JOB DESCRIPTION

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.

The American Heart Association has an opening for a Communications Marketing Director in our Charlotte Market! This position will focus on developing and implementing communications and marketing plans that promote the American Heart Association’s strategic priorities, events and cause initiatives within the greater Charlotte area.

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

• Develops and implements local strategic communications plans that promote the American Heart Association’s nationally driven priorities, local events, community impact, Science news and cause initiatives.
• Writes, distributes and pitches news releases and other supporting media materials to local traditional and non-traditional media.
• Secures media sponsorships for local events and priority initiatives, as appropriate.
• Implements awareness campaigns around heart and stroke related topics and works collaboratively with other key market staff to develop an integrated approach to such campaigns.
• Works with staff to ensure that national branding guidelines are followed.
• Develops and implements communications plans for sponsor funded activations and strategic alliances.
• Identifies, secures and media trains local spokespersons.
• Provides marketing and communications support for development and fundraising events and activations, as appropriate.
• Identifies human interest stories for media coverage, social media posts, internal and external communications channels and event integration.
• Tracks all media coverage via a media tracking system and manages a spokesperson database.
• Works with video production companies and photographers to content, social media and other marketing communications resources.

Other Job Duties:

• Develops and implements media events, as appropriate.
• Works to place Public Service Announcements (PSA) locally.
• Works with Southeast Region’s VP of Communications and Marketing to manage local crises or sensitive issues.
• Works in collaboration with media advocacy staff to develop appropriate media. advocacy strategies and implements strategies, as appropriate.
• Works with executive director and team to manage local paid advertising projects.
• Manages and implements other projects as identified by the executive director.
• Manages relationships with local media to promote events and involvement within market
• Coordinates programming for core campaign events in collaboration with campaign leads
• Develops social media plans for the market around campaigns, icon months and general content for statewide pages
• Creates social media posts, reels, stories on CANVA for placement on state pages.
• Manages and places all organic and paid content on social media accounts for the market and collaborates with MARCOM team across state and with national on combined and sponsored posts.
• Works with Community Impact team on EOY reports, promotional materials and collateral for external events

Qualifications

• Travels as required within the assigned territory markets; 20% travel as needed within the greater Charlotte area.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism or related field, or some college plus experience.
• Typically requires minimum three years of work experience in communications, social media, public relations and journalism or any equivalent combination of training and work experience.
• Experience applying the principles and practices of communications and marketing to the non-profit environment.
• Experience working as a team member with multiple internal and external constituencies at varying levels: staff, media, external corporations, and volunteers.
• Experience with crisis communications and sensitive issues.
• Experience implementing communications campaigns, pitching to media, planning media events, and writing news releases.
• Exceptional oral and written communications skills, including experience with speech writing, news writing for broadcast and print and general business writing.
• Working knowledge of news media operations, newsgathering, and technology.
• Intermediate knowledge and skills with Microsoft Office for word processing, email, PowerPoints, and spreadsheets.

Compensation & Benefits 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. HeartU 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.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Welcome to the American Heart Association’s movement to change the future of health and be the progress that ensures longer, healthier lives for all. By driving breakthroughs in science, policy, and care – together — we can overcome today’s biggest health challenges and transform lives every day. The American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. We are advocates of good health and promoters of positive behaviors, nutritious eating habits and healthy lifestyles. We also fund cutting-edge research and professional education programs. We promise to have an extraordinary impact on your life by empowering you and your loved ones to save lives, live healthier and enjoy more peace of mind about cardiovascular health.