Executive Director, Aetna Sponsorships

Position Summary The Executive Director of Sponsorships at Aetna leads the strategy, development, and execution of the national and regional sponsorship portfolio, aimed at elevating brand relevance, driving member engagement, and advancing enterprise growth priorities. This leader serves as the primary authority leading a team on sponsorship strategy, portfolio design, and activation, translating the long‑term vision into actionable plans that enhance brand equity and deliver measurable business outcomes. The Executive Director is responsible for designing a cohesive sponsorship strategy that is rooted in brand and consumer insights, community impact, and performance optimization. They will oversee end‑to‑end sponsorship governance, including opportunity evaluation, contract negotiation, activation planning, and cross‑functional integration. This role requires close collaboration with Marketing leadership, Government Affairs, Community Engagement, Enterprise Partnerships, and key business lines to ensure that sponsorship investments provide both enterprise value and meaningful experiences for consumers. With extensive industry expertise, the Executive Director will establish and lead the Aetna Sponsorships practice from strategy development through execution, measurement, and reporting. The ideal candidate will blend strategic sponsorship experience with corporate leadership and exceptional project management skills, enabling Aetna to operate a world‑class sponsorship practice that supports its overall business objectives and enhances stakeholder engagement. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership Develop and own Aetna’s multi‑year sponsorship strategy aligned to brand positioning, consumer segments, community impact goals, and business priorities. Lead Aetna-wide portfolio management, ensuring investments are optimized across markets, audiences, and business lines. Serve as a senior advisor to C‑suite leaders on the value, risks, and integration of sponsorships in support of growth and brand equity. Sponsorship Evaluation & Governance Establish and manage a rigorous framework for assessing Aetna’s sponsorship opportunities, inclusive of financial modeling, brand impact, and audience reach. Oversee contract negotiation, rights management, and long‑term partnership structures. Drive compliance and risk management in collaboration with Legal, Compliance, and Finance. Activation & Integrated Marketing Lead the design and execution of multi‑channel activation plans that maximize partnership assets across paid, owned, earned, and experiential marketing. Partner with Creative, Media, Social, and Member Experience teams to bring sponsorship stories to life through compelling, measurable engagement moments. Ensure activations support health engagement and access, and community impact commitments. Business Collaboration Collaborate with business owners and regional market leaders to deploy sponsorships that support local growth, provider relationships, and community presence. Partner with Aetna’s Community Affairs and Government Affairs teams to ensure sponsorships reinforce public policy priorities and community alignment. Coordinate with cross‑enterprise teams at CVS Health to identify co‑branded or integrated partnership opportunities. Performance Measurement & Optimization Lead development of KPIs and measurement methodologies to evaluate brand health, engagement, ROI, and long‑term value. Produce executive‑ready reporting for senior leadership, highlighting insights, performance, and recommendations. Continually optimize the sponsorship portfolio based on data, market dynamics, and evolving consumer behavior. Lead and develop a high‑performing team of sponsorship and experiential marketing professionals. Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, strategic thinking, and collaborative partnership across the Aetna Marketing organization. Required Qualifications 15+ years of progressive marketing leadership experience, ideally across sponsorships, strategic partnerships, brand strategy, integrated and experiential marketing. Proven success leading large‑scale national sponsorships and partnerships (e.g., sports, entertainment, community, health‑focused) from strategy through activation and measurement. Demonstrated ability to influence and engage senior executives and manage complex, cross‑functional and highly matrixed stakeholder environments. Strong financial and business acumen, including contract negotiation, budget oversight, performance measurement, and business intelligence. Exceptional program and project management skills with a proven track record of planning, executing, and delivering complex initiatives. Experience building, leading, and inspiring large, multi‑disciplinary teams across multiple locations. Strong collaboration, problem‑solving, and decision‑making capabilities, grounded in a growth mindset and continuous development of self and others. High ethical standards, personal integrity, and ability to build trust across internal and external partners. Experience in healthcare, insurance, retail health, or another regulated industry strongly preferred, with familiarity in health equity, population health, or community partnerships a plus. Ability to travel a minimum 25%. Must be hybrid in Hartford. Education Bachelor's Degree Required, Master's Degree Preferred Pay Range The typical pay range for this role is: $131,500.00 - $303,195.00 The 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. Benefits This full‑time position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, emotional, and financial well‑being of colleagues and their families. The benefits for this position include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, retirement savings options, wellness programs, and other resources, based on eligibility. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state and local laws. #J-18808-Ljbffr Dormont Manufacturing Co