Senior Manager, Internal Communications

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.  

 

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world’s deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality. 

 

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. These values are grounded in and expressed through the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities makes us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems. Fred Hutch is in pursuit of becoming an anti-racist organization. We are committed to ensuring that all candidates hired share our commitment to diversity, anti-racism and inclusion. 

 
Reporting to the director of communications, the Senior Manager of Internal Communications oversees communications with all Fred Hutch employees and serves as a communications strategist to support a world-class experience for colleagues throughout the organization. The person in this role is responsible for managing and developing a high-performing team that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. They are also responsible for building strong relationships with executive leaders and colleagues across clinical, research and administrative units, providing communications expertise and support to achieve organizational objectives and advance our mission. 

 

This role offers a hybrid of virtual and on-site work, with the expectation to be in the office in Seattle 1-3 days per week. 

• Lead, develop and implement high-visibility integrated communications efforts and strategies focused on internal audiences who work in our clinical care, research and administrative settings. 
• Prioritize communications and projects that build a unified culture by informing, engaging and motivating employees, providers and partners to advance Fred Hutch's mission, strategic goals and brand. 
• Collaborate with clinical, research, operational and administrative departments to identify strategic communications needs and ensure consistency of information shared with employees across the organization. 

• Manage communications unique to clinical employees as well as integrated communications projects and campaigns across channels that include town halls/events, intranet, newsletters and more. 
• Plan and oversee production and distribution of engaging content, including announcements, executive briefings and presentation materials, messaging documents, event content, signage, and more. Identify opportunities to create and package resources to support communicators and leaders across the organization. 
• Work with the Director of Internal Communications to develop strategies and implement tactics that promote employee engagement and organizational culture. 
• Partner closely with Patient Communications Manager to ensure consistency of messaging and content. 
• Work collaboratively with colleagues at UW Medicine on coordinated communications, when appropriate. 

• Provide recommendations and guide the development of communications plans. 
• Review and edit communications drafted by internal stakeholders and make recommendations to ensure messaging is consistent with organizational goals and brand/style guidelines. 
• Serve as a communications advisor and contact for incident command teams and clinical operations and committee meetings. Develop, plan and manage integrated strategies and responses for risk management and crisis scenarios. 
• Manage, direct and oversee the work of direct reports and/or vendors, promoting a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning, innovation and quality. Mentor staff and promote diversity, equity and inclusion within the team. 
• Gather and report data demonstrating project effectiveness and impact; use quantitative and qualitative data, including competitive/professional landscape analysis, to identify approaches for enhancing and measuring communications impact and fostering an inclusive culture.

Required:  

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, public relations or related field, or equivalent experience. 
• 7+ years of experience in a communications or marketing role, with at least three years in a role with significant responsibility for health care employee and/or patient communications.
• 2+ years of management experience. 
• Experience in an organization with multiple internal stakeholder audiences. 
• Excellent writing, editing, listening and verbal communication skills; experience creating and delivering clear and persuasive communications for varying audiences via multiple channels. 
• Experience distilling complex information into clear and concise messages. 
• Proven ability to collaborate with and influence colleagues internally and at partner institutions to develop aligned approaches, and to cultivate strong relationships with people in different types of roles and with diverse backgrounds and experiences. 
• Experience successfully managing and tracking multiple concurrent projects and stakeholder needs. 
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information. 
• Responsive, customer-centric approach. 
• Working knowledge of virtual meeting and event platforms (e.g., MS Teams, Zoom). 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel). 
• Organized self-starter comfortable with ambiguity and complexity. 
• Analytical approach and creative problem-solving skills. 
• Available to work flexible hours as workload requires, including outside of normal business hours. 

 

Preferred:  

• Experience in an academic or scientific research organization (in addition to the required experience in health care). 
• Experience leading and managing direct reports through fast-paced, high-stakes initiatives. 
• Experience supporting change management programs at organizational and team levels while demonstrating empathy for diverse stakeholder groups. 
• Proven ability to plan and create content for communications campaigns and projects that inform, connect, and inspire employees in a range of role types and work locations. 
• Strong connection to the Fred Hutch mission. 
• Familiarity with content management systems (preferably Adobe Experience Manager), project management tracking tools (e.g., Asana, Basecamp), email marketing platforms (e.g., Eloqua, Convio) and surveying tools (e.g., Survey Monkey). 
• Familiarity with AP style. 
• A sense of humor and the ability to lead and work with empathy for others. 

 

Application instructions 

 Please include a cover letter and at least two writing samples with your application. 

 

A statement describing your commitment and contributions toward greater diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism in your career or that will be made through your work at Fred Hutch is requested of all finalists.

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The annual base salary range for this position is from $91,936 to $145,318, and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.  

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers employees a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance health, well-being, and financial security. Benefits include medical/vision, dental, flexible spending accounts, life, disability, retirement, family life support, employee assistance program, onsite health clinic, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation (12-22 days per year), paid sick leave (12-25 days per year), paid holidays (13 days per year), paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks), and partially paid sabbatical leave (up to 6 months). 

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer. We are committed to cultivating a workplace in which diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, disability (physical or mental), marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, or membership in any other legally protected class. We are an Affirmative Action employer. We encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds to apply and desire priority referrals of protected veterans. If due to a disability you need assistance/and or a reasonable accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to our Employee Services Center at hrops@fredhutch.org or by calling 206-667-4700.