American Cancer Society

Strategic Director, External Communications

American Cancer Society

full-time

Posted on:

Origin:  • 🇺🇸 United States • Florida, North Carolina

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Salary

💰 $120,000 - $142,000 per year

Job Level

Lead

About the role

  • Develops and leads earned media strategy for corporate sponsorships (35%)
  • Creates and executes national media strategies that position ACS’s corporate alliances as essential to advancing the organization’s mission and revenue goals.
  • Ensures alignment with enterprise priorities and measurable impact on visibility and reputation.
  • Collaborates with Development and cross-functional teams (20%)
  • Partners with Development leadership and internal stakeholders to develop and align communications strategies with fundraising priorities, sponsor expectations, and brand standards.
  • Crafts compelling narratives and media materials (15%)
  • Writes and oversees the development of press releases, talking points, executive messaging, and media pitches that highlight the value of corporate partnerships and integrate mission messaging.
  • Secures high-impact media coverage and builds media relationships (15%)
  • Proactively pitches and places stories in national, trade, and business media.
  • Cultivates relationships with key journalists and influencers in business, philanthropy, and health sectors.
  • Prepares spokespeople and advises on media engagement (10%)
  • Prepares executives and subject matter experts for media interviews.
  • Provides strategic counsel to internal teams and corporate partners on messaging, branding, and media best practices.
  • Monitors trends and evaluates media performance (5%)
  • Tracks media coverage, analyzes campaign performance, and reports on reach, impact, and ROI to internal stakeholders and partners.
  • Stays current on trends in CSR, health equity, and nonprofit-corporate relations.

Requirements

  • 7–10 years of experience in media relations, communications, or a related field is required.
  • Experience in journalism, a national health nonprofit, a corporation, or a PR agency is preferred.
  • Internal ACS experience or nonprofit sector experience is a plus.
  • Background in healthcare, science, medical, or mission-driven communications is highly desirable.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and execute media strategies that support business objectives and elevate organizational visibility.
  • Experience working with corporate sponsors in an agency setting or in the corporate environment preferred.
  • Strong news judgment and the ability to think both strategically and creatively.
  • Ability to craft compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.
  • Skilled in managing multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Leadership and Initiative; capable of making sound administrative decisions and exercising judgment on sensitive and confidential matters.
  • Adaptability and Accountability; delivers high-quality work under deadlines.
  • Mission Alignment; commitment to advancing health equity and impact through strategic communications.