The Senior Director of Communications – Shields, reporting to the Vice Chair of Communications, is integral in unifying communication efforts across traditionally separate domains: research, physician and nursing cohorts, education, and clinical pathways. As a key driver of the new Communications strategy, the Senior Director leads the transformation of traditional communication methods, fosters collaboration, and adeptly translates complex content to effectively engage diverse and critical stakeholders across the enterprise.

The Senior Director of Communications – Shields provides administrative leadership and strategic direction for the department and serves as a key partner to sites, the practice/research/education (shields) and administration. Partners with senior leaders to drive innovation and implement solutions to advance organizational priorities. Responsible for ensuring deliverables are met and outcomes achieved. Establishes and maintains strong customer relationships with both internal and external partners. The senior director helps to optimize operational performance. Serves as a thought partner and project liaison outside the department at all levels, helping to proactively identify and communicate business issues, coordinate project activities, streamline approaches/methodologies, and share best practices. Stewards the interest of the organization by ensuring strategies are viable.

Responsible to lead and execute the vision for a department function, the senior director may also oversee multiple teams or manage a large program, site or strategic priority. Ability to set goals and measure performance. Fosters an internal culture of positive teamwork and transparency that drives excellent service, quality, diversity, an engaging work environment and overall continuous improvement mindset. Serve as change agent, championing agile ways of thinking and working and enabling teams and individuals to succeed. Drives excellence in financial management, communication (verbal, written and presentations), business and strategic planning, performance monitoring and reporting. Supports department and institutional projects, staff recruitment, policy implementation and budget management.

Requires a master’s degree in a related field plus 7 years of relevant work experience; or a bachelor's degree in a related field plus 9 years of relevant work experience. Strong written and oral communication skills. Ability to communicate in a way that creates clarity, simplifies messages, and aligns with organizational strategy. Knowledge of channels for communication and the ability to build effective communication and engagement strategies.

Must be a self-starter with the ability to independently identify opportunities, solutions and resolve challenges. Demonstrated ability to deliver impactful results. Requires an attitude that actively seeks out change, embraces critical questioning, innovation, service and continuous improvement. Must understand how to deal with and navigate ambiguity, and act without having the total picture. Adaptable or flexible. Demonstrated professionalism and ethics, with ability to earn credibility through integrity and transparency. Role model for service excellence. Motivates others by being present, engaged, attentive, invites diverse perspectives, demonstrates and inspires a collaborative spirit.

Strong alignment with Mayo's core values. Resilient change agent that thrives in ambiguity. Relationship oriented, high performing individual with a strong balance of EQ and IQ. Demonstrates executive presence and servant leadership. Must possess strong leadership, business, analytical, oral and written communication, presentation skills, and superior interpersonal skills to facilitate effective relationships both within and outside of Mayo Clinic.

Successful history of working effectively in a complex, matrixed, collaborative environment that expects and promotes teamwork. Strong strategic judgment. Ability to evaluate and improve upon existing processes and develop/implement new processes where appropriate. Must demonstrate ability to manage sensitive/confidential/proprietary information. 

Experience in driving change by influencing senior executives, making recommendations to drive growth or improve ROI, and/or leading implementation of process-based initiatives. High degree of competency in data, analytics, financial analysis and/or directly comparable quantitative skillset. Has a desire to learn and champion agile methodologies, including use of appropriate technologies and leading behavior change by example to create empowered, client-centered teams and solutions. 

Systems thinker with long term desire to serve in executive leadership capacity. Solid organizational and project management skills Meets deadlines with enthusiasm and confidence. Proactively identifies and mitigates risk with meticulous project planning and creative solutions.