Manager Public Relations - Communications

Summary:

The Manager Public Relations serves as a strategic, proactive and highly regarded communications leader responsible for advancing and protecting the reputation of CHRISTUS Health through strong media relations, story development, message counsel and integrated communications support. Reporting to the director of public relations, this role is entrusted with helping shape how CHRISTUS Health is seen, understood and valued across the communities it serves. The manager works closely with ministry leaders, communications partners and other key stakeholders across the organization to identify meaningful stories, anticipate emerging issues, understand local and system priorities and translate those insights into strategic public relations opportunities that elevate the organization's mission, leaders, ministries and impact. This individual is expected to cultivate trusted relationships with ministry leaders and develop productive relationships with key media outlets and reporters to generate thoughtful, mission-aligned coverage that supports CHRISTUS Health's priorities and objectives. This role also serves as the onsite communications lead for media visits, acting as a liaison between media and facility or ministry leaders, coordinating logistics, accompanying media while onsite, preparing leaders and subject matter experts for interviews, and supporting interviews and other media interactions to help ensure a professional, well-coordinated experience. As a people leader, the public relations manager provides day-to-day leadership, coaching and mentorship to direct reports, helping grow talent, strengthen confidence, deepen communications judgment and build a high-performing, proactive and service-oriented team culture. The manager also brings a strong strategic lens to the role, offering recommendations that align communications activity with organizational priorities and position CHRISTUS Health for greater visibility, credibility and influence. In close partnership with colleagues in social media and internal communications, this leader helps ensure a coordinated and integrated approach to storytelling, message alignment and issue response across channels. In addition to supporting proactive media outreach and story pitching, this role helps monitor news coverage, track media activity and maintain accurate documentation of inquiries, responses and outcomes through the team's media log. The manager is also called upon to support reputational issue management and media response efforts with sound judgment, strong writing, executive presence and a deep commitment to the mission, values and strategic direction of CHRISTUS Health.

Responsibilities:

• Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
• Lead, coach and mentor direct reports, fostering strong performance, professional growth, sound judgment and a proactive, service-oriented approach to public relations support across the system.
• Create an environment of accountability, collaboration and continuous development by setting clear expectations, providing meaningful feedback and helping team members grow in confidence, capability and leadership presence.
• Support the development and execution of strategic public relations plans that advance ministry and system priorities, strengthen reputation and align with the mission and objectives of CHRISTUS Health.
• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with ministry leaders and key stakeholders to stay informed of local priorities, emerging opportunities, sensitive issues and stories that can be developed for external visibility.
• Identify, develop, write and pitch compelling stories that elevate CHRISTUS Health, its ministries, leaders, clinicians and mission in ways that are timely, strategic and relevant to target audiences.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with key media outlets and reporters, with an emphasis on understanding the local and regional media landscape and identifying the right opportunities for engagement.
• Serve as the onsite communications lead for media visits, acting as a liaison between media and facility or ministry leaders, coordinating logistics, accompanying media while onsite, preparing leaders and subject matter experts for interviews, and supporting interviews and other media interactions to help ensure a professional, well-coordinated experience.
• Provide strategic recommendations informed by ministry leaders' priorities and objectives, helping shape story ideas, messaging opportunities and media outreach that further organizational goals and increase meaningful visibility for CHRISTUS Health.
• Serve as a trusted communications partner to leaders and colleagues by bringing thoughtful counsel, strong instincts and a forward-looking approach to public relations planning, story development and reputational support.
• Partner closely with the director of public relations and other communications leaders to support proactive and responsive public relations efforts, including media inquiries, issue response and reputation management.
• Collaborate with social media and internal communications colleagues to support an integrated communications approach and ensure message consistency, coordination and alignment across channels.
• Monitor news coverage and mentions of CHRISTUS Health, identify relevant developments and maintain accurate records of media inquiries, responses, coverage and related activity through the media log.
• Draft and refine messaging, statements, briefing materials and other communications to support public relations activity, media engagement and issue management as needed.
• Exercise sound judgment in handling sensitive information and communications matters, while protecting the confidentiality and integrity of organizational, leadership and patient-related information.

Job Requirements:

Education/Skills
* Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing or a related field is required.

Experience
* 5+ years of experience in public relations, media relations, strategic communications or a related communications discipline is required, including experience developing story ideas, writing materials for external audiences, supporting media outreach or issue response, and providing day-to-day guidance or leadership to others.
* Preferred experience leading, coaching or mentoring team members in a communications setting and helping strengthen performance, confidence, professional growth and readiness for greater responsibility.
* Preferred experience cultivating relationships with media outlets, reporters, leaders or community stakeholders and identifying opportunities for proactive visibility, strategic storytelling and reputation support.
* Preferred experience in healthcare, not-for-profit or mission-driven communications environments.
* Preferred experience supporting integrated communications efforts across public relations, social media, internal communications or related functions.
* Preferred experience working with ministry or organizational leaders to understand strategic priorities and translate them into communications recommendations, story development and outreach opportunities.

Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications
* NA

In accordance with the CHRISTUS Health License, Certification and Registration Verification Policy, all Associates are required to obtain the required certifications for their respective positions within the designated time frame.

Work Schedule:

8AM - 5PM Monday-Friday

Work Type:

Full Time