System Vice President - Marketing and Communications

About the role

The System Vice President of Marketing and Communications is the senior executive responsible for developing and leading an integrated marketing, communications, and brand strategy across Albany Med Health System. Reporting to the EVP Strategy Transformation & Corporate Development and serving as a key member of the senior leadership team, this role sets the strategic direction for how the System communicates with patients, physicians, employees, donors, media, elected officials, and the broader community. The System Vice President builds and leads a high-performing team spanning marketing, digital and content strategy, public relations, internal communications, crisis and issues management, and executive communications, while partnering closely with service line leaders, philanthropy, physician leadership, and operating unit presidents throughout the System.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership
  • Serve as the System's chief marketing and communications strategist, translating organizational goals into an integrated brand, marketing, and communications strategy across all entities and service lines.
  • Partner with the CEO, Board, and senior executive team to advise on reputation, positioning, and stakeholder communications for major System initiatives, including growth, partnership, and integration efforts.
  • Set annual and multi-year marketing and communications plans aligned to System strategic priorities, with clear goals, budgets, and performance metrics.
  • Represent Albany Med Health System's brand and communications function to the Board of Directors, physician leadership, and external partners.
• Brand & Marketing
  • Own and steward the Albany Med Health System brand architecture, ensuring consistency across all entities, service lines, and sub-brands.
  • Lead consumer, physician, and employer marketing strategies to support patient volume growth, service line expansion, and talent recruitment.
  • Oversee digital marketing, web strategy, content strategy, social media, and marketing analytics to drive measurable engagement and growth.
  • Direct market research, competitive analysis, and consumer insights to inform strategy and demonstrate return on marketing investment.
• Communications & Public Relations
  • Lead media relations, public relations, and issues/crisis communications, serving as a senior counsel and, where appropriate, spokesperson for the System.
  • Oversee internal and employee communications to ensure alignment, transparency, and engagement across a large, multi-site workforce.
  • Direct executive and physician communications, including messaging support for the CEO, senior leaders, and clinical leadership.
  • Guide government and community relations communications in partnership with government affairs and community benefit teams.
  • Establish and lead crisis communications protocols, ensuring the System is prepared to respond quickly and credibly to emergent issues.
• Team & Organizational Leadership
  • Build, lead, mentor, and develop a System-wide marketing and communications team, including managers overseeing brand, digital, PR, and internal communications.
  • Manage departmental budget, agency and vendor relationships, and marketing technology platforms.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and service across the marketing and communications function and its many internal partners.
  • Establish and monitor key performance indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of marketing and communications programs, adjusting strategy based on data.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or related field required; Master's degree (MBA or related) strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 12–15 years of progressive marketing and communications leadership experience, including at least 5 years in a senior executive role (VP or above).
• Healthcare, academic medicine, or complex multi-site organization experience strongly preferred; health system experience highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience leading brand strategy, digital marketing, public relations, and crisis communications at an enterprise level.
• Prior experience building and leading high-performing teams and managing significant budgets and external agency relationships.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Executive presence and the credibility to advise the CEO, Board, and physician leadership on sensitive and high-stakes matters.
• Deep understanding of healthcare marketing, patient consumerism, physician relations, and academic medical center dynamics.
• Strong strategic and analytical capabilities, with the ability to connect marketing and communications investment to organizational outcomes.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including experience as a media spokesperson.
• Proven crisis management and issues management skills, with sound judgment under pressure.
• Skilled in digital marketing, content strategy, marketing technology, and data-driven decision-making.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence across a complex, matrixed, multi-entity system.

Working Conditions

This position is based at Albany Med Health System's System Office in Albany, New York, with regular travel to hospitals, practices, and affiliated sites across the System's service area. The role may require availability outside standard business hours to manage urgent communications, crisis response, or executive support needs.

Pay

Salary range: $242,900 – $308,800

Schedule

Day shift (United States of America)

Department: Marketing | Reports to: EVP Strategy Transformation & Corporate Development | Location: Albany, New York (Albany Med Health System — System Office)