Senior Director, External Communications

The Role

The Sr. Director, External Communications will lead external communications for McKesson. This leadership position will drive our external narrative and lead our corporate external engagement strategy, corporate media relations and crisis communications in support of key business priorities.

The role reports directly to the Vice President, Corporate Communications and is a member of her leadership team. The Corporate Communications team is a part of the Corporate Affairs organization which includes Corporate Brand and Marketing, Event Planning, Public Policy, and US Government Affairs.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the external communications team and collaborate closely with functions such as marketing, public affairs, legal and others to shape and optimize plans and execution.

• Develop and implement a comprehensive external communications strategy that supports the company's mission, values, and business objectives.

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with media, industry associations, and other key external stakeholders.

• Lead our media relations strategy and serve as the primary point of contact for the media.

• Manage crisis communications planning and execution, ensuring the organization is prepared to respond effectively to potential crises.

• Proactively monitor and address external issues that could impact the organization.

• Serve as a strategic advisor to leadership and rally teams behind our external communications strategy.

• Equip and empower our leaders and communicators with guidance and resources on industry issues and opportunities that have impact across our business.

• Build strong relationships within Corporate Affairs, as well as with other enabling functions such as Investor Relations, Legal and communications groups in other McKesson business units.

• Build, deploy and enforce external engagement governance that eliminates ambiguity, mitigates risks, and empowers effective communications aligned to business priorities.

• Lead the work to enhance our capabilities to measure, assess and improve communications, using data-driven insights.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

A minimum of 13 years of professional experience in communications, public relations, or a related field, with at least 6 years of experience in a leadership role managing and developing a team of communication professionals, preferably within the healthcare industry.

Critical Skills

• Demonstrated excellence and expertise in external healthcare communications, inclusive of extensive media relations and crisis communications experience.

• Exceptional leadership and team management skills with a focus on developing talent and fostering a collaborative team environment.

• Excellent written skills and verbal communication skills and deep experience working in healthcare media.

• A strong collaborator who builds bridges and trust with business partners and possesses a demonstrated ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

• Strong strategic thinking and planning capabilities, with a proven ability to execute complex communication plans.

• High level of emotional intelligence and adaptability, with outstanding judgement and the ability to navigate and manage change effectively, especially in crisis situations.

• Expertise in continuously evolving and adapting capabilities, infrastructure, and resources to address the evolving external landscape and needs of the business.

• Proficient in leveraging social and digital communication platforms and tools to enhance engagement for both executive and employee messaging.

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data and metrics to inform decision-making.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, or a related field is required. A Master's degree in a relevant discipline is preferred.