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 based in the Buffalo, NY  area. The Communications Director will serve as an individual contributor, making an outstanding impact in our markets by crafting and delivering essential communications and marketing support for all of Western NY and Vermont. In this position, you will collaborate and report to the Sr. Communications Director.  

This is a home-office-based position based in the Buffalo, NY, area. This position will require travel throughout the market and occasional travel to Vermont to meet with media, community partners, key volunteers, and corporate sponsors.    

In this role, you will collaborate with our development and health strategies teams to craft and implement essential communications, marketing, and other deliverables to support our fundraising efforts, educational programs, awareness campaigns, advocacy efforts, and branding. The Communications Director will play a significant role in achieving our 2027 Impact Goals by delivering mission-related messaging.

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

As the Communications Director, you will be responsible for:

• Develop plans to reach the media, general public, and target audiences through traditional media outlets, social media, press releases, and other relevant materials and sources.
• Develop an integrated market-wide communications plan and timelines for market advocacy priorities, core fundraising events (including Heart Walk, Go Red for Women, Heart Ball, CycleNation, and other events as added), for the Community Impact priorities, and for all sponsorships that include a media component.
• Sharing the markets Community Impact story via public and media relations, social media, and video creation. 
• Cultivate media sources both internal and external, providing spokesperson training to volunteer leadership and staff.
• Support script writing for both internal and external speaking opportunities.
• Support market events by leading the stage presentation and prepping speakers, working with external production teams to create videos, and working with media outlets the night of events.  Handle local relationships with spokespeople (medical authorities, survivors, etc.), marketing, and media organizations/media networks.
• Work with media and other third-party vendors to provide traditional and non-traditional media sponsorship opportunities.
• Coordinate all promotional activities with media sponsors, including PSAs, interviews with American Heart Association spokespeople, other media pitches, and more.  Run market-specific social media channels.
• Share critical wellness resources, risk messaging, and communication campaigns for the public to save and change lives in the community.  Using AP style writing to create press releases, pitch stories to media, draft briefs, etc. 
• Champion volunteers for the organization, including cardiac and stroke survivors, physicians, philanthropists, and more. 
• Monitor the use of the Association’s name and logo by internal teams and media sponsors, ensuring branding guidelines are adhered to. 
• Act as the communications consultant and authority to internal teams and lead communications-related market trainings on branding, crisis communications, and message creation.

Qualifications

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

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, marketing, public relations, or related field, preferred.
• 3 years of experience in journalism, marketing, marketing communications, or public relations.
• Intermediate to advanced skills with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Ability to lift and/or move large objects (such as boxes) with the expectation that heavier items would be broken down into smaller components, or requesting additional assistance may be required before lifting and/or moving

• Ability to travel within your territory daily; requires access to reliable transportation at all times on an immediate basis.

• Experience working with groups and/or volunteers with the ability to train, lead, and guide them to achieve program goals.
• Able to prioritize multiple assignments in a fast-paced, professional setting.
• Willing to work outside normal hours, including some evenings and weekends as needed.
• Excellent written and verbal skills, and outstanding social skills with a variety of audiences, including multicultural, and via numerous marketing platforms, including writing for the web and mobile.  AP style writing and local media relationships are a plus.
• Knowledge of not-for-profit healthcare organizations with a focus on medical-related issues is helpful.

Compensation & Benefits

The expected pay range is $61,500 to $79,000. Pay is commensurate with experience; geographic differentials may apply to the pay range.  American Heart Association reserves the right to pay more or less than the posted range.

The American Heart Association invests in its people. Here are the main components of our total rewards package.  Visit Rewards & Benefits to see more details.

• Compensation – Our goal is to ensure you have a competitive base salary.  That’s why we regularly review the market value of jobs and make adjustments, as needed.
• Performance and Recognition – You are rewarded for achieving success through annual salary planning and incentive programs; eligibility for an incentive program is based on the type of position.  
• Benefits – We offer a wide array of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, along with a robust retirement program that includes an employer match and automatic contribution.  As a mark of our commitment to employee well-being, we also offer an employee assistance program, employee wellness program and telemedicine, and medical consultation.
• Professional Development – You can join one of our many Employee Resource Groups (ERG) or be a mentor/mentee in our professional mentoring program.  Heart U is the Association’s national online university, with more than 100,000 resources designed to meet your needs and busy schedule.
• Work-Life Harmonization – The Association offers Paid Time Off (PTO) at a minimum of 16 days per year for new employees.  The number of days will increase based on seniority level.  You will also have a total of 12 paid holidays off each year, which includes several days off at the end of the year.
• Tuition Assistance - We support the career development of all employees.  This program provides financial assistance to employees who wish to further their education and career in relation to their current duties and responsibilities, or for potential future positions in the organization.

The American Heart Association’s 2028 Goal: Building on over 100 years of trusted leadership in cardiovascular and brain health, by 2028 the Association will drive breakthroughs and implement proven solutions in science, policy, and care for healthier people and communities. The greatest discoveries in health must reach everyone where they are.

At American Heart Association | American Stroke Association, our mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, age, language, sexual orientation, national origin and physical or cognitive abilities.This position not a match with your skills?  Click here to see other opportunities.

In accordance with local and state laws where applicable, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment.

EOE/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities