Director of Public Relations

PURPOSE

According to the prescribed policies and procedures of the organization including all applicable federal, state and local regulations and under the general supervision of the VP of Marketing, Sales & Communications, the incumbent will manage the public image, reputation and communication strategies for National Church Residences. They will work to build relationships with the media, customers, and other stakeholders to develop and carry out Public Relations (PR) strategies. The PR Director will develop and implement strategic communication plans to enhance the organization's reputation and public image, including shaping public perception and building relationships with stakeholders, including media, customers, employees, and the public. The PR Director will oversee all PR activities and ensure messages align with the organization's mission, vision, and values.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develop and implement comprehensive public relations strategies and campaigns to promote the organization's brand, products, and services.
• Create and maintain strong relationships with media outlets, journalists, and influencers to generate positive media coverage and secure interviews and feature stories.
• Write and distribute press releases, media advisories, and other materials to communicate key messages and announcements to the media and the public.
• Serve as the organization's spokesperson and represent it during interviews, press conferences, and public events.
• Monitor and manage the organization's reputation by responding to inquiries and comments on social media and other platforms.
• Plan and execute special events, such as Community Grand Openings, product launches, fundraisers, and community initiatives, to enhance the organization's visibility and engage with key stakeholders.
• Collaborate with internal teams, including Affordable Housing, Senior Living, Senior Services, Development, Foundation, marketing, sales, and executive leadership, to ensure consistent messaging across all communication channels.
• Stay up to date with industry trends, current events, and emerging issues that may impact the organization's reputation and recommend proactive strategies to address them.
• Develop crisis communication plans and lead the organization's response during reputational crises or emergencies, providing timely and accurate information to the media and the public.
• Monitor media coverage and prepare reports to evaluate the effectiveness of public relations campaigns and identify areas for improvement.
• Collaborate and evaluate the work of PR professionals (i.e. Pendulum Public Relations Consultant). Set goals, monitor performance, and coordinate with other departments.

EXPECTATIONS

• Demonstrates and maintains a positive, professional manner, manages time efficiently and effectively, provides leadership as a role model to promote a team approach, collaborates and participates in policy creation and appropriate problem-solving methods.

• Must adhere to all policies, procedures, terms and conditions set forth in the National Church Residences Employee Information Guide (EIG), the Code of Conduct, as well as any facility handbook, including but not limited to, corporate compliance, drug free workplace, safe work practices, all federal, state, local regulations and laws.

• With respect to Resident Rights, ensures all care is provided with respect and dignity for the residents/clients, their families and the staff. Reports all complaints made by residents/clients and/or families to the appropriate supervisors, reports all allegations of abuse, misappropriation of funds/resident property and/or any other corporate compliance, drug free workplace, safe work practices, all federal, state and local regulations and laws.

• Completes all annual education requirements timely, including but not limited to Compliance, Privacy, Security and HIPAA training and exhibits behavior as set forth by the Code of Conduct in the performance of their duties.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education: Bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, journalism, or a related field. A master's degree is preferred.

Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of related experience. Proven track record of working with various media outlets, including social media. Proven experience in public relations, preferably in a leadership role, with a track record of successful campaigns and media placements. Deep knowledge of media relations practices and experience working with journalists and media outlets. Familiarity with crisis communication and issues management, including experience handling reputational crises. Strong understanding of digital marketing and social media trends, with experience leveraging these platforms for public relations purposes.

Travel: Occasional

Skills: Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to effectively convey complex information to various audiences. Strong media relations skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with journalists, editors, and influencers. Exceptional storytelling and content creation abilities, with an understanding of how to craft compelling messages that resonate with target audiences. Crisis management skills, with the ability to remain calm and composed under pressure and provide timely and accurate information during reputational crises. Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze data and market trends to develop effective communication strategies. Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously. Proficient in using digital tools and platforms for media monitoring, social media management, and content creation. Must have working knowledge of Windows, Microsoft Office Suite.

#JointheMission1

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, military status, disability, genetic information and/or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.