Associate Director - Healthcare Communications in London

If you’re looking to continue your communications career in an award-winning global agency, then this might just be the role for you!

We are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable working environment for everyone. As the only PR Agency awarded EY’s National Equality Standard (twice!), all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age. Do let us know if you need any adjustments made during the interview process.

Role overview: This position sits at the centre of a growing healthcare media offer, working across some of the most interesting areas of health communications (from pharma and biotech to medtech, health technology, consumer health and corporate reputation). It combines strategic account management with earned media expertise in healthcare communications. This role will lead communications on high-impact projects such as corporate thought leadership, C-suite and senior executive visibility, story mining, disease awareness campaigns, brand and consumer storytelling, health technology narratives, clinical data announcements, congress milestone communications, and journalist engagement around scientific, regulatory, and corporate moments. Key therapy areas include but are not limited to; HIV, Alzheimers, Oncology, Multiple Sclerosis and sleep disorders.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Strategic counsel: Provide lead counsel, sounding board and trusted partner who provides strategic advice, insights into the latest industry developments and ensures our programmes represent world-class healthcare communications services. Provide earned media counsel across a range of healthcare communications needs, including corporate thought leadership, brand/consumer storytelling, disease awareness, health technology, data milestones, congress activity and senior executive visibility. Work as part of the wider media specialist community, helping teams identify strong stories, sharpen media angles, develop journalist strategies and bring external media insight into client programmes. Support story mining across accounts, helping client teams identify credible media opportunities from complex scientific, corporate, technological or patient-focused material.
• Growth & Operational Excellence: Actively identify and convert organic growth opportunities and support new business pitch opportunities with a growth mindset. Proactively implement new ways to meet client needs through a deep understanding of FH’s capabilities, including sector and specialty offerings and complementary businesses within the OMC network. Represent FH at meetings with senior clients, stakeholders and senior colleagues and provide consultancy in trending healthcare categories. Identify and participate in external thought leadership opportunities to build awareness of the agency’s expertise. Ensure financial health of allocated accounts. Identify operational issues, advise business of implications for forecasting, revenue recognition, resourcing needs and seeks solutions to solve and meets revenue, utilisation and efficiency targets.
• Talent Development: Create a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture, where every team member feels a sense of belonging. Grow, attract and retain talent by providing formal/informal feedback and coaching to junior team members. Support and communicate clear, progressive direction. Role model team values around respect, curiosity and courage, while embracing challenge, staying hungry to learn and creating opportunity.

About You: Strong agency experience in pharmaceutical and/or health-tech communications. Excellent client handling skills with the ability to distil complexity into compelling narratives. Earned media expertise, including strategy, press material development, journalist liaison and advising clients on the right approach for key news moments, from clinical data and regulatory milestones to corporate announcements. Proven experience driving integrated, multi-channel, multi-stakeholder campaigns. Content creation and editing expertise, ability to provide a critical eye and review content across a range of communications materials. Financial, resourcing, team and line management expertise, leading teams and demonstrating solid project management capability. Able to actively identify and deliver organic growth opportunities contributing to financial growth of their accounts. A collaborative mindset, with a track record of mentoring and inspiring teams, championing inclusion, feedback and professional development. Right to work in the UK and able to work in our Bankside office at least 3 days per week.

If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you!

What we offer:

• A warm and friendly team with a fantastic portfolio of global and UK clients.
• A truly global network, the opportunity to be part of multi-market campaigns, regularly working with colleagues across the globe.
• Global mobility, a programme of short-term or permanent exchange opportunities, particularly in EMEA or the US.
• A strengths-based L&D framework with an in-house coach and development opportunities for career defining work.
• Flexibility. We’ve fully embraced hybrid and flexible working. We have a great office and human contact remains an important element of our culture.
• Work-life balance, we all work hard but having a life outside work matters to all of us, and we support each other to achieve it.
• Culture Club – from office manicures, nutritionists, inhouse massage and acupressure sessions, to Yoga on the roof terrace, quizzes, boot camps, exhibits and summer and Christmas get-togethers.
• Opportunities to join our Employee Resource Groups (global and local), the Shadow Board or DE&I Steering committee.
• A Career Guardian Scheme for underrepresented talent and mentorship opportunities.
• Pro-bono comms, volunteer opportunities and personal charity matching.
• 30 days of holiday plus a day off on your birthday (or that of your child), plus all days between Christmas and New Year and a buy-back scheme for those who want more.
• 6-12 week sabbaticals!
• BUPA medical cover – including 24/7 virtual GP, funded eye tests, fertility, and menopause support.
• Permanent Health Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• Generous Pension contributions, personal finance clinics and Life Assurance.
• Discounted gym membership and FHeel Well reimbursement.
• Cycle2Work scheme and season ticket loans.
• Generous parental leave and emergency childcare provision.
• Passion Project Grants – funding for your passions outside of work.
• Retail, dinner or spa vouchers for key milestones.
• Omnicom employee discounts across a variety of high-street retail, travel and entertainment venues.

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