Associate Vice President - Aetna Internal Communications

We’re building a world of health around every individual — shaping a more connected, convenient and compassionate health experience. At CVS Health®, you’ll be surrounded by passionate colleagues who care deeply, innovate with purpose, hold ourselves accountable and prioritize safety and quality in everything we do. Join us and be part of something bigger – helping to simplify health care one person, one family and one community at a time.

Position Summary

The Associate Vice President, Aetna Internal Communications will help shape how colleagues across all Aetna businesses experience, understand, and believe in the future of Aetna. The role serves as a senior internal communications advisor to the President of Aetna and the Aetna executive team.

This leader partners closely with Aetna business owners, Communications, Marketing, and Human Resources leaders to align colleague messages with the overall external communications. brand and marketing strategy. The role influences how strategic priorities, organizational change, and culture initiatives are communicated to colleagues across all lines of Aetna’s business. A combination of strategy, storytelling, leadership advising, and hands-on execution is essential for success.

The Associate Vice President, Aetna Internal Communications will report directly to the Chief Communications officer of CVS Health with a dotted line to the Chief Marketing Officer of Aetna.

Location: Hartford, CT (preferred) with 3 day a week onsite requirement

Major Responsibilities

• Lead Aetna’s internal communications strategy, including a multi-year strategy of proactive communication, impact moments, and a playbook for when response strategies are needed. Communications and campaigns will emphasize business goals, company culture, recognition, and strategic initiatives.
• Develop and support Aetna town halls, colleague communications, collateral, organizational updates, and leadership talking points in cooperation with Aetna and CVS Health communications leaders.
• Collaborate with Aetna leaders to develop compelling leadership events. Ensure all communications are developed in close partnership with business leaders, HR, Legal and Compliance.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the President of Aetna and Aetna’s executive leadership team on how to communicate with employees. Coach leaders on tone, transparency, and delivery, including preparing them for Q&A sessions.
• Set the internal storyline for the President of Aetna, aligned to the external narrative led by Aetna Communications and Aetna Marketing.
• Advance internal Aetna communications channels and formats to reach colleagues at every level. Develop new channels that effectively engage colleagues in ways that are most meaningful to them.
• Measure the impact of the work with survey data, listening insights and engagement analytics to improve content and report regularly on results and action plans.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team, while also managing agency partners and overall budget.
• Manage editorial calendar to ensure messages are timely and relevant to colleagues.
• Collaborate with peers in CVS Health Corporate Communications to build continuity and holistic messages across CVS Health and Aetna.
• Equip managers with toolkits and other resources so they can cascade messages effectively.

Organization overview

The successful candidate will lead a focused team of colleagues to help support the production of communications and the content development process. External agencies may also be used to supplement the team’s work.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive communications experience, including 5+ years supporting senior executives. Experience in a regulated or complex industry (healthcare, financial services, pharma, or similar) where communications carry legal and reputational risk. Excellent executive presence and ability to lead in ambiguous and shifting situations.

• A strong portfolio of executive writing and live-event storytelling. Proven ability to lead complex materials, including graphics, text, multimedia, websites and charts, with excellent attention to detail.

• Sound judgment and the ability to advise senior leaders. Excellent project management skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple projects and deadlines with an eye for detail.

• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and prioritize tasks according to client needs.
• Fluency with AI tools, for drafting, analysis, and review with strong judgment about confidentiality, brand voice, and compliance.
• Healthcare or health insurance experience
• Experience in a large matrixed enterprise

Education requirements

Bachelor’s degree, preferably in English, journalism, marketing, communications, advertising or business, or equivalent experience required.

Advanced degree preferred

Pay Range

The typical pay range for this role is:

This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors. This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short-term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above. This position also includes an award target in the company’s equity award program.

Our people fuel our future. Our teams reflect the customers, patients, members and communities we serve and we are committed to fostering a workplace where every colleague feels valued and that they belong.

Great benefits for great people

We take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families.

Additional details about available benefits are provided during the application process and on Benefits Moments.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state and local laws.

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