Service Line Manager in West Orange, New Jersey at RWJBarnabas Health

Job Title: Manager

Location: SBC Corporation

Department Name: Regional Corp Communications

Req #: 0000268386

Status: Salaried

Shift: Day

Pay Range: $110,100.00 - $143,200.00 per year

Pay Transparency:

The above reflects the anticipated annual salary range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.

The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.

A Typical Day

The Service Line Manager is responsible for the strategic development, narrative alignment, and reputation management of a designated portfolio of clinical service lines (e.g., Cancer & Neuro; Heart & Vascular; Medical Group/Primary Care; or Shared Services & Joint Ventures) across the RWJBarnabas Health system. Operating in a newly distinct communications capacity, this role focuses exclusively on building clinical thought leadership, protecting service line reputation, drafting specialized messaging, and managing localized clinical crisis situations. The Service Line Manager serves as an embedded strategic communications advisor to Clinical Chiefs, Medical Directors, and Service Line Administrative Leaders, shifting executive relationships from tactical task-taking to data-driven consultation. Works in close, matrixed partnership with their respective Service Line Marketing counterparts and with the VP, Corporate Communications, VP Internal Communications and Regional Heads of Communications to ensure that volume-driving campaigns are reinforced with uncompromised earned media credibility and narrative integrity.

• Develop, implement, and manage a proactive, comprehensive communications and reputation strategy for all assigned clinical service lines in alignment with corporate narrative standards

• Serve as the primary, embedded communications consultant and trusted advisor to Clinical Chiefs, Service Line Administrative Leaders, and medical staff executives within the assigned clinical portfolio

• Partner in a matrixed structure with the Service Line Marketing Managers to seamlessly synchronize clinical growth initiatives and consumer campaigns with earned media coverage and expert PR positioning

• Author and refine high-stakes communications, clinical advancement announcements, physician-directed updates, and thought-leadership pieces regarding complex medical breakthroughs

• Direct rapid-response localized crisis communications, issue mitigation, and real-time narrative management for clinical incidents, service disruptions, or regulatory issues impacting the designated service lines

• Enforce strict governance boundaries ( lines in the sand ), protecting distributed communications resources from out-of-scope tasks such as executive administrative assistance, routine facility operational memos, or localized social event coordination

• Interface directly with the centralized Intake & Content Studio via the automated single front door process, translating complex service line programmatic updates into high-quality strategic briefs for creative execution

• Collaborate with the system-wide Media & Public Relations team to source and pitch national and regional earned-media stories, position clinical experts for media interviews, and coordinate specialized clinical publications

• Systematically map all service line communications onto the Integrated System Calendar and participate in the Weekly Editorial Council to ensure a single, consistent voice across the health system

• Track, analyze, and report key performance indicators (KPIs) regarding clinical narrative pedia share of voice, and communication efficacy to service line and corporate leadership

• May perform other duties as assigned or directed by management

This Role Might Be For You If..

• Deep operational knowledge of strategic corporate communications, public relations, and reputation management within a healthcare or clinical setting
• Proven capability to build collaborative, advisory relationships with senior physicians, clinical chairs, and administrative executives
• Strong leadership and people-management skills, with a demonstrated ability to manage and motivate distributed or matrixed team members
• Exceptional written, verbal, and editorial communication skills, with a sophisticated ability to translate complex medical data into compelling public narratives
• Solid understanding of healthcare industry dynamics, clinical terminology, medical staff structures, and healthcare regulatory compliance
• Proficiency in crisis communication methodologies and real-time reputational risk assessment
• Advanced ability to navigate highly matrixed organizational structures and balance centralized system mandates with localized clinical priorities
• Operational familiarity with integrated content management workflows, automated intake systems, and enterprise digital calendar platforms
• Strong strategic problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to resolve cross-functional dependencies within the Editorial Council framework
• High emotional intelligence, discretion, and the political acumen required to manage sensitive medical and institutional matters
• A data-driven mindset with the capability to leverage communications metrics to showcase narrative ROI and optimize clinical storytelling
• Superior organizational skills, with a proven ability to prioritize and drive multiple high-visibility projects under compressed deadlines

To Be Considered

Education Required:

• Bachelors degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Corporate Affairs, or a strictly related field

Experience Required:

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive, relevant experience in corporate communications, public relations, or clinical thought-leadership messaging
• Prior people leadership experience is required

Education Preferred:

• Masters degree in Communications, Public Relations, or Healthcare Administration (MHA)

Experience Preferred:

• Seven (7) or more years of communications experience within a large medical center, academic healthcare system, or highly complex multi-site corporate matrix environment

Licensure Preferred:

• Accreditation in Public Relations (APR)

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.