Assistant Vice President External Relations

University of Iowa Health Careis the states only comprehensive academic medical center bringing together world-class patient care pioneering research and outstanding education. As a nationally recognized leader in medicine we offer opportunities to work alongside top experts in a collaborative innovative environment that values excellence compassion and discovery. Join us in shaping the future of health carewhile making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and communities across Iowa and beyond.

The Assistant Vice President External Relations is a newly established position responsible for providing strategic leadership for advancing University of Iowa Health Cares relationships with key external stakeholders to strengthen the institutions reputation influence and visibility at the local state regional and national levels. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Legal Affairs and Chief Clinical Strategy Officer this position develops and implements a comprehensive external relations strategy that supports UI Health Cares mission of excellence in patient care education research and community engagement.

This position collaborates closely with Strategic Planning Marketing & Communications executive leadership and other university partners to advance institutional priorities through coordinated external engagement. The role focuses on building strategic relationships strengthening institutional reputation supporting public policy engagement cultivating relationships with corporate civic and community stakeholders and increasing awareness of UI Health Cares impact across Iowa and beyond.

This opportunity honors the legacy of Stacey Cyphert PhD a 1990 graduate of the Department of Health Management and Policy and former Assistant Vice President for Health Policy in UI Health Care whose career helped shape health policy in Iowa and strengthen relationships among University of Iowa Health Care and state and federal government.

The position may be based in Iowa City or Des Moines Iowa. Regular travel between Iowa City and Des Moines as well as travel around the state of Iowa is required.

Position responsibilities:

Operational Leadership

• Direct and coordinate enterprise external relations activities that strengthen University of Iowa Health Cares reputation influence visibility and relationships with key external stakeholders.

• Provide strategic counsel to executive leadership on external affairs government and public affairs stakeholder engagement reputation management and relationship-building opportunities.

• Serve as a senior institutional representative with government officials business and civic leaders community organizations health care organizations and other external stakeholders making commitments on behalf of UI Health Care within established areas of authority.

• Lead and coordinate routine legislative and governmental information requests and responses working collaboratively with University of Iowa Board of Regents and UI Health Care stakeholders to ensure timely accurate and consistent information.

• Direct the development and implementation of operating approaches processes and standards that support coordinated external engagement across UI Health Care.

• Identify assess and elevate emerging external issues and reputational risks advising institutional leaders on appropriate strategies and responses.

• Contribute to institutional policies governance and decision-making related to external engagement public affairs executive visibility and reputation management.

• Establish approaches for tracking key stakeholder relationships engagement activities institutional opportunities and external relations outcomes.

• Use stakeholder intelligence enterprise data environmental trends and evaluation results to inform executive decision-making and institutional priorities.

• Coordinate the External Relations Council and engage council members in all decision-making related to external relations priorities strategies and major initiatives.

Strategic Planning

• Develop and execute a comprehensive external relations strategy aligned with UI Health Cares mission enterprise strategy and reputation goals.

• Contribute significantly to institutional strategic planning by identifying external opportunities risks relationships and public policy considerations that may affect UI Health Cares priorities and long-term success.

• Establish multi-year and annual external relations objectives implement strategies to achieve those objectives and assess progress and outcomes.

• Anticipate emerging public policy economic political health care business and community trends and assess their potential impact on UI Health Care.

• Develop proactive strategies to strengthen UI Health Cares visibility influence relationships and responsiveness in a changing external environment.

• Advise executive leadership on opportunities to strengthen UI Health Cares role in statewide regional and national conversations related to health care workforce research education innovation economic development and community impact.

• Coordinate external relations priorities with Marketing & Communications Strategic Planning university leadership collegiate and unit leaders and other institutional partners to ensure alignment and maximize strategic impact.

• Lead complex cross-functional initiatives that require coordination among UI Health Care University of Iowa Board of Regents government business community and other external stakeholders.

Financial and Human Resource Stewardship

• Develop and manage the external relations budget in alignment with institutional priorities including resources supporting stakeholder engagement strategic events memberships travel convenings executive outreach and related activities.

• Provide recommendations and make decisions regarding expenditures contracts sponsorships memberships and other investments supporting external relations priorities within established authority.

• Ensure financial accountability appropriate risk management and responsible stewardship of resources supporting external relations activities.

• Evaluate resource needs and recommend strategies to improve the efficiency effectiveness and long-term sustainability of external relations operations.

• Provide leadership through influence and collaboration across teams and organizational boundaries establishing clear expectations shared priorities and accountability for enterprise external relations initiatives.

• Foster a collaborative culture that supports responsiveness professional judgment accountability and effective service to UI Health Care and its stakeholders.

Communication and Outreach

• Represent UI Health Care in high-level government business civic community health care and public engagement activities including University and Board of Regents initiatives as appropriate.

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with key external stakeholders including elected officials government agencies business and civic leaders employers community organizations health care organizations and other influential partners.

• Strengthen relationships with corporate civic community and other external stakeholders by coordinating institutional engagement connecting stakeholders with appropriate UI Health Care leaders and identifying opportunities to advance shared priorities.

• Provide strategic leadership in shaping external-facing messages that strengthen UI Health Cares reputation influence and visibility at the local state regional and national levels.

• Ensure communications with government officials corporate and civic leaders community stakeholders and other external audiences are clear consistent timely and aligned with institutional priorities.

• Develop and oversee key messages talking points executive briefing materials position statements and other materials supporting high-level external engagement.

• Represent the institution in select high-profile constituent media civic government and public engagement efforts.

• Lead external relations coordination during significant institutional events emerging issues crises or situations presenting potential reputational risk in close partnership with Marketing & Communications and executive leadership.

• Coordinate with Marketing & Communications Strategic Planning university partners and institutional leaders to ensure external engagement reinforces UI Health Cares brand reputation strategic priorities and institutional messaging.

• Identify opportunities to position UI Health Care and its leaders as trusted voices in health care research education innovation workforce development public policy and community well-being.