• Job Description

  Req#: 434733

  Your future role at a glance

  • Department: External Communications
  • Schedule: Full time
  • Location: Remote
  • Salary: $126,962.96 - $215,837.03 per year
  • Eligible for an annual bonus incentive

  How you'll make an impact in this role

  Ascension External Communications is seeking a seasoned, strategic communications leader to serve as Senior Director of Executive Communications. This individual will own and lead the external communications strategy for Ascension’s President & CEO, refining and amplifying his voice, positioning, and presence as a mission driven thought leader in healthcare, while also providing strategic executive communications leadership for other members of the C suite as needed.

  This role is responsible for shaping how the President & CEO is seen, heard, and understood across media, speaking engagements, digital platforms, and high profile external moments, and for supporting similar efforts for other senior executives when appropriate. Sitting on the System External Communications team and working as a close strategic partner to the President & CEO, this leader will craft compelling narratives, ensure consistency and authenticity of voice, and proactively elevate Ascension’s leadership perspective on the future of healthcare. The role requires strong executive presence, sound judgment, adaptability, and the ability to operate in highly visible environments, including traveling with the President & CEO to major speaking engagements and events. This role will report directly to the AVP of External Communications.

  Responsibilities:

  • Executive Communications Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive external communications strategy for the President & CEO that strengthens Ascension’s reputation and positions him as a mission-driven, innovative leader in healthcare.
  • Voice & Thought Leadership: Refine, articulate, and protect the President & CEO’s voice across all external platforms, ensuring messaging is authentic, consistent, and aligned with Ascension’s mission, values, and strategic priorities.
  • Speechwriting & Narrative Development: Oversee and contribute to the development of keynote speeches, talking points, op-eds, bylined articles, and executive messaging that advance thought leadership and influence key stakeholders.
  • Executive Visibility & Positioning: Identify and shape opportunities to elevate the President & CEO’s presence through media, industry forums, conferences, and strategic partnerships.
  • Event & Travel Support: Travel with the President & CEO to speaking engagements and high-profile events as needed to provide real-time communications counsel.
  • Media & External Engagement: Partner closely with media relations and public affairs teams to prepare the President & CEO for an interview and lead the CEO and President’s LinkedIn and digital thought-leadership platform, shaping content and narrative to grow engagement and industry credibility, press engagements, and public commentary.
  • CEO Digital Presence & LinkedIn Strategy: Own and lead the CEO's LinkedIn and digital thought-leadership platform, shaping content and narrative to grow engagement and industry credibility, in close partnership with the Director of Digital and in coordination with the Ascension system LinkedIn strategy.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with internal teams to align messaging and external engagement strategies.

  What minimum qualifications you'll need

  Education:

  • High School diploma equivalency with 5 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required, with 2 of those years being in leadership/management OR Associate's degree/Bachelor's degree with 3 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required, with 2 of those years being in leadership/management.

  What additional requirements you'll need

  • 10–15 years of experience in corporate communications or executive communications, with at least 5 years leading executive-level communications.
  • 5 years of people leader experience
  • Demonstrated experience supporting C-suite executives, preferably CEOs or Presidents, in highly visible, complex organizations.
  • Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with experience crafting executive-level speeches, talking points, and bylined content.
  • Strong strategic judgment with the ability to operate calmly and decisively in high-pressure, fast-moving environments.
  • Experience working with media, preparing executives for interviews, and shaping thought-leadership narratives.
  • Comfort traveling with senior executives and operating in live, high-profile settings.
  • Experience in healthcare, nonprofit, or mission-driven organizations strongly preferred.
  • Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.

  Key Competencies:

  • Executive Communications and Presence
  • Strategic Storytelling and Message Architecture
  • Thought Leadership Development
  • Voice and Consistency
  • Team Leadership and Talent Development
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Media and External Engagement

  Why Join Us: At Ascension, we are committed to serving our communities with compassion, innovation, and excellence. As Senior Director of Executive Communications, you will play a pivotal role in shaping how our CEO and President shows up in the world, helping tell the story of Ascension’s purpose, impact, and future. This is a rare opportunity to work at the highest level of leadership, influencing how a mission-driven health system is seen and understood across the industry and beyond.

  #LI-Remote

  Life at Ascension: Where purpose meets opportunity

  Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 99,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you’ll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.

  Equal employment opportunity employer

  Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.

  Fraud prevention notice

  Prospective applicants should be vigilant against fraudulent job offers and interview requests. Scammers may use sophisticated tactics to impersonate Ascension employees. To ensure your safety, please remember: Ascension will never ask for payment or to provide banking or financial information as part of the job application or hiring process. Our legitimate email communications will always come from an @ascension.org email address; do not trust other domains, and an official offer will only be extended to candidates who have completed a job application through our authorized applicant tracking system.

  E-Verify Statement

  Employer participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program. Please click here for more information.

  Benefits

  Paid time off (PTO)Various health insurance options & wellness plansRetirement benefits including employer match plansLong-term & short-term disabilityEmployee assistance programs (EAP)Parental leave & adoption assistanceTuition reimbursementWays to give back to your community

  Benefit options and eligibility vary by position. Compensation varies based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, performance, location and salary range at the time of the offer.

• About the company

Notice