AVP, Chief Dental Officer - Aetna

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Aetna is seeking a dynamic and commercially minded Chief Dental Officer to lead the clinical strategy and vision for one of the nation's largest dental benefits organizations. This executive will serve as the senior clinical leader for the business, responsible for advancing clinical excellence while helping drive growth, innovation, and market differentiation.

We are looking for a strategic clinical executive who understands how to translate clinical programs, policies, and innovations into measurable business results. The Chief Dental Officer will partner closely with leaders across sales, product, network, operations, and enterprise functions to develop solutions that improve member outcomes, strengthen client value, enhance retention, support growth, and position Aetna Dental for continued success in a highly competitive marketplace.

The successful candidate will bring a strong balance of clinical credibility, executive leadership, commercial acumen, and transformational thinking. This leader will help shape the future of Aetna Dental by ensuring innovation not only improves care but also reaches the market and creates value for members, providers, clients, and the business.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical and Business Strategy

• Develop and execute the overall dental clinical strategy in alignment with business objectives and growth priorities.

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of programs supporting utilization management, care management, quality improvement, and clinical operations.

• Establish clinical policies, goals, and priorities that drive quality, affordability, operational excellence, and business performance.

• Utilize clinical expertise, market insight, and data analytics to influence business strategy, product development, and innovation initiatives.

• Promote the integration of dental services with medical, pharmacy, behavioral health, and care management programs to improve member outcomes and advance whole-person care.

Growth, Innovation, and Market Impact

• Serve as a key member of the leadership team in advancing the growth agenda for Aetna Dental.

• Partner with sales, product, account management, and operations leaders to identify opportunities where clinical capabilities can strengthen competitive positioning and differentiate Aetna in the marketplace.

• Lead the development and implementation of innovative clinical programs that create measurable value for members, providers, clients, and the business.

• Assess emerging trends, technologies, and care delivery models and translate them into practical solutions that drive adoption and business impact.

• Support client retention and growth efforts by helping articulate the value of Aetna's clinical programs and integrated care strategy.

Clinical Operations and Quality

• Oversee national utilization management, complaints and appeals, and clinical review functions.

• Lead enterprise-wide quality initiatives and chair the National Quality Oversight Committee.

• Ensure clinical operations are compliant, efficient, evidence-based, and aligned with regulatory requirements.

• Drive continuous improvement through performance analytics, quality measurement, and best practices.

Leadership and Talent Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of Dental Directors, Dental Consultants, and clinical professionals.

• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.

• Build organizational capabilities necessary to support growth, transformation, and future business needs.

Sales, Client, and Market Partnership

• Collaborate with sales teams, consultants, brokers, employer groups, and plan sponsors to support business development and client retention efforts.

• Participate in key client presentations, finalist meetings, and strategic customer engagements.

• Communicate the value of integrated oral health programs and clinical innovation to internal and external stakeholders.

External Leadership

• Represent Aetna Dental with providers, academic institutions, professional associations, regulatory agencies, and industry organizations.

• Build influential relationships that advance innovation, strengthen provider partnerships, and elevate Aetna's position as a leader in dental and integrated healthcare.

Leadership Profile

The ideal candidate is a proven clinical executive who has demonstrated the ability to:

• Translate clinical expertise into business growth and market differentiation.

• Lead through transformation and organizational change.

• Influence senior executives and build alignment across highly matrixed organizations.

• Partner effectively with commercial, operational, and functional leaders.

• Drive innovation from concept to implementation and measurable results.

• Balance strategic thinking with operational execution.

• Build highly engaged, accountable, and high-performing teams.

• Communicate with credibility across providers, clients, industry leaders, regulators, and executive stakeholders.

Qualifications

• DDS or DMD degree required

• Active unrestricted dental license in at least one U.S. state required

• Minimum of 12 years of leadership experience within a dental care delivery, dental benefits, managed care, or healthcare organization.

• Deep expertise in utilization management, clinical quality, dental policy, and evidence-based practice.

• Experience leading large-scale clinical operations and multidisciplinary teams.

• Executive leadership experience within a national health plan, dental benefits organization, managed care company, or similarly complex healthcare environment.

• Demonstrated success developing and implementing innovative programs that produced measurable clinical and business outcomes.

• Experience supporting growth initiatives, client relationships, product strategy, sales efforts, or market-facing activities.

• Strong business, financial, and operational acumen.

• Experience managing budgets, resources, and large-scale strategic initiatives.

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills

Pay Range

The typical pay range for this role is:

This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls.  The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors.  This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short-term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above.  This position also includes an award target in the company’s equity award program. 
 

Our people fuel our future. Our teams reflect the customers, patients, members and communities we serve and we are committed to fostering a workplace where every colleague feels valued and that they belong.

Great benefits for great people

We take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families.

Additional details about available benefits are provided during the application process and on Benefits Moments.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state and local laws.