Communications Manager

The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology Foundation (Foundation) is a foundation created to enhance and expand the ability of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (Alliance) to conduct cancer clinical research and address important treatment questions through large-scale clinical trials. Through efforts of the Foundation in support of the Alliance, clinical trials and laboratory research are conducted to discover new or improved ways to prevent, treat, and cure many types of cancer, including leukemia and lymphoma, and cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and help educate the medical community on methods of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology Foundation is looking for a Communications Manager to drive media and public relations initiatives, including content development and other day-to-day communications activities. Responsible for managing external communications functions, including media relations, business team support, social media engagement, executive communications, conference and event support, market and industry research, media monitoring, and creation of direct content. The Communication Manager will work closely with leadership to develop a communications strategy for the Alliance and Alliance Foundation Entities, aligned with the vision and mission of the Alliance. Come join an organization full of passionate, team-oriented professionals driven to change the face of cancer. 

Benefits of working full time at the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology Foundation include:

• During Year One, new hires may receive up to 8 weeks of paid time off, including 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, and 10 paid holidays. Employees are eligible to rollover up to 80 PTO hours from one calendar year to the next. The total time off available during year one depends on your start date within the calendar year.
• Eligible new hires can enroll in Medical, Dental, and Vision plans, including PPO, HMO, and High Deductible Health Plans. Some plans include 100% employer-paid premiums. Coverage starts on day one of employment. Availability and network of plans may depend on the employee’s state of residency.
• Eligibility to contribute to a SIMPLE IRA plan with the employer providing up to a 3% match for retirement contributions.  New hires are eligible to participate upon hire.
• New hires may be eligible for an annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), determined each year, with a potential increase of up to 3% of their earned salary.
• New hires may be eligible for an annual performance bonus, determined each year, ranging from 0-8% of their earned salary. Bonus eligibility is contingent on approved leadership budget allocation, personal performance evaluation, and the employee’s start date.
• New hires may be eligible for reimbursement applicable advanced educational opportunities (undergrad, graduate, approved continuing education), up to $1500, per calendar year.
• New hires may be eligible for up to 50% reimbursement on applicable parking or transportation costs if in-person attendance is needed.
• The Alliance Foundation promotes a healthy work/life balance and flexibility for all employees.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement a comprehensive communication strategies and campaigns that align with the overall mission and objectives of Alliance
• Assist in planning, developing, and optimizing current and new communication strategies to grow our online and media presence
• In collaboration with the communications team, craft compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences, including patients, investigators, pharmaceutical companies, members, staff and the media
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate communication efforts across all channels, including digital, social media, public relations, and internal communications
• Establish metrics for measuring the effectiveness of communication strategies and make data-driven recommendations for continuous improvement
• Collaborate the workflow with the Communications team
• Establish long- and short-term goals
• Report to the Director of Operations and assess campaign performances
• Identify and manage digital media and press opportunities and build a messaging framework to capitalize on them
• Grow and maintain your network and relationships with top-tier digital media houses and personnel to drive our visibility and gain high-quality media promotions and events
• Work closely with executive leadership to ensure alignment between our business objectives and communication efforts while fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration
• Responsible for managing external communications functions, including media relations, business team support, social media creation and engagement, executive communications, conference and event support, market research, media monitoring and creation of direct content
• Develops and maintains Alliance website while ensuring effective communication
• Oversees daily media coverage, coordinates Alliance activities, manages key vendor relationships and works directly with Communications Manager and Training Coordinator on directing public relations initiatives and campaigns
• Provides proactive ideas to generate positive visibility and awareness. Attends meetings with various Alliance teams, including Alliance Foundation Trials and Alliance Data and Innovation Labs, and helps prepare press releases, key messages, and question-and-answer documents
• Assist with Alliance social media strategy development, using holistic aligned marketing focus. Work with senior leaders and Communications Manager providing strategic support and mentoring on media and public relations strategies as necessary
• Uses communications expertise in positioning and messaging to support Alliance growth and retention objectives
• Assists in developing and implementing social media and marketing strategy and communications for Alliance Foundation Trials (AFT) and Alliance Data Innovation Labs (Data Labs)
• Responsible for developing and implementing all Site Engagement communications in support of continued Alliance program growth and outreach activities
• Demonstrates proficiency in all channels of communication to include email, social media and websites
• Maintains strong organizational skills, idea-driven and demonstrates the skills to be strategic.
• Please note this is not an exhaustive list of the roles and responsibilities that may be asked of the position

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Media Relations or other related field
• 5-7 years of experience in communications or public relations, preferably in the fields of Research, Public Health, Clinical Trials or Oncology with a track record of success in leadership roles.
• 3+ years of experience in a management role leading a team of communications professionals
• Strong website development and maintenance
• Strong social media experience and innovation
• Exceptional leadership and project management skills
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with experience in crafting messages for diverse audiences
• Ability to use data to create actionable insight
• Proactive and open to adopting new trends
• Organizational skills and the ability to multitask and prioritize projects while working on a deadline or in a fast-paced environment. Attention to detail.
• The technological ability to work on a variety of digital platforms and also create web and mobile content

PREFERRED SKILLS

• Experience in a fast-paced, high-growth environment, preferably in Research, Oncology, Clinical Trials.
• Strong understanding of digital communication trends and social media strategies
• Experience working with executive leadership and boards of directors
• Proficiency in communication and project management tools, such as Slack, Trello, or Asana
• Experience with media monitoring and analytics tools to assess the impact of communication strategies
• Familiarity with SEO best practices and digital marketing principles

The estimated base salary for this position is $85,000 - $110,000 annually. The estimated range is meant to reflect an anticipated salary range for the position. We may pay more or less than of the anticipated range based upon other factors, such as relevant experience, skills, and location.