Senior Director, Communications & Marketing

The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), located in Alexandria, VA, is the leading organization of scientists and health care professionals committed to preventing and curing liver disease.  They are seeking a Senior Director of Communications & Marketing.  This position is remote with occasional travel required.  DC and surrounding areas are preferred; eligible candidates should reside in one of the following states:  CT, DC, FL, IL, MD, MI, NC, NJ, OH, VA, and WI.  AASLD offers a competitive benefits package, including generous PTO.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Director of Communications & Marketing shapes and executes the society’s comprehensive marketing and communications strategy, advancing its brand, events, educational products and membership proposition.  This individual leads all aspects of marketing, drives digital brand strategy and content development, and leads media and public relations, ensuring consistency, creativity, and measurable impact across the member and stakeholder community.  Both a strategist and an implementer, the Senior Director develops the vision, fosters collaboration, and delivers compelling messaging to promote the organization’s mission and offerings. 

The ideal candidate will have a strong and demonstrable marketing and communications background, deep experience managing media and developing production assets, an understanding of website information architecture best practices and content planning as well as a familiarity with health and scientific issues.  Deep expertise in digital delivery platforms and the ability to use marketing technology will be key to success in the role.  This individual must have a proven ability to manage multiple staff, projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment. This position reports to the Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, Development, & Events

RESPONSIBILITIES

Marketing & Communications Strategy

• Lead and oversee the strategy, development, and execution of all marketing campaigns in an effort to promote education, training, membership, and other events across multiple marketing channels, including email, web, social media, print etc.


• Establish and maintain a cohesive and distinct brand identity for AASLD and AASLD Foundation that is consistent throughout all products, programs, and communications.


• Develop and lead the implementation of AASLD’s strategic communications plan and ensure alignment with organizational goals and key marketing initiatives.


• Collaborate cross-departmentally to understand, synthesize, and meet the organization’s communication and marketing needs, ensuring aligned messaging that enhances brand value and drives growth.


• Develop a social media strategy to grow the society’s online presence, increase engagement, and boost awareness of AASLD’s offerings.


• Drive the design and implementation of email marketing campaigns, providing creative direction, graphic design, and copywriting.


• Write and conceptualize compelling, high quality, and digitally savvy content and communications including editorial copy, press releases, and other writing assignments as necessary.


• Collaborate with the Chief Executive Officer and the Leadership Team to craft strategic messaging for speeches, presentations, and statements.


• Assist with crisis communications, including preparing talking points and responsive media strategies for key AASLD leadership.


• Oversee the creation of presentations for member leaders and external audiences, ensuring alignment with AASLD’s overall messaging and branding strategy.


• Leverage marketing analytics and trends to evaluate campaign performance and optimize strategies.

• Review and prepare Governing Board/Foundation Board of Trustees communications and related meeting materials in collaboration with the Leadership Team to ensure consistency, brand accuracy, etc.


• Ensure consistent messaging across all AASLD platforms, publications, and internal communications.


• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure clarity and alignment across departments, keeping staff informed about key organizational initiatives and messaging.


• Develop and distribute internal messaging related to programming across the organization, working with department leads with a focus on strategic priority areas.  


• Draft scripts, talking points, slide decks, and other defined communication resources for member leaders for The Liver Meeting and other events.

External Relations

• Develop outreach strategies to expand AASLD and AASLD Foundation’s network of collaborators and amplify the Foundation’s mission.


• Represent AASLD in external partnerships and collaborative efforts to drive the association’s strategic goals.


• Lead the development of materials and communications strategies that support external stakeholders (global partners, patient advocacy groups), and policy efforts (FDA, NIDDK etc.).

Media Engagement

• Develop and implement media strategies aligned with AASLD and AASLD Foundation goals and priorities.


• Serve as the primary point of contact for media inquiries, proactively engaging with journalists and scientific publications.


• Lead proactive media outreach, including writing and distributing press releases, drafting and/or coordinating writing groups for whitepapers, op-eds, and arranging interviews for key AASLD leaders.


• Monitor media trends to identify opportunities for positioning AASLD and its leadership in relevant discussions.

SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with proven ability to craft compelling narratives for diverse audiences


• Strong presentation (PPT, Slides, Canva) design and creation skills with professional experience presenting to discerning external audiences and leadership


• Demonstrated ability to foster collaboration, build consensus, and establish productive partnerships with colleagues, volunteers, and external stakeholders


• Demonstrated ability to stay informed of industry trends, emerging technologies, and marketing innovations


• Proactive in identifying and implementing new tools, platforms, and strategies, including AI, to improve outreach and engagement


• An analytical thinker with the ability to tailor messaging for diverse audiences


• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, projects, and cross functional teams


• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment


• Self-starter with a solution-oriented mindset and strong attention to detail


• Graphic design and video editing experience desirable

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications or equivalent experience 


• Minimum of eight years of experience in marketing and communications, at least 3 of those years in management


• Previous communications experience in healthcare that includes corporate communications and event marketing


• Strong experience writing compelling content for a range of diverse audiences and mediums


• Digital/web copywriting experience


• Experience in public relations, media outreach, and crisis communications


• An understanding of website information architecture best practices and content planning


• Familiarity with health and scientific issues and policy


• Familiarity with digital, web marketing platforms; Acquia is a plus

HOW TO APPLY

If you believe you meet the requirements, please submit a resume, cover letter, and writing samples to the Submit button above.

Salary: $138,000 – $185,000

Additional inquiries and questions can be emailed to Beth Cessna at [email protected] or contact 202-232-1765.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF LIVER DISEASES (AASLD)

AASLD is the leading organization of scientists and health care professionals committed to preventing and curing liver disease.  The organization fosters research that leads to improved treatment options for millions of liver disease patients and advances the science and practice of hepatology through educational conferences, training programs, professional publications, and partnerships with government agencies and sister societies. 

AASLD recognizes that each employee’s experiences and perspectives are unique and add value to its ability to serve the membership and community.  AASLD is committed to building a fully inclusive, collaborative, and respectful workplace that reflects all the communities it serves.  The organization offers a competitive benefits package, including generous vacation/holiday leave and retirement contribution.

AASLD is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

ABOUT CESSNA & ASSOCIATES, LLC

Cessna & Associates, LLC is a boutique HR consultancy partnering with mission-driven organizations.  Our goal is to identify the best potential candidates that the market has to offer.