Senior Director, YSM Executive & Internal Communications

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Overview

Yale School of Medicine (YSM) is seeking an experienced and innovative Senior Director for Executive and Internal Communications to join the leadership team within the Office of Communications. Serving as the intentional voice of the school, the Office of Communications works to elevate the school’s reputation, support its community, support revenue generation, and be a metrics-driven leader in academic medicine communications.

Reporting to the YSM Executive Director of Communications, the Senior Director will support the executive communications needs of the Dean of the School of Medicine and deputy deans, including community-wide messaging, talking points, and presentation development. The Senior Director will further develop and implement a comprehensive internal communications plan for the medical school, including its clinical brand, Yale Medicine (YM), that addresses key stakeholders, including faculty, students, staff, and clinicians.

Managing a team of eight, this position will oversee the creation, development, and management of a content strategy to optimize engagement with an internal communications platform, including a school-wide intranet that encompasses the work of departmental communications officers, comprehensively represents the school’s administrative functions, and amplifies the school’s strategic goals and priorities by informing and inspiring the medical school community. In addition, the Senior Director:

Develops of an overarching executive communications strategy that provides the dean and other senior leaders with ongoing, relevant strategic messaging that engages the community in leadership’s vision and strengthens their commitment to the school’s values.

Strategically evolves and executes on YSM’s internal communications vision.

Partners with leaders at Yale New Haven Health System to create and coordinate unified messaging in a highly matrixed clinical environment.

Acts as a strategic partner to the executive director and other office leaders to develop an internal communications strategy that informs, connects, and engages all members of the YSM and YM community.

Writes and edits internal messages from leadership related to senior administrative appointments, schoolwide and clinical policies and initiatives, and other topics; drafts talking points, messages, presentations, scripts, and other materials for internal, alumni, and donor audiences.

Uses and develops communications channels to inform and motivate faculty, students, and staff.

Ensures internal communications are consistent across the School of Medicine, Yale University’s Office of Public Affairs and Communications, Yale New Haven Health System, and with external messaging.

Collaborates with 50 departmental communications officers to develop and empower a strong, school-wide internal communications team.

Defines goals and metrics for the successful execution of the strategy and uses data to evaluate content impact and push for continuous improvement.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Outstanding written and oral communications skills; demonstrated ability guiding and advising executive leadership on communications. Must submit three writing samples with application.

2. Exceptional judgment, reliability, and discretion. Ability to thrive in a role that requires the establishment of consensus in a complex, matrixed environment. Demonstrated ability building productive relationships through interaction with leaders, faculty, and staff.

3. Excellent writing and communication skills with a keen eye for grammatical errors or confusing text. Outstanding organizational skills and very detail-oriented.

4. Demonstrated organizational ability in planning, directing, and assembling teams, and working wisely in a fast-paced environment.

5. Familiarity with an audience-centered approach to content and the data analytics such an approach requires.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

1. Master’s Degree.

2. Familiarity with the academic culture, and the processes and policies of an educational institution. Communications experience in an academic institution.

3. Experience writing for a variety of audiences.

Principal Responsibilities

1.  Serve as senior leader of university and/or professional school communications.

2.  Manage key relationships with clients with high degree of professionalism, judgment, and understanding of University initiatives, goals and mission.

3.  Oversee long-range and short-range planning for coordinated communications channels.

4.  Serve as key strategist to improve broad staff and faculty communications initiatives and campaigns; design, mange, and implement communication or marketing plans for key initiatives.

5.  Develop and implement communication strategic plan promoting Yale’s strength to a variety of audiences throughout the globe, using both traditional and digital media.

6.  Direct communications planning for the all internal and/or external announcements, statements and messages on various institutional issues and initiatives and oversee their dissemination to the media and other parities.

7.  Direct communication strategies based on user and audience preference; analyze and understand various communication preferences of client group.

8.  Establish standards and protocols for best practices in communications.

9.  Act as executive producer of content including articles, video and photo galleries.

10. Arrange interviews on various issues and provide briefing and background materials, message points, content and training.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, English, Journalism or related field and eight years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required License(s) or Certification(s)

Required License(s) or Certification(s):

Physical Requirements

Physical Requirements:

Job Posting Date

10/13/2026

Job Category

Manager

Bargaining Unit

NON