Summary
Description
Manager, External Communications (Earned Media & Brand)
About DaVita
DaVita is committed to an unwavering pursuit of a healthier tomorrow for our patients, teammates, and physician partners. As a leader in kidney care, we have a unique opportunity to redefine how care is delivered and improve overall quality of life for individuals with kidney disease.
Position Summary:
The Manager, External Communications (Earned Media & Brand) plays a critical role in shaping and elevating DaVita’s reputation through proactive storytelling and strategic media engagement. This role leads the development and execution of earned media strategies that position DaVita as a clinical leader and trusted voice in kidney care, value-based care, and broader healthcare transformation.
The manager partners closely with Corporate Affairs, Mercury Marketing & Communications, and business leaders to identify narrative opportunities, translate complex topics into compelling stories, and drive consistent visibility across top-tier, trade, and regional media. This role is equal parts strategist and executor, responsible for moving quickly on opportunities while building sustained momentum for DaVita’s brand.
Key responsibilities include:
Earned media strategy
- Develop and execute proactive earned media strategies that strengthen DaVita’s brand and share of voice across national, trade, and local outlets
- Identify and shape compelling storylines tied to clinical innovation, value-based care, policy, and patient impact
- Lead media outreach from pitch development through placement, ensuring high-quality coverage and message pull-through
- Build and maintain relationships with key healthcare, policy, and business reporters
Brand building & narrative development
- Advance clear, differentiated narratives that position DaVita as a comprehensive kidney care leader—not just a dialysis provider
- Partner with internal stakeholders to elevate enterprise priorities through integrated storytelling
- Ensure consistency and quality of messaging across earned channels, aligning with broader brand strategy
Executive visibility & thought leadership
- Support executive communications tied to media engagement, including briefing materials, messaging, and interview prep
- Identify and secure strategic opportunities for spokespeople to engage in media, speaking, and content platforms
- Help shape a proactive thought leadership pipeline tied to key moments and industry trends
Cross-functional partnership
- Collaborate across the broader marketing and communications function, clinical leaders, legal, and operations to ensure accurate, timely, and aligned communications
- Partner closely with content and digital teams to amplify earned coverage across owned channels
- Contribute to integrated campaigns that blend earned, owned, and paid strategies
Media monitoring & insights
- Monitor media landscape for emerging trends, risks, and opportunities, translating insights into action
- Track and report on coverage, sentiment, and performance to inform strategy and demonstrate impact
- Support rapid response to media inquiries and reputational issues as needed
Qualifications and Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or related field
- 5–7 years of experience in external communications, public relations, or media relations (agency or in-house healthcare experience strongly preferred)
- Proven ability to develop and land earned media coverage in national and trade outlets
- Strong understanding of healthcare landscape, including policy, providers, and patient audiences
- Excellent writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex topics into clear, compelling narratives
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
· Experience working across cross-functional teams and influencing without authority
· Strategic mindset paired with a bias for action and execution
· Comfort with ambiguity and evolving priorities
