Associate Director (Health Communications)

Lexington is looking for an ambitious and experienced Associate Director with deep expertise in healthcare communications and media relations to join the leadership team of our award‑winning healthcare practice. This is an opportunity to lead high‑profile UK and international accounts, oversee complex communications programmes, develop talented consultants, win new business and play a key role in the continued growth of the agency.

Working across corporate communications, crisis and issues management, media relations and integrated campaigns, you’ll help some of the world’s leading healthcare organisations build their reputation, navigate scrutiny and drive meaningful change for patients and healthcare systems. Lexington is a leading independent strategic consultancy and part of kyu, a global collective of over 20 creative firms delivering integrated strategy, behavioural science, design, and transformation.

Our healthcare team sits at the intersection of policy, politics, the media and innovation. We work across a diverse portfolio of UK and global clients spanning the pharmaceutical, medtech, NHS, independent sector and charity sectors. We help organisations tackle some of healthcare’s most pressing challenges, from improving access to innovative medicines and technologies, to reducing health inequalities and supporting the transformation of healthcare services.

As an Associate Director, you will be a senior leader within the practice, providing strategic communications and media advice to clients while helping shape the future of the team. You will lead major client relationships and oversee communications and crisis response programmes, support and develop junior colleagues, and identify and contribute to new business and marketing. You will thrive in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment where we value new ideas, creativity and strong judgement.

About you

• Deep experience in healthcare communications, media relations and corporate reputation, ideally including crisis comms, issues management and media training.
• Strong understanding of UK media dynamics and proven experience leading communications programmes under pressure.
• Experience working with NHS organisations, independent sector providers, pharmaceutical or medtech companies.
• Strong understanding of UK politics, the NHS and how policy and operational pressures shape communications challenges.
• Excellent strategic thinking, with the ability to advise senior stakeholders confidently and persuasively.
• Proven experience leading complex programmes and delivering outstanding client service.
• Entrepreneurial with strong commercial instincts, ideally with experience contributing to account growth and leading new business activity.
• Experience managing and developing teams.
• Excellent writing skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues clearly and sensitively.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities at pace.

Key responsibilities

• Strategic communications: Lead high‑impact communications, media relations and reputation programmes across the healthcare sector.
• Crisis and issues management: Oversee issues preparedness, scenario planning, crisis response and reputation risk management for clients facing scrutiny or operational pressure.
• Media relations: Build and maintain strong relationships with national, trade and broadcast media; shape narratives; secure coverage; and manage reactive media engagement.
• Media training: Design and deliver media training and spokesperson preparation for senior leaders in the health and life sciences sectors.
• Senior counsel: Act as a trusted senior adviser, providing strategic counsel on communications strategy, messaging, risk and reputation.
• Campaign development: Oversee the development and delivery of integrated campaigns, ensuring clarity of narrative, strong creative execution and clear outcomes.
• Team leadership: Lead account teams, providing direction, and quality assurance.
• Stakeholder engagement: Build and maintain relationships with senior stakeholders including healthcare leaders, clinicians, policymakers, media and industry bodies.
• Commercial growth: Identify opportunities to grow existing accounts and contribute to the commercial success of the healthcare practice through new business.
• Marketing: Contribute to the healthcare practice’s marketing, thought leadership and profile‑raising activity.
• People development: Support the development of consultants across the team, helping them grow and progress in their careers.

Benefits

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Discretionary annual bonus (paid each year to date).
• 25 days' annual leave (pro rata), plus one additional day for every two years of service.
• Additional half‑day off for your birthday.
• Two paid volunteering days each year.
• £250 annual personal development grant (to support your health and wellbeing).
• Private healthcare option.
• Early finish every Friday throughout August.
• Free breakfast in the office.
• Summer and Christmas parties, plus regular team socials.
• Ongoing professional development through external training, internal learning programmes, coaching and Lunch.