Marketing and Communications Manager

DaVita offers a comprehensive benefits package, a collaborative culture, and opportunities to make a meaningful impact on patient care. In this role, you will lead external communications, shape DaVita’s reputation, and drive earned media and brand storytelling across national, trade, and local outlets.

Benefits and perks

• Medical coverage
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• PTO cash out
• Family resources
• EAP counseling sessions
• Headspace access
• Backup child and elder care
• Maternity and paternity leave
• Professional development programs
• StarLearning on-demand virtual leadership and development courses

About the role

The Manager, External Communications (Earned Media & Brand) develops and executes earned media strategies to position DaVita as a clinical leader and trusted voice in kidney care, value-based care, and broader healthcare transformation. You will partner with Corporate Affairs, Mercury Marketing & Communications, and business leaders to identify narrative opportunities, translate complex topics into compelling stories, and drive sustained visibility across top-tier, trade, and regional media. This role blends strategic thinking with hands-on execution to move quickly on opportunities while building lasting momentum for the brand.

Responsibilities

• Develop proactive earned media strategies to 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
• Advance clear, differentiated narratives positioning DaVita as a comprehensive kidney care leader
• Partner with internal stakeholders to elevate enterprise priorities through integrated storytelling
• Ensure messaging consistency across earned channels in line with the broader brand strategy
• 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
• Collaborate across the 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
• 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

Requirements

• 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 the 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

Technologies

• Headspace
• StarLearning