What are the responsibilities and job description for the Communications Director position at Erlanger?
Job Summary:
The Communications Director is responsible for proactively planning, implementing, and evaluating all aspects of Erlanger’s internal and external communications efforts. This includes day-to-day media relations, public relations strategy, crisis communications preparedness, executive messaging, and employee communications.
The role serves as Erlanger’s principal spokesperson and PR strategist—managing communications risks and opportunities with confidence, clarity, and alignment to the system’s mission and values.
The Communications Director will lead both proactive storytelling efforts and responsive communication across complex, sensitive, and fast-moving issues.
This individual must be a collaborative leader with sound judgment, excellent writing and interpersonal skills, and the ability to build trust across hospital leadership, staff, media outlets, and external partners.
Key Responsibilities:
Public Relations & Reputation Strategy
Required:
Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field.
Preferred:
Master’s degree in Strategic Communications, Public Administration, or related area
Experience:
Required:
Required:
N/A
Preferred:
N/A
Position Requirement(s): License/Certification/Registration
Preferred:
N/A
Erlanger Baroness Hospital Chattanooga, TN
Communications Director
Standard Hours
Regular
The Communications Director is responsible for proactively planning, implementing, and evaluating all aspects of Erlanger’s internal and external communications efforts. This includes day-to-day media relations, public relations strategy, crisis communications preparedness, executive messaging, and employee communications.
The role serves as Erlanger’s principal spokesperson and PR strategist—managing communications risks and opportunities with confidence, clarity, and alignment to the system’s mission and values.
The Communications Director will lead both proactive storytelling efforts and responsive communication across complex, sensitive, and fast-moving issues.
This individual must be a collaborative leader with sound judgment, excellent writing and interpersonal skills, and the ability to build trust across hospital leadership, staff, media outlets, and external partners.
Key Responsibilities:
Public Relations & Reputation Strategy
- Develop and execute a comprehensive PR strategy that supports Erlanger’s visibility, credibility, and community trust.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for all media inquiries, media training, and media relationship management.
- Collaborate with Bridge PR to proactively pitch stories, manage earned media opportunities, and position Erlanger executives as thought leaders.
- Lead or co-lead crisis communications responses in collaboration with external partners as needed, ensuring timely, accurate, and consistent messaging during high-stakes or reputationally sensitive moments.
- Maintain crisis communications protocols and ensure appropriate training of spokespeople and leadership staff.
- Advise the SVP and executive leadership on risk mitigation and public messaging strategies during emergent events.
- Oversee the development of executive-level messaging, including statements, scripts, speeches, and video communications.
- Manage the Internal Communications Manager to ensure alignment, clarity, and consistency in all staff-facing messages and engagement initiatives.
- Partner with HR, clinical leaders, and service line managers to maintain transparent, timely employee communications
- Manage and coach the Communications Manager and Internal Communications Manager, setting expectations for excellence and accountability.
- Collaborate with Marketing, Digital, and Creative peers to ensure unified voice, shared narratives, and brand alignment across all touchpoints.
- Represent communications priorities and perspectives in system-wide strategic planning and the Director Leadership Team.
- Establish and maintain trusted relationships across departments to serve as a go-to communications resource.
- Identify key internal contacts (e.g., service line leaders, clinical directors, Foundation leadership) to streamline message development and campaign collaboration.
- Stay attuned to internal developments that may require proactive messaging or communications support.
- Act as the central liaison to external partners, directing their involvement in campaigns, crisis response, or reputation-building efforts.
- Ensure all external partner contributions align with internal goals and uphold Erlanger’s standards for tone, accuracy, and transparency
Required:
Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field.
Preferred:
Master’s degree in Strategic Communications, Public Administration, or related area
Experience:
Required:
- 7-10 years of progressive communications experience, including crisis and media relations
- Strong background in healthcare, nonprofit, government, or similarly complex/public-facing organizations
- Exceptional writing, editing, and messaging development skills
- Experience working with external PR agencies or reputation firms
- Familiarity with hospital system governance and internal communication environments
Required:
N/A
Preferred:
N/A
Position Requirement(s): License/Certification/Registration
Preferred:
N/A
Erlanger Baroness Hospital Chattanooga, TN
Communications Director
Standard Hours
Regular
Safety Coordinator
IES Communications -
La Fayette, GA
