Establish clear communication processes to help our teams work more effectively, and measure program impact to refine our ongoing strategy.
• Talent Development: Manage and develop the media relations and executive communications teams.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of communications experience including media relations and executive communications, preferably with a background in health care.
• Track record of building and maintaining a network of external media relationships and internal trust among executives.
• A proven ability to think critically about big-picture strategy while remaining highly hands-on with execution (the "Strategic Doer" Mindset).
• Strong emotional intelligence and a rapid grasp of nuance, allowing you to earn trust with senior leaders (Executive Presence).
• Exceptional writing skills and a talent for turning complex, technical, or sensitive topics into clear, compelling stories (Clear Communication).
• Experience building successful thought leadership programs, preferably within the technology or healthcare sectors (Industry Track Record).
• The organizational skills to prioritize work, meet deadlines, and thrive in a fast-moving, high-growth environment (Agility).
• A culturally responsive approach to communication and a history of working well across different internal departments (Collaboration).

Pay

The anticipated annual base salary range for this full-time position is $168,000 to $231,000. The base range is determined by role and level, and placement within the range will depend on skills, qualifications, experience, and location. This role may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.

Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare coverage (including medical, dental, vision, FSA/HSA, life, and disability insurances).
• Lyra for Lyrians: coaching and therapy services.
• Equity in the company through discretionary restricted stock units.
• Competitive time off with pay policies including vacation, sick days, and company holidays.
• Paid parental leave.
• 401K with up to 3% matching.
• Monthly tech allowance.
• Well-being perks and activities, surprise swag, and regular community celebrations.