With Who: AHIP (America’s Health Insurance Plans)
Location: Washington, DC
Type of Employment: Full-Time
Position Description: The Director of Communications and Public Affairs is a key member of the communications team, tasked with driving engagement of key stakeholder groups, including reporters, members, employees, and opinion elites. The position works closely with senior executives to oversee earned media and communications strategies.
Essential Functions:
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Responsible for building and maintaining relationships with national and political reporters, as well as regional reporters.
- Acts as one of the organizations primary spokespeople, representing and advancing the policy goals and priorities of AHIP and its member companies.
- Drafts press releases, media briefs, and advisories. A key contributor to other content as needed, including reactive statements and executive materials.
- Supports the public affairs department by offering counsel on specific media strategies and policy matters.
- Communicates directly with member companies, and frequently reports on the current political landscape and developments in Washington as well as AHIPs advocacy efforts.
- Develop advocacy materials, resources, and action plans in partnership with other department leads that align with AHIPs Strategic Priorities and goals.
- Lead development of media relations and communications strategies and plans, including collaborating across departments to execute on those plans.
- Support Senior Vice President of Communications on long term priorities, communications strategies, and executive visibility.
- Responsible for keeping updated on trends in the industry and identifying proactive opportunities to advance AHIPs priorities and goals.
- Perform other special projects as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibility: None
Work Environment: This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: This is a full-time position. Standard days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m., however may require long hours and weekend work.
Travel: Travel to AHIP functions, including conferences and advocacy events, may constitute 15% of time.
Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Competencies:
- Commensurate professional who has a presence appropriate for interacting with senior leadership, reporters, and members.
- Strong relationship builder – especially with colleagues, reporters, and members.
- Excellent writer with an ear and eye for well-crafted content that engages consumers.
- Strategic thinker with a natural curiosity and passion for the health care system and related policy.
- Creative thinker and good storyteller with an instinctive sense of what reporters want and need.
- Process-driven, results-driven professional who can keep deadlines and get things done, with minimal oversight.
- Strong oral and written communications skills.
- Extensive background and comfort speaking and representing AHIP and its members to media and other external stakeholders.
- Deep understanding of the health care industry and major policy issues.
Required Education and Experience:
- Bachelor of Arts in English, Journalism, Communications or similar field and/or equivalent experience.
- 7 years of experience as a strategic communications professional.
- At least 3 years of communication experience in health care industry.
Notes: Applicants are required to send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample(s) for the position.
Apply (or request more information): Apply today, or see more position information on the CofC Alumni Career Center portal.