Director of Public Relations and Communications

Please note, the position details of this role have changed as of 7/23/25. If you have applied to this role previously, there is no need to reapply because your previous application has been reviewed and considered based on the modification of the position description.

Position Details:

The Director of Public Relations & Communications is responsible for the strategy and execution of all external communications efforts, including thought leadership, media relations, public relations, and social media and external channels. This transformational role works to elevate the company's brand, messaging, and visibility by overseeing all external communications activities, while proactively recommending and implementing strategies to achieve optimal results. Manages the positive reputation of CHCO through earned media coverage (public relations) and adeptly navigating crisis communications. Requires cultivating and maintaining positive relationships with third parties and media partners throughout Colorado and across the United States.

Full Time Schedule

Salary: $134,579.79 - 224,299.64

Key Responsibilities:

-Develops and implements comprehensive and transformational external relations and communications strategies that align with business objectives, enhance brand reputation, and support operational vision; establishes strategic plans, annual goals, and performance metrics for the department.

-Acts as the organization's primary spokesperson and media contact; builds and maintains strategic relationships with journalists, industry influencers, key associations, and external partners to advance organizational messaging and reputation.

-Leads crisis communication efforts, ensuring timely, transparent, and appropriate messaging to all external stakeholders; provides guidance to internal teams on managing sensitive external communications effectively.

-Oversees the development and execution of integrated strategy across all external channels, including media relations, public relations campaigns, press releases, social media, and digital communications.

-Assigns and reviews annual goals for team, provides work instruction (OTJ or formal training) and develops leaders. Evaluates performance of leaders, providing continuous feedback. Manages discipline and performance issues; hires and fires leaders. Reviews and approves resource plans for department.

-Establishes a the strategy to ensure the organization maintains an innovative, active, engaging social media and digital presence that reflects the brand's voice and mission; collaborates with cross-functional teams to align digital communications with corporate objectives.

-Manages external agency partnerships and vendor relationships, including scope of services, deliverables, and budget adherence; pre-emptively identifies cost-saving opportunities while maintaining quality standards.

-Maintains accountability for departmental financial management, including budget development, monitoring, and reporting; ensures responsible stewardship of organizational resources.

-Implements and oversees comprehensive metrics for monitoring, measuring, and reporting on the effectiveness of all external relations and communications activities; analyzes data to inform strategy adjustments and communicates insights to senior leadership.

-Serves as a champion of enterprise-wide culture, influencing positive change to support organizational objectives and maintain effective cross-functional relationships.

-Leads complex communications projects and provides technical expertise on external relations programs, processes, and industry best practices; ensures all communications align with organizational values and compliance requirements.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor's degree in degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing or related field

Experience: Seven (7) years of public relations, external communications, digital marketing plus a minimum of three (3) years of leadership experience.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Audio-Visual: Color Discrimination: Good

Audio-Visual: Depth Perception: Good

Audio-Visual: Far Vision: Good

Audio-Visual: Hearing: Good

Audio-Visual: Near Vision: Good

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Exposure to Infectious diseases: Infrequent

Mental and Emotional Requirements: Handles multiple priorities effectively.

Mental and Emotional Requirements: Independent discretion/decision making.

Mental and Emotional Requirements: Makes decisions under pressure.

Mental and Emotional Requirements: Manages stress appropriately.

Mental and Emotional Requirements: Works with others effectively.

Mental Stress: multi-tasking, meeting deadlines, prioritizing

Benefits Information
Here, you matter. As a Children's Hospital Colorado team member, you will receive a competitive pay and benefits package designed to take care of your needs that includes base pay, incentives, paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, company provided life and disability insurance, paid parental leave, 403b employer match (retirement savings), a robust wellness program, and access to professional development tools, including an education benefit to help you advance your career.

As part of our Total Rewards package, Children's Colorado offers an annual employee bonus program that rewards eligible team members based on organizational performance. If organizational goals are met for the year, the bonus is paid out the following April.

Children's Colorado delivers annual base pay increases to eligible team members based on their performance over the previous year.

It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation. Be aware that none of the questions are intended to imply illegal preferences or discrimination based on non-job-related information.

The position is expected to stay open until the posted close date. Please submit your application as soon as possible as the posting is subject to close at any time once a sufficient pool of qualified applicants is obtained.

Colorado Residents: In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.