Regional Vice President, Communications and Public Relations

Overview

Prime Healthcare is one of the nation's leading health systems, recognized for its commitment to preserving access to healthcare, transforming underperforming hospitals, and delivering high-quality patient care to communities across the United States. Prime Healthcare's mission-driven strategy has centered on acquiring and revitalizing hospitals that are vital to the communities they serve. Through a unique combination of operational excellence, physician engagement, clinical quality, and community commitment, Prime Healthcare has become a nationally recognized healthcare organization.

 

Organization Highlights

• 55 Hospitals• 60,000+ Employees and Affiliated Physicians• Operations Across 15 States• 600+ Communities Served• More than $16 Billion in Charity Care and Uncompensated Services Since 2010

 

Our MissionPrime Healthcare is committed to ensuring communities have access to hospitals that provide the highest quality, affordable care. The organization remains dedicated to preserving local healthcare access while investing in clinical excellence, physician partnerships, employee engagement, and patient-centered care.

 

Position Summary:

Prime Healthcare seeks an accomplished communications executive to serve as Vice President, Communications & Public Relations.This highly visible role serves as one of the organization's key representatives with internal and external stakeholders and is responsible for leading the strategic communications, public relations, executive messaging, reputation management, and media engagement efforts of a nationally recognized healthcare system.Working closely with the Prime Executive Leadership Team, Government Relations, hospital leadership, community stakeholders, and elected officials, this leader will play a critical role in protecting, enhancing, and advancing the Prime Healthcare brand while supporting continued growth and organizational transformation.The Vice President serves as the organization's principal spokesperson and trusted advisor on executive communications, crisis communications, media relations, and stakeholder engagement initiatives.

 

Responsibilities

The Vice President of Communications and Public Relations is a corporate and regional executive leader responsible for the planning, development, and execution of Prime Healthcare's strategic communications and public relations programs.This leadership position works closely with Government Relations and oversees the development and deployment of all corporate communications initiatives, including:

• Investor-related communications and presentations• Media relations• Public relations activities• Community engagement initiatives• Executive communications• Internal communications• Crisis communications• Corporate sponsorships• Prime Healthcare Foundation communications• Website strategy and development• Digital communications and social media strategy

 

Hospital Communications teams maintain a dotted-line reporting relationship to this executive leadership role.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Strategic Communications Leadership

• Build and champion a world-class communications and public relations program that advances Prime Healthcare's strategic objectives.
• Drive enterprise-wide messaging strategies supporting growth, market awareness, community engagement, and brand reputation.
• Develop communication initiatives that increase awareness, understanding, utilization, and confidence in Prime Healthcare services and capabilities.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on communications, reputation management, and stakeholder engagement.

 

Media Relations & Public Affairs

• Create and implement comprehensive earned and paid media campaigns that positively position Prime Healthcare.
• Develop and maintain relationships with national, regional, and local media organizations.
• Serve as the primary spokesperson for Prime Healthcare.
• Lead media response efforts during routine and crisis situations.

Executive Communications

• Partner with senior leadership to communicate organizational priorities, growth strategies, and performance results.
• Develop executive presentations, speeches, thought leadership content, messaging frameworks, and stakeholder communications.
• Support investor-related communications and presentations.

Internal Communications

• Maintain a proactive internal communications strategy that engages leaders, physicians, and employees across the enterprise.
• Ensure alignment of organizational messaging and culture initiatives.
• Enhance employee understanding of organizational priorities, mission, and strategic direction.

Hospital Communications Leadership

• Provide strategic communications leadership and consultation to Prime Healthcare hospitals nationwide.
• Utilize market intelligence, analytics, and operational data to develop communications strategies that support growth.
• Support hospital leadership teams in driving profitable service-line growth and community awareness.

Acquisition Communications

• Participate as an active member of the Prime Healthcare Acquisition Team.
• Lead communications planning and implementation for newly acquired hospitals.
• Develop public relations, advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and media strategies that support acquisition integration efforts.

Crrisis Communications & Reputation Management

• Lead crisis communications planning and execution.
• Work closely with Legal, Government Relations, Human Resources, and hospital leadership during sensitive issues and critical public relations situations.
• Protect and strengthen Prime Healthcare's reputation during high-profile events and organizational challenges.

Digital, Web & Social Media Strategy

• Oversee enterprise web, digital, and social media strategies.
• Ensure brand consistency across all communications channels.
• Influence creative direction, advertising strategy, storytelling initiatives, and digital engagement efforts.
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Leadership & Team Development

• Develop annual departmental goals, objectives, and performance metrics.
• Establish protocols and continuous improvement strategies for communications and PR programs.
• Oversee departmental budgets and ensure responsible stewardship of resources.
• Recruit, coach, mentor, and develop communications professionals across both corporate and hospital teams.

 

 

Please note: this role is required onsite at our HQ in Ontario, CA. This position is not offerred remote. 

Qualifications

Required qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, English, Communications, Public Relations, Marketing or related field.

10+ years of effective communications success in a healthcare delivery setting; 10+ years’ leading and executing communications function at the c-suite level.

A successful track record of effectively communicating with senior level executives, board members, physician leaders, elected officials, and key community stakeholders.

Excellent writing skills for a variety of audiences.

Relationship building skill and experience with local and national media; Becker’s Healthcare, Modern Healthcare included.

Demonstrated results effectively leading and executing corporate and regional-level communications, executive communications, crisis communications, media relations and public relations, as well as labor related communications.

A “working leader” working alongside teams developing materials, often under tight deadlines.

 Highly developed organizational, communication, planning and leadership skills; diplomatic with the ability to build positive relationships across the health system.

Excellent coaching and mentoring skills

 

Preferred qualifications:

Experience working in a large, complex (matrixed) national health system

Experience with investor relations

Experience and knowledge in government relations and working with elected officials and key stakeholders.

Connections, or experience working with, national news media in key markets (LA, NYC, Midwest)

Master’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, English, Marketing, Journalism

 

Pay Transparency

Prime Healthcare offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package that provides employees the flexibility to tailor benefits according to their individual needs. Our Total Rewards package includes, but is not limited to, paid time off, a 401K retirement plan, medical, dental, and vision coverage, tuition reimbursement, and many more voluntary benefit options.  Benefits may vary based on employment status, i.e. full-time, part-time, per diem or temporary.  A reasonable compensation estimate for this role, which includes estimated wages, benefits, and other forms of compensation, is $175,000.00 to $280,000.00 on an annualized basis. The exact starting compensation to be offered will be determined at the time of selecting an applicant for hire and will be dependent on a wide range of factors, including but not limited to geographic location, skill set, experience, education, credentials, and licensure. Additionally, employees in this position may be eligible to participate in the Company’s annual discretionary bonus program. Discretionary bonuses, if any, are based on a number of factors, which include but are not limited to individual and Company performance.

Employment Status

Full Time

Shift

Days

Equal Employment Opportunity

Company is an equal employment opportunity employer. Company prohibits discrimination against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (subject to applicable law), disability, military status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. The Company also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. Know Your Rights: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/EEOC_KnowYourRights_screen_reader_10_20.pdf

 

Privacy Notice

Privacy Notice for California Applicants: https://www.primehealthcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Notice-at-Collection-and-Privacy-Policy-for-California-Job-Applicants.pdf