Vice President - Communications and Public Affairs

Description

The Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive, integrated communication and public affairs strategies that advance the mission, vision, and strategic priorities of MaineHealth's Southern Region. The Southern Region includes Maine Medical Center Portland as well as the Biddeford and Sanford campuses of MaineHealth Maine Medical Center.

Serving as a key strategic advisor to regional and system leadership, the Vice President partners with executives and stakeholders to translate organizational priorities into effective internal communications, community engagement initiatives, media relations strategies, and public affairs programs. The role ensures alignment of messaging across the Southern Region while supporting broader MaineHealth system objectives and brand standards.

The Vice President leads a high-performing communications and public affairs team of 16 professionals, including eight direct reports, and is responsible for fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability. The position also provides executive leadership for crisis communications, reputation management, stakeholder engagement, and strategic visibility initiatives that strengthen the organization's standing among patients, employees, community partners, elected officials, and the public

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement long-term and short-term integrated communications and public affairs strategies that support regional and system-wide priorities.
• Serve as a strategic communications advisor to senior leadership, providing counsel on organizational initiatives, reputation management, stakeholder engagement, and change communications.
• Lead communications planning and execution for complex organizational changes across multiple hospitals, service lines, and operational entities.
• Direct crisis communications preparedness, planning, and response efforts, ensuring timely, transparent, and effective communications during critical events.
• Advance the organization's visibility, reputation, and influence through strategic media relations, public affairs, community engagement, and executive communications initiatives.
• Partner with MaineHealth senior leaders and key stakeholders to translate strategic objectives into effective internal communications, community engagement, local marketing, and public relations plans.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications leadership to align regional priorities with system-wide marketing, digital, communications, and brand strategies, while ensuring local market perspectives are represented.
• Establish performance goals, priorities, and operational plans for the department; ensure appropriate staffing and resource allocation to achieve strategic objectives.
• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain high-performing team members while fostering a positive, inclusive, and results-oriented culture.
• Oversee all aspects of personnel management, including performance management, succession planning, and professional development.
• Accountable for the development and stewardship of departmental budgets and resources.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Education:Bachelor's degree required, Masters a Plus with an emphasis in marketing, communications, journalism, public relations or related field preferred.
2. License/Certifications:N/A
3. Experience:Ten years of progressive experience in marketing, planning, communications, public relations, market research, or equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience in a healthcare setting. Project/process management, account management or related capabilities a plus. Ten years supervisory experience required

If you have questions about this role, please contact matthew.tzuker@mainehealth.org

If you have questions about this role, please contact matthew.tzuker@mainehealth.org