Director of Strategic Communications & Reputation

Are you looking for an opportunity to advance your career while working with an extraordinary team? At Merakey, we put heart and soul into everything we do. We are seeking a full-time Director of Strategic Communications & Reputation to join our leadership team.

This is a remote position open to candidates residing in PA, DE, FL, LA, MD, NJ, OH, TX, VA, WV.

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm

Earn $95,725 - $119,656/year

Position Details

The Director of Strategic Communications & Reputation leads Merakey's external communications, public relations, executive communications, thought leadership and reputation strategy.

The Director develops and advances the narratives that define how Merakey is understood by policymakers, payers, partners, communities, prospective affiliates, media and the broader human-services sector.

The Director also serves as a strategic communications partner to Regional Affiliates, programs and operations, helping leaders address local and enterprise reputation opportunities, media needs and significant organizational developments. The role is accountable for delivering responsive, high-quality counsel while proactively identifying opportunities to strengthen reputation and visibility.

Specific Job Functions:

• In partnership with the VP, Enterprise Communications & Marketing and Chief Strategy Officer, develop and oversee the execution of Merakey's enterprise narrative and external communications strategy.
• Lead national and regional media relations.
• Build proactive earned-media opportunities.
• Lead external executive communications and thought leadership opportunities.
• Develop and consult on development of speeches, presentations, opinion pieces, articles and other executive content.
• Develop communications strategies surrounding major enterprise initiatives and affiliations.
• Lead issues and crisis communications planning.
• Serve as a strategic communications partner to Regional Affiliate CEOs, program leaders and operational teams.
• Develop a strong understanding of affiliate markets, local stakeholders and reputational priorities.
• Support Regional Affiliates and programs with local media, public relations and reputation needs.
• Proactively identify stories, issues and opportunities that can advance both local and enterprise objectives.
• Develop relationships with relevant journalists, publications and external influencers.
• Manage enterprise announcements and major stakeholder communications.
• Lead enterprise editorial and external content planning.
• Monitor emerging reputation risks and opportunities.
• Track reputation, visibility, earned media and thought-leadership performance.
• Ensure timely, responsive and consultative service to internal customers.
• Establish clear expectations regarding timelines, deliverables and communications support.
• Solicit internal customer feedback and use it to improve service delivery.

Benefits

Merakey offers generous benefits that promote well-being, financial security, and work-life balance, including:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus access to healthcare advocacy support.
• Retirement plan -- both pre-tax and Roth (after-tax) options available for employee contributions.
• DailyPay -- access your pay when you need it!
• On the Goga well-being platform, featuring self-care tools and resources.
• Access Care.com for backup childcare, elder care, and household services.
• Confidential counseling, legal, and financial services through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Tuition reimbursement and educational partnerships.
• Employee discounts and savings programs on entertainment, travel, and lifestyle.
• Access to Pryor Online Learning for free online personal development classes.

Learn more about our full benefits package -

About Merakey

Merakey is a non-profit provider of developmental, behavioral health, and education services. More than 8,000 employees provide support to nearly 40,000 individuals and families throughout 12 states across the country each year. Click here to watch a video about Merakey. Merakey strictly follows a zero-tolerance policy for abuse.

Merakey is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer! We deeply value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ethnic background, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or disability status. Moreover, we are committed to creating teams that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Merakey welcomes all Veterans to apply!

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree Required.
• 8 years of total experience required.
• 3-5 years of Supervisory/Managerial experience required.