External Communications & Media Relations Principal - The Cigna Group

External Communications & Media Relations, Principal, The Cigna Group

Hybrid role: Washington, DC, Bloomfield, CT or St. Louis, MO offices preferred

Shape the future of health care through powerful storytelling.

Role Summary

As a Principal on our Media Relations & Public Affairs Communications team , you’ll be at the forefront of shaping The Cigna Group’s reputation and thought leadership. This is a high-impact role where you’ll lead media engagement strategies, manage complex issues, and serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders. Acting as Deputy to the Managing Director, you’ll also play a critical role in team operations, planning, and analytics, helping us stay ahead in our fast-moving, highly-regulated industry.

If you thrive dynamic environments, have a passion for proactive storytelling, and can navigate sensitive issues with confidence and clarity, this is your opportunity to make a measurable difference.

What You’ll Do

• Drive Strategic Media Engagement:
  • Design and execute media strategies that elevate enterprise priorities and advance The Cigna Group’s reputation.
  • Cultivate strong relationships with top-tier journalists, editors, producers, and influencers.
• Lead Issue & Crisis Management:
  • Serve as a trusted advisor during high-pressure situations, delivering rapid-response communications and risk mitigation strategies.
  • Anticipate reputational challenges and proactively manage them before they escalate.
• Amplify Executive Visibility:
  • Develop positioning strategies for senior leaders, securing high-profile interviews, speaking engagements, and thought leadership opportunities.
  • Conduct media training and craft compelling talking points for executive interactions.

• Create Impactful Content:
  • Write and edit press releases, statements, and narratives that resonate with diverse audiences and align with business priorities.
  • Ensure clarity, consistency, and authenticity across all external communications.
• Measure & Optimize Performance:
  • Track media coverage, analyze impact, and deliver actionable insights to inform future strategies.
  • Provide regular reporting to leadership on trends and performance metrics.

Ideal candidates will offer:

• Experience:
  • 10+ years of progressive experience in healthcare media relations and issue management.
  • Agency experience and familiarity with regulated industries strongly preferred.
• Skills & Competencies:
  • Exceptional writing and verbal communication skills.
  • Proven ability to manage sensitive, high-profile situations with sound judgment.
  • Strong media network and ability to build new relationships.
  • Strategic thinker with hands-on execution capability.
  • Proficiency in leveraging AI tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot) to enhance workflows and decision-making.
• Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or related field.

Why This Role Matters

Your work will shape how millions perceive one of the most influential health care companies in the world. You’ll be an important catalyst behind our most critical stories, helping us lead conversations that matter and navigate challenges that define the future of health care.

If you will be working at home occasionally or permanently, the internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload.

For this position, we anticipate offering an annual salary of 134,100 - 223,500 USD / yearly, depending on relevant factors, including experience and geographic location.

This role is also anticipated to be eligible to participate in an annual bonus and long term incentive plan.

We want you to be healthy, balanced, and feel secure. That’s why you’ll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits, with a focus on supporting your whole health. Starting on day one of your employment, you’ll be offered several health-related benefits including medical, vision, dental, and well-being and behavioral health programs. We also offer 401(k) with company match, company paid life insurance, tuition reimbursement, a minimum of 18 days of paid time off per year and paid holidays. For more details on our employee benefits programs, visit .

About The Cigna Group

Doing something meaningful starts with a simple decision, a commitment to changing lives. At The Cigna Group, we’re dedicated to improving the health and vitality of those we serve. Through our divisions Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services, we are committed to enhancing the lives of our clients, customers and patients. Join us in driving growth and improving lives.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, disability, sex, childbirth (including pregnancy) or related medical conditions including but not limited to lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital or familial status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing the online application process, please email: [email protected] for support. Do not email [email protected] for an update on your application or to provide your resume as you will not receive a response.

The Cigna Group has a tobacco-free policy and reserves the right not to hire tobacco/nicotine users in states where that is legally permissible. Candidates in such states who use tobacco/nicotine will not be considered for employment unless they enter a qualifying smoking cessation program prior to the start of their employment. These states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington State.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances.