Executive Director, Aetna Sponsorships

CVS Health•Hartford, CT

1d•$131,500 - $303,195•Hybrid

About The Position

We’re building a world of health around every individual — shaping a more connected, convenient and compassionate health experience. At CVS Health®, you’ll be surrounded by passionate colleagues who care deeply, innovate with purpose, hold ourselves accountable and prioritize safety and quality in everything we do. Join us and be part of something bigger – helping to simplify health care one person, one family and one community at a time. 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.

Requirements

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
Ability to travel a minimum 25%
Must be hybrid in Hartford
Bachelor's Degree Required

Nice To Haves

Experience in healthcare, insurance, retail health, or another regulated industry strongly preferred, with familiarity in health equity, population health, or community partnerships a plus
Master's Degree Preferred

Responsibilities

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.