Director of Communications and Marketing

Description

The Director of Communications and Marketing leads Fenway Health’s communications and marketing department and is responsible for the organization’s brand, its reputation, and the marketing that grows the patient base across all programs. Reporting to the Executive Vice President of Donor Engagement and External Relations, the Director sets and carries out the communications and marketing strategy, leads the department’s staff, and directs the work of Fenway’s external agencies, consultants, and vendors. The role expands patient access for LGBTQIA+ and underserved communities while protecting Fenway’s credibility in a demanding political and regulatory environment. This is a hands-on leadership role: the Director both sets direction and executes on it directly, building and scaling the function as the department grows. The Director also serves as the primary communications advisor to the Chief Executive Officer, with direct responsibility for protecting and strengthening the CEO’s voice, credibility, and influence across media, policy, and community audiences. 

Representative Duties:

Lead the communications and marketing department

• Set department priorities and carry out the marketing and communications strategy across all Fenway programs. 
• Determine what work comes first when programs and leaders compete for the team’s time. 
• Maintain clear systems for intake, prioritization, and project tracking so the work does not depend on any one person. 
• Ensure marketing and communications efforts align with Fenway’s strategic priorities, organizational goals, and broader brand and positioning work. 

Serve as the primary communications advisor to the CEO

• Shape the CEO’s message, positioning, and external presence across media, stakeholders, and public forums. 
• Independently lead message development for the CEO in high-stakes situations, including crisis response, public positioning, and executive communications. 
• Protect and strengthen the CEO’s voice, credibility, and influence across media, policy, and community audiences. 
• Anticipate and mitigate reputational and political risks affecting the CEO and the organization. 

Manage Fenway’s brand and message

• Keep Fenway’s brand, voice, and visual identity consistent across all programs and channels. 
• Set and enforce brand standards and lead the rollout of the brand across the website, donor materials, the annual report, and signage. 
• Own and evolve Fenway’s organizational narrative, keeping a consistent story across care, research, education, advocacy, fundraising, executive communications, and media engagement. 

Drive marketing and patient growth

• Lead the marketing that brings in new patients, framed as expanding access for LGBTQIA+ and underserved communities. 
• Plan and run integrated paid, owned, and earned campaigns from strategy through results. 
• Track where new patients come from and strengthen the path from awareness to a booked appointment. 
• Set marketing targets and manage spending against industry and health-center benchmarks. 
• Coordinate with Operations and Clinical teams so demand matches capacity. 

Manage media relations and reputation

• Serve as a senior media contact and build relationships with local and national press. 
• Maintain a pulse on the rapidly evolving media, healthcare, and public affairs landscape, identifying opportunities, emerging issues, and potential reputational risks before they become challenges. 
• Cultivate relationships not only with traditional media but also with trusted influencers, content creators, advocates, and other voices shaping public conversations around LGBTQIA+ health, HIV care, and health equity. 
• Proactively identify opportunities to position Fenway’s research and expertise in national and local media, shaping narratives on LGBTQIA+ health, HIV, and health equity. 
• Direct outside agencies on reputation and crisis work within a clear scope. 
• Lead issues management and crisis communications, including rapid-response messaging, message development, and coordination with leadership and external partners during high-profile or fast-moving situations. 
• Apply a trauma-informed approach to communications, including the ability to communicate through complex, sensitive, or high-profile issues affecting patients, staff, and community members. 

Elevate research and thought leadership

• Build strong working relationships with The Fenway Institute to align research priorities with communications strategy and external positioning. 
• Translate and amplify the work of The Fenway Institute into accessible,