The Associate Vice President, External Communications (Media Relations) is a senior communications leader responsible for developing and executing Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's enterprise media relations strategy with a strong emphasis on issues management, crisis communications, and reputation protection. Reporting to the Senior Vice President/Chief Communications & Marketing Officer, the Associate Vice President leads the development and execution of integrated strategies that support Dana-Farber’s clinical, research, educational and philanthropic missions while ensuring the organization is prepared to respond effectively to sensitive, complex, and high-profile situations.
The Associate Vice President serves as a trusted communications advisor to executive leadership, faculty, clinicians, and researchers, on matters concerning reputational risk, media engagement, executive visibility, and coordinated external messaging. This role also leads proactive efforts across national, regional, trade, and digital media that strengthen Dana-Farber’s visibility and standing.
Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
- Lead issues and crisis communications strategy: Provide enterprise leadership for issues communications, crisis response, and reputation management to protect the organization’s reputation. Develop and coordinate communications approaches that protect institutional credibility and support timely, accurate, and aligned messaging during sensitive, complex, or high-profile situations.
- Guide enterprise media relations strategy: Develop, implement, and continuously guide an integrated media relations strategy that advances Dana-Farber’s institutional priorities, strengthens organizational reputation, and increases national and international visibility for the Institute’s clinical, research, educational, and philanthropic missions.
- Advise executive leadership and advance executive visibility: Serve as a trusted communications advisor to executive leadership, faculty, clinicians, and researchers on reputational risk, media engagement, executive visibility, strategic storytelling, and interview preparation, while partnering with leaders across the Institute to shape thought-leadership opportunities and ensure coordinated external messaging.
- Direct proactive media engagement: Lead proactive media outreach, story development, media pitching, press events, and strategic communications campaigns designed to generate high-impact coverage across national, regional, healthcare, scientific, consumer, trade, and digital media. Oversee media efforts that broaden external awareness and reinforce institutional priorities.
- Build strategic media partnerships and monitor the media landscape: Cultivate and maintain relationships with journalists, editors, producers, media influencers, and other external stakeholders. Monitor changes in the media environment and identify emerging opportunities that align with institutional priorities and reputational goals.
- Measure impact and lead the team: Establish and oversee performance measures for media relations activities, such as message penetration, share of voice, audience reach, and reputational impact. Provide executive reporting, analysis, and strategic recommendations.
- Supervise staff. Hire, develop, and manage staff to achieve organizational goals. Set clear expectations, deliver feedback, and monitor performance for quality, efficiency, and compliance with policies and procedures. Mentor staff, foster career growth, and cultivate a positive and productive work environment.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Substantial expertise in enterprise media relations, reputation management, executive communications, issues management, and crisis communications.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex, high-profile, and sensitive communications with discretion and good judgment.
- Ability to develop and execute integrated media strategies that advance institutional priorities, strengthen reputation, and increase visibility across Dana-Farber’s clinical, research, educational, and philanthropic missions.
- Proven ability to serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, faculty, clinicians, and researchers.
- Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation skills, with strong storytelling and clear messaging for diverse external audiences and stakeholders.
- Strong knowledge of the evolving media landscape and demonstrated ability to build critical relationships with journalists, editors, producers, media influencers, and other external stakeholders.
- Strong analytical, management and leadership skills, including use of media metrics to assess impact and the ability to lead, coach, and further develop a high-performing communications team.
Minimum Job Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, English, or related field required. Master’s degree preferred.
- 12+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience in media relations, public affairs, strategic communications, or corporate communications required.
- Significant experience leading issues management, crisis communications, and reputation management in complex organizations required.
- Demonstrated success developing and executing enterprise media strategies that advance organizational reputation and strategic priorities, including advising executive leaders, physicians, researchers, and subject matter experts on media engagement and communications strategy required.
- Healthcare, academic medicine, higher education, research institution, governmental, or agency experience preferred.
License/Certification/Registration Required: None
Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes
- Directly supervises External Communications Director and External Communications Associate Directors. Indirectly supervises Senior Media Relations Specialists.
Patient Contact: Yes
- Some limited in person, phone and email contact – no direct patient care.
Special Working Conditions:
- On call, with some evening and weekend work.
At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong. As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are committed to having faculty and staff who offer multifaceted experiences. Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and compassionate professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.
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Pay Transparency Statement
The hiring range is based on market pay structures, with individual salaries determined by factors such as business needs, market conditions, internal equity, and based on the candidate’s relevant experience, skills and qualifications.
For union positions, the pay range is determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
$221,400.00 - $249,000.00
