Director, Segment Communications

Company Description About Covista Covista is America's largest healthcare educator, serving more than 97,000 students and supported by a community of 385,000 alumni across five accredited institutions. Through personalized, tech-enabled education powered by 10,000 faculty and colleagues, Covista expands access to healthcare careers and addresses the U.S. healthcare workforce shortage at scale. Covista is the parent company of American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Chamberlain University, Ross University School of Medicine, Ross UniversitySchool of Veterinary Medicine and Walden University. Our colleagues come from a wide range of backgrounds, business, academia, healthcare, government and nonprofits, and are part of a culture where doing exceptional work and making a meaningful difference for students and society aren't separate goals-they're one and the same. This means creating an environment where colleagues can develop new skills, build careers that match their ambitions and see the tangible impact of their work on healthcare education and workforce development. Colleagues who deliver results and embrace new tools to work smarter are valued for their contributions. But what makes working at Covista distinctive is our impact. Our faculty and colleagues don't just support healthcare education-they shape it. This isn't abstract purpose work. It's solving real problems for real people in real communities while advancing careers. We operate on a hybrid schedule with four in-office days per week (Monday-Thursday). This approach enhances creativity, innovation, communication, and relationship-building, fostering a dynamic and collaborative work environment. For more information, visit covista.com and follow us on LinkedIn , Instagram and YouTube . Job Description Opportunity at a Glance This role sits within Covista's Corporate Affairs team and reports to the Senior Director, Segment Communications. You'll lead communications strategy and execution across two interconnected mandates: Walden University as an institution, and initiatives spanning marketing, digital, and innovation across Covista's portfolio under the Office of the Chief Growth & Innovation Officer. This includes a significant executive communications component, supporting a high-profile leader operating at the enterprise level. As part of Corporate Affairs, you'll have access to proprietary research assets, visibility into enterprise strategy, and a seat at the table where reputation is built and protected. Set direction and lead execution for communications supporting Walden University, the CGIO's enterprise mandate, and executive visibility for senior leadership. You'll serve as a trusted advisor, connect institutional and enterprise narratives, and drive a proactive earned media and executive visibility program - while ensuring internal stakeholders remain informed and aligned. This role requires a strategic thinker who can translate complex priorities into clear stories, counsel executives with confidence, and deliver high-quality work across a fast-moving portfolio. Responsibilities Executive Communications Serve as the primary communications partner to the Chief Growth & Innovation Officer and President of Walden University, supporting both institutional and enterprise-level communications needs Develop and manage a proactive executive visibility program spanning earned media placements, op-eds, podcast appearances, conference speaking, and LinkedIn thought leadership Prepare the CGIO and key faculty for media interviews, broadcast formats, and public appearances through structured briefings and message development Identify and pursue speaking opportunities at priority industry conferences; develop abstracts and oversee submission logistics Connect the executive narrative across growth, innovation, and AI/digital themes central to the CGIO mandate while maintaining Walden's distinct institutional voice External Communications & Reputation Own and drive Walden's earned media strategy, building the institution's reputation among key audiences in higher education, healthcare workforce, and adult learning Develop and advance communications narratives that support the CGIO's enterprise mandate - including the convergence of marketing, digital innovation, and AI in education Build and manage a portfolio of media relationships with reporters, editors, and producers across higher education, business, workforce development, and AI/technology in learning Develop media materials including key messages, press releases, media briefings, and spokesperson talking points Leverage proprietary research assets, including the Covista Care Capacity Monitor, to develop localized, data-driven pitches that differentiate Walden and advance Covista's healthcare workforce narrative Identify connection points across institutional and enterprise priorities, integrating Walden's story into broader Covista campaigns where appropriate Oversee issues and crisis communications in partnership with the Public Affairs team, including drafting response statements and coordinating with legal and academic affairs as needed Partner with marketing - now unified under the CGIO - to integrate earned media into broader growth and student engagement strategies Partner with Alumni Engagement and Student Affairs to identify and prepare alumni and student spokespeople for media opportunities Establish and track segment communications metrics including media coverage quality, message pull-through, and share of voice, using data and insights to continuously optimize strategy Internal Communications Lead communications strategy for Walden town halls, all-colleague meetings, and institutional leadership briefings Support internal announcement drafting and colleague communications tied to segment news, milestones, and institutional updates Develop board-level segment updates, presentation narratives, and leadership talking points Partner with stakeholders across academic affairs, student success, and enrollment to surface stories and maintain a consistent segment narrative Qualifications 10+ years of experience in communications, public relations, or a related field 5+ years in a leadership role with direct ownership of communications strategy Demonstrated experience building and executing earned media programs with measurable results Proven track record supporting C-suite executives with broad enterprise mandates Experience developing executive thought leadership programs across media, speaking, podcast, and social platforms Background collaborating with marketing organizations to integrate earned and paid/owned strategies Experience managing issues and crisis communications, including cross-functional stakeholder coordination Higher education, healthcare, or professional services experience preferred Skills Strategic communications planning that connects institutional storytelling to enterprise growth priorities Strong media relations instincts - builds reporter relationships, not just pitches Exceptional writing across formats: press releases, op-eds, executive talking points, board narratives, and social content Experienced preparing and advising senior leaders across media, broadcast, podcast, and speaking formats Counsels senior leaders with confidence and candor; builds trust across the institution and enterprise Identifies connection points across institutional and enterprise priorities rather than siloing them Knows when to move quickly and when to hold - especially around claims, spokesperson readiness, and announcement timing Familiarity with AI tools and their application to communications workflows Additional Information In support of the pay transparency laws enacted across the country, the expected salary range for this position is between $100171.61 and $181034.70. Actual pay will be adjusted based on job-related factors permitted by law, such as experience and training; geographic location; licensure and certifications; market factors; departmental budgets; and responsibility. Our Talent Acquisition Team will be happy to answer any questions you may have, and we look forward to learning more about your salary requirements. The position qualifies for the below benefits. Covista offers a robust suite of benefits including: Health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance 401k Retirement Program + 6% employer match Participation in Covista's Flexible Time Off (FTO) Policy 12 Paid Holidays For more information related to our benefits please visit: You are also eligible to participate in an annual incentive program, subject to the rules governing the program, whereby an award, if any, depends on various factors, including, without limitation, individual and organizational performance. Equal Opportunity - Minority / Female / Disability / V / Gender Identity / Sexual Orientation