Regional Vice President of Communications & External Affairs

About Prime Healthcare

Prime Healthcare is an award-winning health system based in Ontario, California. The organization operates 54 hospitals and more than 360 outpatient locations across 15 states, serving over 3.0 million patient visits each year. With more than 60,000 employees and physicians, it is among the country’s major health systems. Twenty-one Prime Healthcare hospitals are part of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity.

Prime Healthcare is looking to add new professionals to its corporate team.

Role Overview

The Regional Vice President of Communications & External Affairs is a senior corporate and regional leader who drives the organization’s communications, public relations, and external outreach strategy. This position supports the mission and business goals through clear messaging, media handling, crisis response, employee engagement, advocacy, and stakeholder communication. The role serves as a major point of contact for both internal and external audiences and works closely with Government Relations, Corporate Leadership, Regional Leadership, and hospital leaders.

This leader oversees corporate communications activities across executive communications, investor-related messaging and presentations, media relations, community engagement, public relations, crisis communications, advocacy, Prime Healthcare Foundation initiatives, and digital/social media strategy. The role also functions as the primary spokesperson for the region.

Education, Experience & Training

Required qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in Journalism, English, Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or a closely related discipline.
• At least 10 years of steadily advancing leadership experience in healthcare communications or public affairs; experience in large, complex health systems is preferred.
• Demonstrated success communicating with senior executives, board members, physician leaders, elected officials, and community stakeholders.
• Proven capability in corporate and regional communications, executive messaging, crisis communications, media relations, public relations, and labor-related communications.
• Solid knowledge of healthcare operations, the regulatory environment, and public policy issues that affect hospitals and health systems.
• Experience in government relations and collaboration with elected officials and key stakeholders.
• Strong planning, organization, communication, and leadership abilities, with a diplomatic approach and the ability to build constructive relationships across the health system.
• Excellent written communication skills; creativity is considered an advantage.
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills to help develop an effective corporate and hospital communications team.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience leading regional or multi-site communications within a matrixed healthcare organization.
• Background handling service-line transitions, hospital consolidations, labor matters, or high-visibility legal or regulatory cases.
• Strong understanding of health equity, community health partnerships, and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience with investor relations.
• Existing connections or prior experience working with national news media in important markets such as Los Angeles, New York City, and the Midwest.
• A master’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, English, Marketing, or Journalism.

Compensation & Benefits

Prime Healthcare offers competitive pay and a broad benefits package that can be tailored to individual needs. Total Rewards may include paid time off, a 401(k) retirement plan, medical, dental, and vision coverage, tuition reimbursement, and additional voluntary benefits.

The estimated annual compensation for this position is between $165,000 and $190,000. The final starting salary will depend on factors such as skills, relevant experience, education, credentials, and licensure.

Additional resources and voluntary benefit options are available to support employee well-being and growth.

Employment Details

This is a full-time position scheduled during daytime hours.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Prime Healthcare is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age, disability, military status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Harassment based on any protected category is also prohibited.