You're passionate about driving business objectives through strategic communication and ready to make a significant impact. Leading a dynamic team, you'll shape the future of musculoskeletal health communications by overseeing messaging, content development, and social media efforts. You'll ensure top-notch branding and reputation management, aligning staff and leadership messages for a cohesive external presence. Implementing cutting-edge tools and procedures, you'll streamline communication processes and evaluate strategies to meet goals. In this pivotal role, you'll enhance our reputation as trusted leaders, provide expert counsel, foster partnerships, and manage a talented team responsible for media relations, PR, social media, and more. 

If this sounds like you, please read on!

• Develops, leads and evaluates a sustainable and proactive external communications strategy to enhance AAOS reputation as the trusted leaders in musculoskeletal health and drive business objectives. 
• Provides key business functions with external communications counsel, communication solutions and activation plans, and seeks opportunities for internal and external partnership, collaboration and cross-promotion.   
• Manages a team of professional marketing and communications staff responsible for creating media relations, PR, special media events, social media, advocacy communications, podcast and new media, branding and leadership communications.  
• Leads and oversees original messaging strategy, content development, organic social media strategy, branding communications, reputation management materials, in addition to aligning staff and leadership communication messages, talking points and other external-facing content.  
• Directs the implementation of tools, systems and procedures to conduct external-facing communication business.   
• Consistently evaluates the overall and individual team communications strategies to ensure they remain aligned with annual and long-term goals and track progress.  
• Assists the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer with all strategic management of the department and oversees all operations in conjunction with and in absence of the CMO.  

COMMUNICATIONS AND PR STRATEGY 

• Collaborates regularly and intentionally, and serves as a primary point of contact, with membership, marketing and communications leadership teams to establish opportunities and share communications solutions to drive business objectives.  
• Directs and manages communications and PR campaigns from inception to completion, follow up, and evaluation including overseeing organizational integration, development, production and distribution of all communication program components, news releases, and other appropriate materials related to those programs.  
• Directs the implementation of communications management systems and procedures, including tools and processes. 

BRAND COMMUNICATIONS AND MESSAGE DEVELOPMENT  

• Directs the overall brand message of the Academy, drafting and developing highlights, key messages and talking points, supervising the management of the department’s section of the website. Reviews external-facing communications related to the organization.  
• Develops and shares annual proactive crisis plans. Work with the team to develop a preparedness plan, when possible, ahead of the announcement of any clinical or other news that may affect our membership or orthopaedic patients. In crisis scenarios, develops strategy and immediate course of action, writes key messages and crisis communications materials. Works with across the organization to manage and recommend next steps in conjunction with the Academy executive leadership team. Communicate with internal and external audiences and spokespeople, which may include regulators, legal counsel, orthopaedic industry and/or the media.  
• Monitors news sources for brand opportunities and challenges; develops strategies to mitigate risk.  
• Oversees online Brand Resource Center and seeks opportunities for compliance and understanding. 

TALENT DEVELOPMENT 

• Fosters team growth/development, motivates and monitors staff progress to set and achieve goals. 
• Evaluates employee performance, counsels and mentors the communications team.  

BUDGET MANAGEMENT  

• Manages all communication budgets, contracts, forecasting and allocation activities. Prepares requests for proposals and negotiates scope of work with vendors and partners.  

COMMITTEE, COUNCIL AND VOLUNTEER  

• Develops and maintains positive relationships with key volunteers to improve member-facing and external communications for the organization, and the AAOS brand. 
• Serves as staff liaison to the Communications Committee and reports into the Membership Council on behalf of the volunteers. 
• Develops communiqué and presentations for AAOS members to strengthen internal and external communication and partnerships. 

Exemplifies the following essential values of the Academy: 

• Teamwork: Effective collaboration and team-focus to solve complex problems and drive innovation. 
• Empowerment: The authority, information, and skills to make decisions and drive results. 
• Accountability: Ownership of process and results that drive decisions and ensure implementation. 
• Mindset of Growth/Continuous Learning:  Focused on and invested in self and staff development to become more adaptable, making the Academy more agile, innovative, and sustainable. 

 Travel: 

•  Up to 20 days per year 

Qualifications: 

Required:

• Undergraduate degree in Strategic Business Communications, Health Policy, Journalism or a Public Relations Management course of study. 
• Minimum of 12 years of experience as a communications or public relations professional, with a minimum of seven years in a supervisory capacity. 
• Superior managerial skills 
• Excellent ability to identify opportunities, gaps and solutions to reputation issues that are important to the Academy, its members and orthopaedic patients 
• Experience with strategic and integrated communications planning and measurement and the ability to think proactively and creatively 
• Superior written and interpersonal communications experience 
• Excellent relationship-building and problem-solving skills and a service-oriented attitude 
• Knowledge of technology and applications in public relations; database development, social media and internet content development skills are essential  
• Ability to manage and prioritize heavy workload with multiple projects, work independently and exercise accurate judgment 

• Desired:  
• Medical specialty society or professional association experience 
• Experience in budget management  
• Master’s degree in communications or management  

Salary Range: $130,000-$140,000, depending on qualifications and experience.

Join us in shaping AAOS’ success! If this resonates with you, apply today by sharing the following:

-Clearly communicate why you are the ideal candidate for this role, providing specific examples and experiences as proof points.

-Resumes must be accompanied by a cover letter with salary expectations to be considered. 

Please note: 

This hybrid position is based in Rosemont, Illinois and is open to applicants who are able to commute bi-weekly to this office.

Applicants must already be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of work visas.

JOB CODE: 1000116