Marketing 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.

 

The American Heart Association has an excellent opportunity for a Marketing Communications Director based in Los Angeles County. This position is responsible for Marketing Communications strategies and initiatives in the Los Angeles County and Ventura County market and the Orange County, Inland Empire and Coachella Valley market.

 

As the Marketing Communications Director, you will work with Executive Directors and the Development and Health teams to plan, manage and implement strategies promoting the American Heart Association’s health and development priorities in the specified markets. This is achieved through media and public relations, earned and paid media, digital media, content creation and storytelling, marketing, sponsorship activation, media advocacy and special campaigns/initiatives.

 

Reporting to the Vice President of Marketing Communications, this is a field/home-based position involving regular travel on-site across Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire as well as work performed from a home office environment, regular meetings in the Association’s offices in Culver City and Irvine, and remote locations for meetings and events, some of which are outdoors.

 

 

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

• Develop, plan and implement innovative communications and marketing strategies to promote and support national, regional and local health priorities, revenue goals, fundraising events, cause initiatives and supporter-funded community activations.
• Secure earned media placements by crafting and pitching “big picture” stories focusing on hard news, feature, community impact and research stories to the specified media market.
• Collaborate with local marketing communications and advocacy teams to develop and execute advocacy communications plans for local, state and national public policy priorities.
• Identify, cultivate and maintain media relationships, including with producers, editors, reporters, anchors, community affairs directors and non-traditional media such as local influencers.
• Create and curate video content for local social media channels and other market needs.
• Work with local and regional communications team to plan and implement local campaigns through paid social, online and traditional media.
• Identify, recruit and train volunteers who can serve as media and cause initiative spokespersons. Maintain an accessible database of human interest stories to tap for media inquiries.
• Write internal communications, as assigned.
• Serve as a communications and marketing consultant to staff and volunteers, including conducting communications orientation and training, monitoring progress on key objectives and cause initiatives, and providing general counsel and guidance.
• Maintain the integrity of the brand and identity of the American Heart Association by developing and/or reviewing/editing communications and marketing materials.
• Work with the Vice President of Marketing Communications and local staff to handle crises or sensitive issues.

 

Qualifications

Success factors include strengths in collaboration, agility and a dedication to excellence along with a track record that includes:

• At least three (3) years of experience in marketing communications, communications, public relations or journalism.
• Solid understanding of strategic public relations, marketing planning and implementation using earned and owned channels.

• Ability to write and edit for a variety of audiences through numerous platforms, including writing for media, web and mobile.

• Experience in content creation and storytelling with the ability to craft compelling narratives through writing, video, graphic design and photography.