Director of Communications

Who We Are:

Neighborhood Health Center is a non-profit organization local to Portland, OR serving underserved patients in the areas of primary care, internal medicine, dental services and more. Our patient-centered approach to care honors the unique needs and circumstances of each individual patient. NHC sees people, not problems, and recognizes that the time spent as a patient in a doctors office is only one factor in a persons overall health. Our leading edge, integrated clinical teams work in partnership with patients, their families, and the communities we serve to provide whole-person care, prevention, and ongoing support.

NHC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate differences in the workplace and do not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (sex), national origin, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.

Why work with us?

• We are a non-profit organization, passionate about providing the underserved population with medical and dental services across the greater Portland area, committed to making a difference daily.
• We offer our employees a competitive compensation and benefits package which includes 20 days of PTO (based on full time employment), 9 paid holidays, health/dental/vision insurance, quarterly wellness reimbursements, generous 401k retirement plan with employer match, employer paid disability insurance, EAP and life insurance.
• Our employees voted NHC a Top Workplace in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025!

Job Title: Director of Communications

Department: Administrative

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Work Type: Hybrid (2 in office/3 remote)

Classification: Full Time, Exempt

Language Differential: Ineligible

SUMMARY

The Director of Communications provides strategic leadership and oversight of all communications, marketing, community relations, and brand management functions at NHC. This position is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive communications strategies that increase visibility and community engagement in support of the organizations mission.

Working collaboratively with the CEO, Executive Leadership Team (ELT), and Board of Directors, the Director ensures that all internal and external messaging aligns with NHCs mission to provide high-quality, accessible care to all individuals, regardless of income or insurance status. The role requires a blend of strategic thinking, operational oversight, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to build lasting relationships with community stakeholders, media, and policymakers.

Key areas of Responsibility

• Develop and lead comprehensive communications and marketing strategies that elevate NHCs brand awareness and community engagement.
• Oversee all external communications, including social media, website, newsletters, press releases, annual reports, and media relations.
• Manage internal communications to enhance organizational cohesion, knowledge sharing, and employee engagement.
• Initiate and steward community partnerships and outreach initiatives aligned with NHCs strategic goals.
• Develop and maintain brand messaging frameworks and communications style guide to ensure consistent, mission-aligned communication across all staff, board members, and public-facing materials.
• Lead audience-specific communications strategies tailored to NHCs unique stakeholders, including patients, donors, policymakers, community partners, and staff.
• Support Director of Advancement in guiding Board of Directors in communications engagement efforts.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure alignment with NHCs mission, values, and long-term objectives.

Essential Job Duties

Communications & Marketing

• Serve as NHCs primary media spokesperson (often referred to externally as Public Information Officer (PIO)), ensuring consistent, brand-aligned messaging across all platforms.
• Oversee brand management and engagement strategies that promote NHCs mission and programs internally and externally.
• Direct digital presence, including website, social media, and digital marketing campaigns to increase awareness, engagement, and patient access.
• Lead internal and external messaging strategies, ensuring consistent communication with staff, patients, donors, policymakers, and the community.
• Guide public relations and media engagement efforts to strengthen NHCs visibility and influence.
• Produce and oversee all organizational publications, including newsletters, annual reports, and press releases.
• Develop and maintain brand messaging frameworks and communications style guides to ensure brand and mission consistency across all channels and spokespeople.
• Develop and execute audience-specific communications strategies for NHCs stakeholders - including patients, donors, policymakers, community partners, and staff - ensuring each group receives appropriately tailored messaging.
• Lead the organization's crisis communications response, including Incident Command Center (ICC) executive level support along with maintenance of protocols for media relations and managing public reputational risks to NHC.
• Track and analyze key communications performance metrics and use insights to inform and continuously improve communications strategy.

Patient & Community Storytelling

• Develop and steward a patient and community storytelling program that captures and shares the lived experiences of NHC patients to humanize the organizations mission for donors, media, and policymakers.
• Ensure all patient- and community-facing communications meet plain language and health literacy standards, with attention to accessibility for multilingual, low-literacy, and underserved audiences.
• Champion an anti-racist, culturally competent communications approach across all platforms and materials, ensuring NHCs messaging reflects and advances its commitment to health equity and the communities it serves.

Community and Stakeholder Relations

• Pursue and support strategic partnerships with community organizations, healthcare providers, and local stakeholders to expand NHCs brand reach, donor prospects, and referral network.
• Oversee community relations initiatives, ensuring they align with organizational goals.
• Guide educational campaigns that promote health literacy and awareness of NHCs services.
• Provide Communications strategy and tactical support to the Advancement team to help drive awareness and engagement among prospective donors, local and national policymakers.

Leadership & Administration

• Lead, mentor, and evaluate Communications team members, promoting a culture of innovation, accountability, and excellence.
• Oversee budgeting for Communications functions, ensuring resource allocation aligns with strategic goals.
• Promote workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion across all communications activities.

Executive level Special Projects

• Support executive-level special projects as needed, including but not limited to All Staff meetings, Executive Town Halls, proposals, presentations, communications, strategic initiatives, and other tasks or activities requiring a high level of visioning, judgment, and organizational alignment.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism, or related field required.
• Masters degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible communications and marketing experience, including at least 4 years in senior leadership, required.
• Demonstrated success managing multi-channel communications campaigns, media relations, and brand management functions required.
• Experience in a nonprofit, community health, or healthcare setting strongly preferred.
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Behaviors

• Exceptional written, verbal, and public speaking skills.
• Strong public affairs capabilities.
• Proven ability to develop and execute strategic communications plans with measurable results.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and foster collaboration.
• Proficiency in digital marketing and social media platforms.
• Experience developing plain language, health-literate content accessible to underserved audiences.
• Experience developing or executing crisis communications plans and rapid response protocols.
• Proficiency in communications analytics tools with the ability to translate data into actionable strategy.
• Demonstrated commitment to racial equity, cultural competency, and anti-racist communications practices.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all communications practices.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Regularly sits for extended periods while working on a computer; requires dexterity and ability to differentiate color and screen brightness.
• Frequently stands and walks for tasks such as meetings and events.
• Occasionally lifts or moves materials weighing 20-25 lbs, and up to 40-50 lbs.
• Moderate noise level typical of office environments.
• Flexibility to work early mornings, evenings, and weekends as needed.
• Travel required during the workday for meetings and events.

Neighborhood Health Center Employment Offers are contingent on successful completion of reference checks, background checks, drug screening for illegal substances, Tuberculosis, and any position specific credentialing or licensure requirements.