Director of Healthcare Public Relations

Job Description

Join a world-class academic healthcare system, UChicago Medicine, as the Director of Healthcare Public Relations , responsible for public relations and media strategy for the health system.


The Director of Healthcare Public Relations will lead and execute strategic public relations initiatives to elevate the reputation and visibility of UChicago Medicine and the Biological Sciences Division. The Director will also develop and oversee comprehensive PR strategies, manages media relations, and acts as a trusted spokesperson and liaison. The PR Director will collaborate with executive leadership, clinical teams, and marketing to effectively communicate the organization's mission, achievements, and innovations in healthcare delivery, research, and education through impactful storytelling and engagement, with a strong focus on delivery. This is a hybrid remote position based at the Hyde Park campus in Chicago, IL.


Who you are:

A collaborative, self-motivated, and detail-oriented public relations leader with:

• Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, or related field.
• 8-10 years of progressive PR experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership role within healthcare or academic medical centers.
• Proven success in developing and executing high-impact PR campaigns.
• Deep understanding of healthcare industry trends, regulations, and best practices.
• Familiarity with academic medical center environments (clinical care, research, and teaching missions).
• Strong crisis communications and issues management experience.
• Established media relationships and a track record of securing positive coverage.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with senior executives and clinical leaders.
• Expertise in media pitching, interview preparation, and press release writing.
• Demonstrated leadership, team-building, and project-management abilities.
• Knowledge of digital media trends and tools relevant to PR.
• Ability to set and track against goals.

What you'll do as the Director of Healthcare Public Relations:

• Develop and implement integrated PR strategies aligned with Elevate 2035 and department goals.
• Act as primary media contact and spokesperson; manage proactive/reactive media relations for health system priorities.
• Help manage issues and crisis communications, ensuring timely and consistent messaging and playbooks.
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists, influencers, and media outlets.
• Lead creation/distribution of press releases, op-eds, and thought leadership efforts.
• Advise senior leaders on PR best practices and media engagement.
• Collaborate across the entire marketing department for message consistency and go-to-market activations.
• Monitor media coverage and analyze PR campaign performance; provide regular reports to leadership.
• Manage and mentor PR team members, fostering professional development; serve as main point of contact for PR agency of record.

Leadership at UChicago Medicine:

E4 Leadership (Equity, Engage, Evolve, Excel) is a patient centered management system that empowers teams to improve on a daily basis. This is done through daily readiness huddles, real time process monitoring, performance review huddles and structured problem solving. E4 Leadership is an evolving system where leaders work together to cultivate a culture of equity and continuous improvement that enables:

• Each person to realize their full potential for contribution
• The organization to achieve high performance outcomes
• System-wide integration, coordination, and seamless execution
• Clear focus on exceptional, equitable patient care and experiences

As part of the leadership team, this position will be instrumental in reinforcing and sustaining UChicago Medicine's E4 Leadership Culture.

About Us

We've been at the forefront of medicine since 1899. We provide superior healthcare with compassion, always mindful that each patient is a person, an individual. To accomplish this, we need employees with passion, talent and commitment... with patients and with each other. We're in this together: working to advance medical innovation, serve the health needs of the community, and move our collective knowledge forward. If you'd like to add enriching human life to your profile, UChicago Medicine is for you. Here at the forefront, we're doing work that really matters. Join us. Bring your passion.

UChicago Medicine is growing; discover how you can be a part of this pursuit of excellence at: UChicago Medicine Career Opportunities

UChicago Medicine is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, parental status, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status and other legally protected characteristics.

As a condition of employment, all employees are required to complete a pre-employment physical, background check, drug screening, and comply with the flu vaccination requirements prior to hire. Medical and religious exemptions will be considered for flu vaccination consistent with applicable law.

Compensation & Benefits Overview

UChicago Medicine is committed to transparency in compensation and benefits. The pay range provided reflects the anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position.

The pay range is based on a full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) and is reflective of current market data, reviewed on an annual basis. Compensation offered at the time of hire will vary based on candidate qualifications and experience and organizational considerations, such as internal equity. Pay ranges for employees subject to Collective Bargaining Agreements are negotiated by the medical center and their respective union.

Review the full complement of benefit options for eligible roles at Benefits - UChicago Medicine.