Head of Communications Planning

Director, Strategic Communications

The Director, Strategic Communications is a key leader within the Communications function, responsible for shaping narratives, strengthening organizational reputation, and conditioning the environment so the company can successfully execute major business priorities. This role partners closely with business leaders to ensure communications not only informs but prepares stakeholders, builds trust, and reinforces the purpose and credibility of the organization. We believe firmly that communication solves business challenges. looking mindset that supports the continued evolution of the Communications function.

Strategic Communications Leadership

Develop and execute clear, compelling communications strategies that prepare stakeholders for enterprise decisions and reinforce trust in organizational direction.

Provide narrative leadership and contextual framing that helps audiences understand the "why" behind policies, products, and priorities.

Ensure all communications connect to enterprise strategy, market realities, affordability priorities, and organizational purpose.

Reputation, Risk & Environmental Conditioning

Shape the internal and external environment to build trust, reinforce credibility, and reduce friction for business operations.

Anticipate areas of sensitivity or risk and proactively prepare messaging that support safe, confident rollout of key initiatives.

Translate policy, regulatory, and market insights into communications actions that strengthen the organization's reputation and narrative authority.

Serve as an integrator who brings clarity and alignment among Brand, Performance Marketing and Corporate Social Responsibility teams, P&Ls, Strategy, Customer Experience and Digital, Public Affairs, Healthcare Innovation and HR.

Ensure leaders have the right context, narratives, and materials to support consistent, enterprise?aligned communication.

Quality Delivery

Lead multiple communications workstreams with discipline, timeliness, and accuracy.

Drive continuous improvement in communications workflows, tools, and team readiness.

Model professional maturity, clear thinking, proactive ownership, and modern communications judgment.

Operate with confidence through change and support the continued evolution of Communications as a strategic enterprise function.

Strategic clarity ability to distill complexity into clear, actionable communication.

Judgment & discernment identifies risk early and offers sound recommendations.

Healthcare ecosystem literacy demonstrates a strong understanding of the health care landscape, policy environment, and market forces, ensuring communication and counsel are grounded in industry context.

Change confidence operates with steadiness and positivity through transformation and evolving priorities.

Influential communication strong writing, framing, alignment-building, and audience awareness skills.

level communications strategies that align with business objectives and drive measurable organizational impact.

Enterprise-level operational and analytical acumen, including oversight of agency partnerships, budgets, and performance metrics, with the ability to translate data and KPIs into strategic action.

Demonstrated expertise in public relations and media management, including proactive media engagement, issues response, and reputation management.

Bonus Points

Bachelor's degree required; 10+ years of relevant experience in strategic communications, public affairs, reputation management, or related fields.

Established track record as a people leader with high standards, able to provide clarity, elevate performance and model the behaviors expected of a modern communications function.

Exceptional writing, messaging, and narrative development skills.

Demonstrated strength in cross-functional alignment, stakeholder influence, and integrated communications planning.

Experience in change communications, reputation management, or narrative conditioning strongly preferred.

Strong project management, organization, and operational execution abilities.

The opportunity to work at the cutting edge of health care delivery with a team that's deeply invested in the community

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage along with numerous health and wellness programs
• Career development programs and tuition reimbursement for continued education
• Compensation decisions are driven by factors including experience and training, specialized skill sets, licensure and certifications and other business and organizational needs. Our base salary is part of a robust Total Rewards package that includes an Annual Incentive Bonus*, 401(k) with employer match, Paid Time Off (PTO), and competitive health benefits and wellness programs.

*Based on annual corporate goal achievement and individual performance.

$Communications Strategy, Content Strategy, Digital Communications, Executive Leadership, Marketing Communications (MarCom), Organizational Communications, Social Media, Social Media Management, Strategic Communication Planning, Strategic Planning

_____________________________________________________________________

JOB ALERT FRAUD: We have become aware of scams from individuals, organizations, and internet sites claiming to represent Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina in recruitment activities in return for disclosing financial information. If you have already provided your personal information that you suspect is fraudulent activity, please report it to your local authorities.