Communications Director

Overview

Since our founding in 1924, we've cut cardiovascular disease deaths in half, but there is still so much more to do. To overcome today’s biggest health challenges and accelerate this progress, we need passionate individuals like you. Join our movement, be part of the progress, and help ensure a healthier future for all. You matter, and so does the impact you can make with us.

 

We have an excellent opportunity for a Communications Director in the Atlanta, GA metro market.  The Communications Director will work as an individual contributor to make an outstanding impact in our Georgia market crafting and delivering essential communications and marketing support. You will report to the Region SVP Sr. Executive Director and will be based in our Atlanta office. 

 

The Association offers many resources to help you maintain work-life harmonization through your changing needs and life situations. To help you be successful, you will have access to Heart U, our award-winning corporate university, as well as additional training and support, locally.

 

#TheAHALife is more than a company culture; it is our way of life. It embodies our commitment to work-life harmonization and is guided by our core values where our employees can thrive both personally and professionally. Discover why you will Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Valued at the American Heart Association by following us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, and at heart.jobs.

Responsibilities

In this role you will work in collaboration with our development and health strategies staff to craft and implement essential communications, marketing and deliverables in support of our fundraising efforts, educational programs, awareness campaigns, advocacy efforts and branding. The Communications Director will play a meaningful role in helping us reach our Impact Goals by delivering mission-related messaging. This position will require travel throughout the market to meet with media, community partners, key volunteers and corporate sponsors. 

 

• Develops and implements local strategic communications plans that promote the American Heart Association's nationally driven priorities, local events, community impact, Science news and cause initiatives.
• Writes, distributes, and pitches news releases and other supporting media materials to local traditional and non-traditional media.
• Secures media sponsorships for local events and priority initiatives, as appropriate.
• Implements awareness campaigns around heart and stroke-related topics and works collaboratively with other key market staff to develop an integrated approach to such campaigns.
• Coordinates and implements communications plans in conjunction with strategic alliances.
• Identifies, secures and trains media local spokespersons.
• Provides marketing and communications support for development and fundraising events and activations, as appropriate.
• Works closely with the development team to support local revenue goals and fundraising events through the planning and execution of marketing and communications tools and tactics.
• Plans and implements campaigns for event promotions, including brainstorming creative ideas and activities and driving them efficiently.
• Works with the regional communications team to plan and implement local campaigns through paid social media posts, online, and traditional media.
• Works with the local team on script development for events, meetings, and media events.
• Manages campaign performance reports on marketing and development activities.
• Manages marketing communications budgets and prioritizes resources amongst projects.
• Works with local staff to ensure that branding guidelines are followed.
• Monitors trends to stay informed of developments in event fundraising, sponsorships, marketing, communications, and not-for-profit management. Uses this information to help the markets creatively achieve their goals.
• Works with Southeast Region Vice President of Marketing Communications and local staff to handle crises or sensitive issues. 

Qualifications

Want to help get your resume to the top? Take a look at the experience we require:

• University/College degree or equivalent experience, preferred. Communications, public relations, journalism or related field and/or at 3 years of experience in public relations, communications, marketing or journalism, a plus.
• 3 years of relevant experience in communications field or equivalent type of experience.
• Ability to build powerful partnerships internally as well as externally with media sources and the public.
• Excellent written and verbal skills, and outstanding interpersonal skills with a variety of audiences, including multicultural, and