Executive Director, Internal and Executive Communications (Hybrid)

Scheduled Hours

40

Position Summary

The Executive Director of Internal & Executive Communications leads the strategy, development and execution of internal communications and executive communications for WashU Medicine. This role is responsible for advancing a coordinated approach to central internal communications that builds community, strengthens culture and keeps faculty, staff and trainees informed and connected to the institution’s priorities and values.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Medical Campus Communications, the Executive Director also oversees executive communications as a core component of internal strategy, ensuring messaging from the Dean and executive leaders is aligned, intentional and reinforces institutional priorities. The role serves as a senior advisor to executive leaders while maintaining an organization-wide perspective, integrating leadership messaging into a cohesive communications approach that supports multiple leaders across a complex, matrixed academic medical institution. This position also plays a key role in supporting major institutional initiatives and organizational change through strategic communications that engage internal audiences.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Internal communications strategy and execution

• Develop and lead an enterprise-level internal communications strategy that strengthens culture, builds community and aligns faculty, staff and trainees with institutional priorities
• Oversee messaging across central internal channels, including institution-wide newsletters, email communications and town halls, ensuring clarity, consistency and relevance for internal audiences
• Serve as a strategic advisor to communicators across WashU Medicine’s 21 departments and other units, establishing best practices, governance and processes that strengthen the overall effectiveness of internal communications
• Ensure communications are coordinated, audience-centered and aligned with leadership messaging and institutional priorities
• Develop, edit and oversee production and delivery of a new WashU Medicine-wide newsletter and content hub, ensuring content is timely, accurate and aligned with audience needs
• Direct internal communications planning, including editorial calendars and integrated campaign strategies that define goals, audiences, formats and timing
• Support major institutional initiatives and organizational change through strategic communications that drive awareness, understanding and adoption

Executive communications strategy and execution

• Develop and lead a comprehensive executive communications strategy that supports institutional priorities and ensures alignment across executive leadership
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Dean and executive leadership team, shaping messaging for high-impact moments and long-term organizational positioning
• Oversee Dean communications, including speeches, remarks, talking points and key announcements
• Create messaging frameworks that enable leaders to communicate authentically, consistently and effectively across channels
• Partner in crisis communications and issues management, leading internal and executive messaging during high-impact or sensitive situations

Leadership and organizational alignment

• Lead and mentor a high-performing communications team grounded in strong writing, strategic thinking and a commitment to excellence
• Establish and advance standards for internal and executive communications, driving consistency, quality and alignment across the organization
• Serve as a connective leader across the communications team, partnering closely with media relations, external communications and marketing leaders to ensure consistency between internal and external narratives
• Build strong relationships across WashU Medicine departments, units and leadership teams to align messaging and priorities
• Influence stakeholders across the organization to advance a coordinated, enterprise-wide communications approach

Measurement

• Establish, track and report on KPIs for internal and executive communications
• Use data and insights to continuously refine strategies and improve engagement

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's degree

Certifications/Professional Licenses:

No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

Work Experience:

Team Management (5 Years), Marketing And Communications (10 Years)

Skills:

Not Applicable

Driver's License:

A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

*PLEASE INCLUDE A COVER LETTER AND RESUME WHEN SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION.*

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Master's degree

Certifications/Professional Licenses:

No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Work Experience:

Strategic Communications, Including Managing A Team (15 Years)

Skills:

Brand Strategy, Communications Writing, Communication Tools, Confidentiality, Crisis Communication Management, Customer-Focused Leadership, Deadline Management, Editorial Editing, Effective Written Communication, Emerging Technology Trends, Executive Communications, Higher Education Public Relations, Innovating Ideas, Integrated Communication Strategies, Internal Communications, Interpersonal Communication, Interpersonal Dynamics, Journalism, Multichannel Communications, Organizational Changes, Project Management, Results-Oriented, Sensitive Information, Stakeholder Communications, Strategic Communication Management

Grade

G17

Salary Range

$110,300.00 - $194,200.00 / AnnuallyThe salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.