Director of Communications

 

Position Summary:Aspen Dental Management, Inc. is a leading Dental Service Organization in the United States.  As a privately owned, multi-site healthcare services company with 200 locations in 14 states, we are aggressively developing a comprehensive nation-wide network of full service, value oriented dental practices.  Our unique business model and successful ability to execute has resulted in rapid growth in both number of locations and revenue.   Recruitment efforts are underway to identify an experienced Director of Communications with expertise in consumer public relations, internal communications, corporate social responsibility, reputation and crisis communications management. Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and direct the implementation of Aspen Dental’s corporate communications to targeted national audiences including patients (consumers), dental professionals, trade associations and employees.
• Define and manage the voice of Aspen Dental while serving as the lead corporate writer for the president and key leadership team members.
• Build Aspen Dental’s reputation, nationally and in local markets served, by creating influential presence and complimentary exposure in consumer-facing news and professional/trade media, from print publications to broadcast, online, and new media (Web 2.0).
• Work with other marketing leads to provide vision, strong writing, editing and communications oversight for key marketing and promotional projects.
• Conceive, develop, execute, and pitch corporate social responsibility strategies and programs that are in line with Aspen Dental’s core values and corporate mission.
• Hire, supervise and integrate professional communications resources – internal staff, agencies, and vendors – to execute corporate communications initiatives.

 Minimum Education and Experience:

• Bachelors Degree required - Masters Degree preferred.
• 12 -15 years experience with increasing responsibility in corporate communications roles in fast-paced environments, including a minimum of 4-5 years providing counsel and support directly to senior executives of at least one national organization.
• Minimum of 5 years experience managing and integrating a team of communications professionals, agencies and other partners.
• Demonstrated accomplishment in strategic corporate communications planning and direction, including messaging, development and execution of strategic initiatives, reputation management, issues and crisis management, media relations and executive media training.
• Strong communication, presentation and interpersonal skills, with a record of positively influencing senior management teams and consumer news media. Experience as corporate spokesperson preferred.
• Demonstrated proficiency in writing and editing within the corporate communications function, including news releases, bylined articles and op-eds, executive speeches and presentations. Experience also preferred in supervision of video production, b-roll development, and Web site content.
• Strong organizational skills with ability to be flexible in an ever-changing environment, and demonstrated grasp of evolving communication channels, including emerging new media (e.g., “Web 2.0).
• Convincing track record of developing and executing strategic communications programs in healthcare or similar publicly regulated, consumer-sensitive industries.