Director Corporate Communications

<span class="jobdescription"><p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>We Impact Lives Through Purpose-Driven Work in A People First Culture</strong></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Ascend Learning, a leading healthcare and learning technology company, is the connection between a powerful portfolio of brands serving students, educators, and employers with outcomes-based, data-driven solutions across the lifecycle of learning. From testing to certification, Ascend Learning products are used by physicians, emergency medical professionals, nurses, allied health professionals, certified personal trainers, financial advisors, skilled trades professionals and insurance brokers.  </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Headquartered in Burlington, MA, with additional office locations and hybrid and remote workers in cities across the U.S., Ascend Learning was recognized by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group as one of America’s 2025 Greatest Workplaces as well as America’s Best Places to work for Mental Well-Being for 2025.  </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">We're always looking for talented, passionate professionals to join us in our mission to help change lives. If this sounds like an environment where you'd thrive, read on to learn more.  </span></p> <p> </p><p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>WHAT YOU'LL DO </strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br>Ascend Learning is hiring now for a Director, Corporate Communications. For this Director position, we are looking for a senior level communications strategist to join our dynamic Corporate Communications team. This is a high-visibility, high-impact individual contributor and leader role.  <br>Reporting to the VP of Corporate Communications, the Director will serve as the team's senior PR and external communications lead — partnering with our PR agency, communications teammates and internal leaders, to develop stories, build enterprise-wide awareness, and drive thought leadership across our brand portfolio. This person will also own day-to-day management and execution of a robust internal corporate communications event calendar and help evolve the corporate brand website as a unified storytelling platform across our portfolio of brands.. <br>Success in this role requires someone who builds trust quickly with senior leaders, navigates complex internal and external relationships with confidence, and manages vendors and matrix partners with clarity and accountability. You are equally comfortable developing the plan and rolling up your sleeves to activate it. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br><strong>WHERE YOU’LL WORK</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br>This position will work a hybrid schedule from our Leawood, KS or Burlington, MA office location preferred, requiring light travel. Remote will be considered within the United States, with required travel. Ability to work in Eastern and Central time zone required.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br><strong>HOW YOU’LL SPEND YOUR TIME</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br><strong>Public Relations & External Communications</strong><br></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Lead day-to-day partnership with our external PR agency, managing priorities, performance, and reporting</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Partner across our corporate and healthcare  brands to identify and elevate stories, leaders, and brand milestones</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Translate internal insights into media opportunities, thought leadership, and award submissions</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Build and execute external visibility and recognition strategies</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Support executive speaking opportunities and crisis communications in partnership with the VP</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Track, measure, and report PR impact to VP and with key stakeholders on a regular cadence</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br><strong>Internal Leadership Events & Corporate Communications Activation</strong></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Own planning, content development and execution management for a robust portfolio of key internal leadership events (Town Halls, Leader Summit, leadership dinners, and leadership forums)</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Develop event narratives that drive alignment, engagement, and culture</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Manage internal stakeholders and external partners to deliver high-quality event experiences on time and on budget</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Support the activation of broader Corporate Communication initiatives, campaigns, and announcements, and program launches</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Maintain a centralized communications and events calendar<br></span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Corporate Brand Website & Digital Communications</strong></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Partner with the VP to develop and articulate the corporate brand story across all brands Lead the evolution of the corporate website, ensuring a cohesive and compelling brand presence</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Drive website enhancements including GEO/SEO, and user experience improvements in coordination with internal and external design and technology resources</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Establish editorial governance and content calendar to keep the site current, accurate and aligned to brand narrative in partnership with communications team<br></span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Strategic Communications & Executive Support</strong></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Partner with the VP on annual communications planning, narrative architecture, and priority setting</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Develop communications plans and materials for key initiatives and major corporate moments</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Partner on executive communications tied to business strategy</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Serve as a trusted communications partner to cross-functional leaders<br></span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>WHAT YOU'LL NEED</strong></span></p> <p> </p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">10+ years of progressive communications experience with significant and demonstrable depth in public relations and external communications, story development and connection between internal and external messaging strategy </span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Proven track record managing PR agency relationships and delivering measurable thought leadership, media presence, and brand impact </span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Experience in or alongside healthcare, professional services, or a similarly complex, regulated industry strongly preferred </span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Demonstrated ability to plan and manage internal leadership events with strategic content and communications components — from intimate executive gatherings to large-scale multi-day summits </span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Strong executive presence — comfortable building relationships with and advising C-suite and senior leaders </span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Skilled at navigating matrixed organizations and earning trust across independently operating business units </span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Proven ability to manage vendors, agencies, and freelancers across communications, events, and design </span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Digital communications experience, including content strategy and website development; familiarity with SEO/GEO a plus </span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Ability to adapt to workflow and work design changes and use of AI tools to create efficiency and innovative solutions</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Exceptional writer and communicator across formats — thought leadership content, executive messaging, event narratives, and digital content </span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">A builder's mindset: able to develop strategy and create structure in an environment that is actively evolving </span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple workstreams, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously with an eye for detail</span></li> <li><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Bachelor's degree in the field of Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field preferred; advanced degree a plus. Demonstrated experience and a track record of results in communications will be considered in lieu of formal education requirements </span></li> </ul><p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>BENEFITS </strong></span></p> <p> </p> <ul type="disc"> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Flexible and generous paid time off</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Competitive medical, dental, vision and life insurance</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">401(k) employer matching program</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Parental leave</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Wellness resources</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Charitable matching program</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">On-site workout facilities (Leawood, Gilbert, Burlington)</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Community outreach groups</span></li> <li style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Tuition reimbursement</span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Fostering A Sense of Belonging </strong></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Our values-driven culture unifies our teams and inspires a mindset of action, innovation, and collaboration, with a relentless focus on customers. We seek out and celebrate all people and perspectives and cultivate an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and be authentic. Our culture is firmly rooted in the belief that by embracing our differences and drawing on diverse perspectives, we are a stronger, more innovative, and more successful organization where employees experience a sense of belonging.  </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Ascend Learning, LLC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer (M/F/Vets/Disabled). No agency or search firm submissions will be accepted. Applications for U.S.-based positions with Ascend Learning, LLC must be legally authorized to work in the United States, and verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.  </span></p> </span>

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Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

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Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

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This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...