Director Communications & Marketing, Wilkes-Barre

American Heart Association What's your motivation? Opportunity. Creativity. Contribution. It's all part of working for the American Heart Association...where you can contribute professional growth with personal fulfillment. So if you're considering a rewarding career, consider the American Heart Association. We have an excellent opportunity for a Director of Communications & Marketing in our Wilkes-Barre office.Develops and implements communications and marketing plans that promote AHA's strategic priorities, events and cause initiatives. Develops and implements media events. Develops media materials and other tools to inform key audiences about heart disease and stroke. Leads and mentors staff in customer engagement, buzz marketing, account management and other key marketing skills. Assists with crisis communications and sensitive issues on an as-needed basis. Interacts with volunteer leadership, senior management, component staff, news media, outside organizations and the general public for the purpose of enhancing the AHA public image and increasing the flow of news and other information to the media with the overall goal of supporting and impacting the strategic fundraising activities of the AHA. ' Develops/implements communications plans that promote the AHA's programs, events and cause initiatives' Writes/distributes news releases and other media materials as appropriate to local media' Pitches/places stories in traditional and non-traditional media' Secures media participation in AHA events' Develop media sponsorship proposals and secures media sponsorships as appropriate' Develops and implements media events, such as survivor recognition events' Conducts media relations activities to support American Heart Month and American Stroke Month' Implements awareness campaigns on topics such as acute event and women and heart disease; works collaboratively with other key market staff to develop integrated approach to such campaigns ' Works to place PSAs locally ' Works with Senior Director to manage local crises or sensitive issues' Works with staff to assure that branding guidelines are followed locally' Helps fulfill public relations needs of corporate sponsored programs' Develops and oversees implementation of communications plans for local fundraising events as appropriate' Identifies, secures and media trains local AHA spokespersons' Works with Gala/Fundraising staff to determine roles/responsibilities and provide support as appropriate' Identifies human interest stories to be used for generating media coverage' Tracks all media interactions and develops/maintains AHA/ASA spokesperson database in Siebel' Promotes national health and science news to local media' Works in collaboration with media advocacy staff to develop appropriate media advocacy strategies and implements strategies as appropriate ' Works with Senior Director to manage local paid advertising projects, including third party media sponsorships' Manages and implements other projects as identified by the Senior Director * Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism or related field* Minimum of five years experience in communications, public relations and journalism, or three years experience and specialized college-level education, or any equivalent combination of training and experience* Experience applying the principles and practices of communications and marketing to the non-profit environment * Experience working as a team member with multiple internal and external constituencies: staff, the media, external corporations and volunteers* Experience with crisis communications and buzz marketing* Experience implementing public relations campaigns, pitching to media, planning media events and development of press releases * Exceptional oral and written communications skills, to include specialized experience in speech writing, general business writing, writing and editing for both print and broadcast media* Working knowledge of news media operations, newsgathering and technology* Ability to travel approximately 30% of the time throughout the market and occasionally throughout the affiliate and to the national center as neededAttracting talented, committed employees means offering a competitive benefits package, ongoing professional development and training, in a diverse and inclusive environment in which to learn and grow. And we do. Visit www.americanheart.org/careers for more information. No phone calls, please.EOE M/F/V/D