Mary Washington Healthcare

Program Manager, Communications & PR

Mary Washington Healthcare

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Hybrid

Location: Fredericksburg • Virginia • United States

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About the role

  • Serve as the primary liaison with external PR agencies, overseeing agency-led outreach to ensure alignment with organizational strategy, messaging, and priorities.
  • Lead the development, review, and execution of press releases, media statements, and announcements related to clinical programs, quality outcomes, leadership updates, and organizational milestones.
  • Build and maintain relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets, including healthcare trade publications.
  • Track media coverage, maintain media lists, and report on earned media performance and trends.
  • Support proactive storytelling to highlight patient care excellence, innovation, workforce achievements, and community impact.
  • Builds and leads a superior team by selecting, developing, and evaluating personnel to ensure the efficient operation of the Communication and Public Relations function/process.
  • Draft and refine executive talking points, briefing materials, speeches, presentations, and Q&A documents for public appearances and media engagements.
  • Support executives and clinical leaders in preparation for interviews, panels, conferences, and community events.
  • Provide strategic counsel to senior leaders on communications approach, messaging, and stakeholder considerations.
  • Support the development and execution of crisis communications plans in coordination with legal, compliance, and clinical leadership.
  • Assist with timely, accurate, and compassionate communications during sensitive or high-impact situations.
  • Monitor emerging issues and support leadership with messaging recommendations and response strategies.
  • Coordinate communications support for executive participation in conferences, panels, and external events.
  • Draft abstracts, manage speaking submissions, and track event-related deliverables and deadlines.
  • Support PR outreach and media coordination for major organizational events, community initiatives, and key announcements.
  • Maintain an event and speaking engagement tracker visible to leadership.
  • Manage communications timelines, workflows, and publishing calendars using project management tools (e.g., Asana).
  • Monitor and analyze communications outcomes across media, PR, and events.
  • Prepare regular performance reports and dashboards to measure effectiveness and inform continuous improvement.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field preferred.
  • Minimum of five years of progressive experience in communications, public relations, or media relations; healthcare or mission-driven organization experience required.
  • Minimum of two years supervisory experience, required.
  • Proven ability to write, edit, and tailor content for diverse audiences, including press releases, executive communications, talking points, speeches, announcements, digital content, and thought leadership.
  • Demonstrated success in media relations, including pitching stories, securing earned media, and managing reporter relationships.
  • Experience supporting or leading crisis communications, including rapid response, message coordination, and executive advisement.
  • Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, timelines, and approvals in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
  • Collaborative, detail-oriented, and comfortable working across departments such as clinical operations, HR, legal, compliance, and executive leadership.
  • Knowledge of healthcare systems, patient-facing services, regulatory considerations (e.g., HIPAA), and community health issues preferred.
Benefits
  • Safety is our top priority
  • Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities
Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools
press releasesmedia statementsexecutive communicationscrisis communicationscontent writingmedia relationsproject managementreportingperformance measurementevent coordination
Soft Skills
leadershipcollaborationattention to detailstrategic counselcommunicationrelationship buildingadaptabilityproblem-solvingcreativitytime management