National Association of ACOs Seeks
Senior Director, Communications

The Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs will oversee NAACOS’ public presence, leading the development and execution of its communications strategy. This role will provide senior leadership with strategic insights on the communication impacts of organizational initiatives and help position NAACOS as a thought leader in value-based care.

The ideal candidate is a results-driven, strategic thinker who excels in media relations, digital strategy, stakeholder engagement, and content development. The Senior Director will collaborate across all departments to manage media planning, thought leadership initiatives, and advocacy communications, ensuring alignment with NAACOS’ priorities. The position is a hybrid position reporting to the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Communications and Thought Leadership

  • Implement the association’s communications and media relations strategies for external audiences and policymakers to raise the visibility of association advocacy and other activities and accomplishments.
  • Work with the association’s executive leadership and public affairs to develop and refine strategic messaging for various audiences to best position the association to achieve its advocacy goals and avoid undesirable outcomes.
  • Cultivate relationships with trade and mainstream media to shape accurate and timely coverage of association perspectives and activity on issues related to value-based care.
  • Advise senior leadership on communication impacts of organizational initiatives, evaluating effectiveness of communication strategies and recommending improvements.
  • Draft and pitch thought leadership articles for key publications (e.g., Health Affairs, NEJM Catalyst).
  • Work with the public affairs team and NAACOS members to develop op-eds, blog posts, white papers, and other high-impact content.
  • Maintain and enhance overall messaging for NAACOS.

Stakeholder and Partner Relations

  • Develop and manage all Alliance for Value Based Patient Care communication materials, including newsletters, white papers, and issue briefs.
  • Collaborate with Alliance members to translate materials such as patient stories and fact sheets.
  • Manage the Alliance website, social media channels, and overall messaging strategy.

Media and Press Relations

  • Lead proactive and reactive media strategies, fostering relationships with key reporters and outlets.
  • Maintain and update the press list, ensuring strong engagement with media contacts.
  • Respond to media inquiries, coordinate interviews, and prepare NAACOS members and ACO leaders for press engagements.
  • Draft press releases, press statements, and comment letters in coordination with the public affairs team.
  • Translate key messages into compelling content that engages targeted audience.
  • Support teams across the organization in developing effective materials and creating visual materials such as infographics, social media graphics, videos, and presentations.

Advocacy and Government Relations Support

  • Develop clear, engaging advocacy materials, including fact sheets, white papers, and presentations.
  • Translate complex policy issues into accessible, visually compelling content for various stakeholders.
  • Support NAACOS-led campaigns, ensuring consistent branding and messaging in advocacy efforts.

Advise and Support NAACOS Activities

  • Provide cross-departmental support for key activities including, but not limited to: marketing and promotion of events, member communication, branding and messaging.
  • Support management of NAACOS’ website and social media presence, ensuring timely and impactful content.
  • Continuously assess digital strategy trends and advise leadership on emerging opportunities.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree required; experience in healthcare associations or policy organizations is preferred.
  • 10+ years of experience in communications, public affairs, and media relations.
  • Demonstrated success in developing and executing multi-channel communication strategies.
  • Strong track record of media engagement, including writing and pitching articles, managing press relations, and securing media coverage.
  • Experience developing high-quality content, including thought leadership articles, blog posts, fact sheets, and advocacy materials.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects, work collaboratively across teams, and provide strategic guidance to senior leadership.
  • Strong writing, editing, and presentation skills, with an ability to translate complex topics into compelling narratives.
  • Experience in digital strategy, web content management, and social media marketing.
  • Proven ability to set key performance indicators (KPIs) and measure the impact of communication efforts.
  • Experience managing external vendors and consultants to support communication efforts as needed.
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