Life Sciences Communications Consultant

This role is posted in anticipation of a future need. To be eligible for this position, you must reside in the same country where the job is located.

Required experience

• A highly experienced healthcare communications consultant with a minimum of 8 years’ experience in public relations, medical communications and/or scientific communications.
• Developing effective scientific or communications strategies and solutions aligned to the client’s business objectives.
• Challenging and interrogating client briefs through structured questioning and an understanding of the client and external landscape.
• Producing strategically aligned high-quality communications / scientific content (e.g. narratives, scientific platforms, messaging, senior leader presentations, articles, social content).
• Effectively leading, motivating and inspiring account teams to deliver communications program and projects of high strategic value.
• Building and maintaining strong client relationships.
• Effectively engaging with senior level pharmaceutical executives.
• Growing business both organically through existing client relationships or supporting with new business opportunities and proposals.
• Accurate financial planning, management, forecasting and team resourcing.

Role description

• Client service: Leads, builds and maintains excellent relationships with clients and provides them ongoing consultation and counsel on a peer-to-peer basis. Develops strong and effective scientific and/or corporate communications strategies and programs in service of client objectives. Always regards the client’s challenges as unique, never generic, and a shared journey between them and Arc Bio. Unafraid of ambiguity and able to ask probing questions to get to the heart of a client brief. Develops robust and relevant solutions which are always rigorous and evidence-based. Produces client-ready work of the highest standard, in an efficient and timely manner. Builds enduring and successful relationships with colleagues, clients and suppliers. Maintains high level of professionalism and competence in all client communications. Develops high quality business proposals for both new and existing clients. Works consistently to grow existing accounts organically through high quality work and ongoing discussions with clients. Networks outside of Arc Bio to support new business development identifying business leads and representing Arc Bio at industry events. Generates and drives new business opportunities for both existing and new clients. Actively brings new ideas and thinking to existing clients to drive business forward.
• Project Management: Sets up relevant systems and processes to facilitate accurate program/project planning and management. Able to effectively and quickly course correct if challenges arise. Produces accurate cost estimates and controls budgets efficiently and carefully whilst keeping clients and team fully informed of eventual or possible overspend, providing relevant solutions where necessary. Ensures finances and budgets are managed in line with agency procedures. Establishes the importance of regulatory and compliance measures and minimizes risk. Is able to use all in-house software and platforms competently.
• Leadership: Effectively leads client account teams setting the strategy (in partnership with Arc Bio Partners and clients), proactively reviews and evaluates progress, course correcting where necessary. Effectively delegates and prioritizes within client account teams, providing direction to ensure delivery whilst providing ownership. Demonstrates ability to develop others and provide direction and feedback tailored to the skill level of team members. Embraces and actions team and peer feedback as a driver for change. Generates buy-in, listens openly to colleagues, recognizes contributions and ensures consistency of own and team decisions. Takes accountability for their team and outcomes, encouraging their team to do the same, inspires and fosters team commitment. Drives communication between teams and the client and takes ownership of strategic client discussions vs day-to-day delivery. Supports, encourages and challenges colleagues in a constructive and supportive way.
• Communication and impact: Presents with confidence and conviction at all times. Demonstrates the ability to influence, negotiate and overcome objections from senior stakeholders. Effectively adapts communication style to suit different audiences and to gain buy-in. Thinks clearly and quickly, always has a professional point of view and is able to provide ad hoc client counsel. Demonstrates ability to develop others and provide direction and feedback tailored to skill level of team members. Skilled at giving upward feedback to internal and external stakeholders.

Technical ability and skills

• Industry: Keeps up to date with factors influencing the pharma and biotech sectors (including M&A activity, pharma corporate innovation strategy and the various industry head- and tail-winds). Understands the mechanics underpinning industry sector activities and has a competent knowledge of the basics of business e.g. factors influencing company valuations, fundamental financial definitions and mechanisms. Engages in industry “scanning” and maintains a strong current knowledge of industry opportunities and developments and our clients’ operating environment. Uses these findings to draw conclusions, formulate actions and exploit opportunities relevant to the Arc Bio business. Aware of new and important product launches, pivotal clinical studies, new guidance, legislation and policies of relevance, particularly those influencing their direct client account work.
• Scientific: Has a strong working knowledge of the science covering our clients’ areas of focus. Has an ongoing commitment to deepening and expanding knowledge in modalities, modes of action, epidemiology, clinical trial design and anything else that may be relevant to strategic planning and advice, both from the point of view of the client and their competitor environment. In chosen areas of specialism (scientific or strategic), is capable of constructively challenging client thinking on a peer-to-peer level, producing novel points of view to help clients view potential solutions from new angles where appropriate and useful. Keeps aware of latest announcements coming out of key congresses, key experts in the field, and any overall, rapidly-evolving trends (such as genomics, AI, CRISPR or the application of big data) and how these might impact scientific or communications strategy recommendations to the client.
• Strategy: Can confidently discuss strategy in reference to client goals and objectives. Understands theoretical approaches and models used in strategy and communications consulting and applies these to client challenges. Is a keen student of the evolving strategic communications environment (including new tools and models, and their strengths and limitations). Takes an active role in strategic development and strategic workshop facilitation.
• Marketing and communications: Understands the fundamental principles of healthcare marketing and communications, with strong capabilities in public relations, medical education and/or scientific communications. Demonstrates an understanding of the theory and application of new theories and tools in communications (e.g. behaviour change, AI/big data etc.). Understands means of evaluation and KPIs across communications channels. Has a good grasp of not only guidelines, but also the ethics of good communications practice in healthcare.

IQVIA is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. We create intelligent connections to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments to help improve patient outcomes and population health worldwide.

IQVIA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable law. IQVIA is committed to integrity in our hiring process and maintains a zero tolerance policy for candidate fraud. All information and credentials submitted in your application must be truthful and complete. Any false statements, misrepresentations, or material omissions during the recruitment process will result in immediate disqualification of your application, or termination of employment if discovered later, in accordance with applicable law. We appreciate your honesty and professionalism.

The potential base pay range for this role, when annualised, is $95,300.00 - $(phone number removed). The actual base pay offered may vary based on a number of factors including job-related qualifications such as knowledge, skills, education, and experience; location; and/or schedule (full or part-time). Dependent on the position offered, incentive plans, bonuses, and/or other forms of compensation may be offered, in addition to a range of health and welfare and/or other benefits.