Associate Director, Communications & Public Relations

Job Description Summary

We seek a highly skilled communicator and strategic planner to serve as the strategic Associate Director, Communications & Public Relations. This position is a key communications team member, responsible for elevating the visibility, reputation and leadership voice of our academic health system and its leaders through strategic event planning, expertly crafted messaging and meticulously executed events.

Entity

Medical University Hospital Authority (MUHA)

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type​

Regular

Cost Center

CC005227 SYS - Communications and Marketing Officer Administration

Pay Rate Type

Salary

Pay Grade

Health-34

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Work Shift

Job Description

This role blends strategic public relations, executive speech and presentation writing, and event planning to support institutional priorities and engage diverse audiences, including media, faculty, students, providers, community stakeholders, and other key audiences.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning and Leadership Collaboration (35%)

• Shape events and messaging reflecting the institution’s mission, values, and strategic goals, while resonating with health care, academic, and community audiences.
• Collaborate with media relations, marketing, and leadership to ensure message alignment and consistency across platforms.
• Monitor current events, health care and academic industry trends, and public sentiment to inform timely and relevant communications.
• Support crisis communications and reputation management efforts as needed. 

Remarks, Speeches and Presentation Development (30%)

• Serve as the principal writer for speeches, remarks, talking points, op-eds, video scripts, thought leadership content, including presentations for senior leaders tailored to diverse audiences, faculty, students, health care professionals, media, government and the public.
• Translate complex medical, academic, research and business strategic content into clear, engaging, and inspiring narratives.
• Provide strategic counsel on tone, messaging, and delivery for senior leader communications.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure messaging consistency across channels.
• Support leaders in preparing for high-stakes engagements such as commencements, conferences, media appearances, and legislative meetings.
• Maintain a library of messaging frameworks, quotes, and institutional storytelling assets.
• Other duties as assigned.

Event Planning and Material creation (30%)

• Lead the strategy, planning and execution of high-profile enterprise, academic and health events, including press conferences, leadership forums, educational milestones, internal celebrations (in collaboration with Internal Communications) and community outreach initiatives.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align event goals with organizational objectives.
• Build and align event strategy with public relations goals, institutional strategies, and messaging.
• Manage event logistics, budgets, vendor relationships and venue coordination, speakers, production timelines, etc.
• Ensure events reflect MUSC brand standards, accessibility, and culture.
• Develop event briefs, run-of-show documents, post-event debrief meetings and reports, and other materials as required to evaluate impact and inform future planning.
• Develop contingency plans and risk management strategies for high-profile events.

Other duties as assigned (5%)

Preferred Skills

• Experience with executive speechwriting and supporting senior leadership in public-facing roles.
• Knowledge of branding, visual storytelling, and multimedia content creation.
• Existing relationships or proven ability to build relationships with key SC based vendors
• Familiarity with academic health systems, medical terminology, higher education governance and government events/terms.
• Familiarity with event technologies and platforms.
• Proficiency in presentation design tools (e.g., PowerPoint, Canva, etc.).
• Knowledge of media relations, branding, and inclusive communication practices.
• Crisis communication experience is a plus.

Additional Job Description

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, Event Management, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 8-10 years of experience in public relations, senior leader communications, and event planning, ideally within health care, higher education, or nonprofit sectors.
• Exceptional writing and storytelling skills with a portfolio of speeches and public-facing content. AP style expert preferred.
• Proven ability to manage complex, high-profile events and cross-functional teams.
• Strong organizational, project management, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage sensitive information, multiple priorities, maintain confidentiality and meet tight deadlines.

Physical Requirements

• Mobility & Posture
• Standing: Continuous
• Sitting: Continuous
• Walking: Continuous
• Climbing stairs: Infrequent
• Working indoors: Continuous
• Working outdoors (temperature extremes): Infrequent
• Working from elevated areas: Frequent
• Working in confined/cramped spaces: Frequent
• Kneeling: Infrequent
• Bending at the waist: Continuous
• Twisting at the waist: Frequent
• Squatting: Frequent
• Manual Dexterity & Strength
• Pinching operations: Frequent
• Gross motor use (fingers/hands): Continuous
• Firm grasping (fingers/hands): Continuous
• Fine manipulation (fingers/hands): Continuous
• Reaching overhead: Frequent
• Reaching in all directions: Continuous
• Repetitive motion (hands/wrists/elbows/shoulders): Continuous
• Full use of both legs: Continuous
• Balance & coordination (lower extremities): Frequent
• Lifting & Force Requirements
• Lift/carry 50 lbs. unassisted: Infrequent
• Lift/lower 50 lbs. from floor to 36”: Infrequent
• Lift up to 25 lbs. overhead: Infrequent
• Exert up to 50 lbs. of force: Frequent
• Examples:
• Transfer 100 lb. non-ambulatory patient = 50 lbs. force
• Push 400 lb. patient in wheelchair on carpet = 20 lbs. force
• Push patient stretcher one-handed = 25 lbs. force
• Vision & Sensory
• Maintain corrected vision 20/40 (one or both eyes): Continuous
• Recognize objects (near/far): Continuous
• Color discrimination: Continuous
• Depth perception: Continuous
• Peripheral vision: Continuous
• Hearing acuity (with correction): Continuous
• Tactile sensory function: Continuous
• Gross motor with fine motor coordination: Continuous
• Selected Positions:
• Olfactory (smell) function: Continuous
• Respirator use qualification: Continuous
• Work Environment & Conditions
• Effective stress management: Continuous
• Rotating shifts: Frequent
• Overtime as required: Frequent
• Latex-safe environment: Continuous
• Standing: Continuous
• Sitting: Continuous
• Walking: Continuous
• Climbing stairs: Infrequent
• Working indoors: Continuous
• Working outdoors (temperature extremes): Infrequent
• Working from elevated areas: Frequent
• Working in confined/cramped spaces: Frequent
• Kneeling: Infrequent
• Bending at the waist: Continuous
• Twisting at the waist: Frequent
• Squatting: Frequent
• Pinching operations: Frequent
• Gross motor use (fingers/hands): Continuous
• Firm grasping (fingers/hands): Continuous
• Fine manipulation (fingers/hands): Continuous
• Reaching overhead: Frequent
• Reaching in all directions: Continuous
• Repetitive motion (hands/wrists/elbows/shoulders): Continuous
• Full use of both legs: Continuous
• Balance & coordination (lower extremities): Frequent
• Lift/carry 50 lbs. unassisted: Infrequent
• Lift/lower 50 lbs. from floor to 36”: Infrequent
• Lift up to 25 lbs. overhead: Infrequent
• Exert up to 50 lbs. of force: Frequent
• Examples:
• Transfer 100 lb. non-ambulatory patient = 50 lbs. force
• Push 400 lb. patient in wheelchair on carpet = 20 lbs. force
• Push patient stretcher one-handed = 25 lbs. force
• Examples:
• Transfer 100 lb. non-ambulatory patient = 50 lbs. force
• Push 400 lb. patient in wheelchair on carpet = 20 lbs. force
• Push patient stretcher one-handed = 25 lbs. force
• Transfer 100 lb. non-ambulatory patient = 50 lbs. force
• Push 400 lb. patient in wheelchair on carpet = 20 lbs. force
• Push patient stretcher one-handed = 25 lbs. force
• Maintain corrected vision 20/40 (one or both eyes): Continuous
• Recognize objects (near/far): Continuous
• Color discrimination: Continuous
• Depth perception: Continuous
• Peripheral vision: Continuous
• Hearing acuity (with correction): Continuous
• Tactile sensory function: Continuous
• Gross motor with fine motor coordination: Continuous
• Selected Positions:
• Olfactory (smell) function: Continuous
• Respirator use qualification: Continuous
• Olfactory (smell) function: Continuous
• Respirator use qualification: Continuous
• Effective stress management: Continuous
• Rotating shifts: Frequent
• Overtime as required: Frequent
• Latex-safe environment: Continuous

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

Medical University of South Carolina participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For further information about the E-Verify program, please click here: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/employees