Senior Vice President, Pharma/Healthcare Communications (Chicago)

FleishmanHillard, a leading global communications agency, is seeking an enthusiastic, energetic and self-starting Senior Vice President to join our dynamic and collaborative healthcare practice. FH has built its reputation on creating customized, integrated solutions that deliver what our clients value most: meaningful, positive and measurable impact on the performance of their organizations meeting their specific challenges or opportunities. We’re seeking energetic professionals with good instincts, who are early adopters and self-starters, and have an adventurous spirit and passion for collaboration.

Our culture values talented, nimble, creative people who are both exemplary leaders and effective team players. This position provides the opportunity to drive exciting communications programs for leading healthcare brands, manage teams in partnership with senior leadership, develop key relationships with healthcare industry clients, and execute strategic plans and outreach to the media, third-party organizations, healthcare professionals and consumers. At FleishmanHillard, we embrace challenges, think boldly, trust each other, and harness our talented worldwide network to provide the best-in-class counsel to our roster of remarkable global clients. Are you ready to join the team?

FleishmanHillard values the importance of impact and inclusion to strengthen the bonds between us, grow our people and create spaces for everyone to thrive. We stay true to our commitment to our people and the communities in which we live and work. As part of our ongoing effort to be the world’s most inclusive agency, we are committed to seeking candidates who possess and demonstrate a profound interest in furthering our impact and inclusion goals.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as team leader, driving strategic and day-to-day direction for the Health & Life Science team’s clients, including driving client business and programs, connecting across our healthcare and agency teams, and providing client counsel.
• Be responsive and available to the team and clients, with a “roll up your sleeves” mentality (on internal and external calls, reviewing materials, working closely with leaders on staffing, roles & responsibilities, developing plans and strategic materials with the team).
• Be flexible and manage teams across accounts; coordinate with team on resources and mentor and manage staff; bring on agency resources to create the best teams and deliver results for your clients.
• Develop and edit high-quality written materials, including client annual plans, creative programs, social strategy and content, media and other stakeholder communications/materials, etc.
• Develop relationships and coordinate across external audiences: third-party organizations, healthcare professionals, media, etc.
• Oversee operational elements of the client business, including staffing and forecasting, budget development and management.
• Explore and create opportunities for incremental business growth within your clients’ organizations.
• Manage team driving program plans and budgets for profitability; ensure regular communication to clients and agency management.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships.
• Cultivate diverse teams and contribute to an inclusive working and learning environment.

Qualifications/Preferred Experience:

• Minimum of 15+ years of experience. Pharmaceutical or healthcare communications experience within an in-house team or communications agency is required, including experience working in health and life sciences.
• Pharma and regulated health expert, with a clear understanding of how to guide the team and client toward solutions that compliantly allow us to activate through the most effective channels.
• A breadth of understanding of different disciplines, with a 360 mindset to pull in the right people for the right activities.
• Experience providing expert oversight across multiple workstreams, with great attention to detail.
• Understands the client’s business and how to show communications value in driving core business objectives.
• Client-focused, with a demonstrated ability to build relationships and trust in order to serve current business and seamlessly mine for new opportunities
• Experience leading large pharma/healthcare accounts, and can manage staffing, projections, forecasting, etc.
• Skilled at applied strategic thinking, anticipating issues, trends, and connections, and translating those insights into actionable ideas for the clients and our healthcare team.
• Ability to effectively supervise, train and mentor mid- and junior-level account staff, provide quality control, and determine workflow and assignments.
• Strong client relationship skills and the ability to successfully represent FH and client companies to key stakeholders.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, including the ability to develop and strategically direct the creation of press materials and communications plans.
• Ability to translate large amounts of clinical data and information into lay language that resonates across client stakeholders.
• Ability to develop and contribute to strategic outreach plans to external audiences via social platforms (e.g., LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.), third-party organizations, healthcare professionals, media, etc.
• Proven understanding of healthcare environment and strategic media relations planning, with the ability to develop strong media pitch angles, lead pitch teams, and pitch story ideas that deliver results for clients.

Our Story

FleishmanHillard specializes in public relations, reputation management, public affairs, brand marketing, digital strategy, social engagement and content strategy. FleishmanHillard was named 2020, 2021 and 2022 Campaign Global PR Agency of the Year; 2023 ICCO Large Agency of the Year – The Americas; 2022 and 2023 PRWeek U.S. Agency of the Year; 2022 and 2023 PRWeek U.S. Outstanding Extra-Large Agency of the Year; 2023 Campaign US PR Agency of the Year; 2021 PRovoke APAC Consultancy of the Year; and 2021 PRWeek UK Large Consultancy of the Year. FleishmanHillard is part of Omnicom PR Group and has nearly 80 offices in more than 30 countries, plus affiliates in 45 countries.

FleishmanHillard offers a hybrid work model and seeks employees who are comfortable working in the office for a portion of their work week. We value the collaboration and camaraderie that in-person interactions provide but also understand the importance of flexibility and balance in our employees' lives. We acknowledge that our people are diverse individuals with unique circumstances and needs, and therefore our goal is to foster a productive and inclusive work environment where all employees can thrive, both in and out of the office.

FleishmanHillard is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sex stereotyping, pregnancy (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, ancestry, medical condition, marital status, military or veteran status, alienage, citizenship status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other protected class under federal, state or local laws. Please do not contact the office directly to apply – only resumes submitted through this website will be considered. If you need assistance reviewing career opportunities or completing an application, please email our careers team or call View phone number on apply.placed-app.com and ask to be connected to Talent Development.

The anticipated U.S. salary range for the Senior Vice President level is $123,000-$225,000.

Salary is based on a range of factors that include relevant experience, knowledge, skills, other job-related qualifications and geography. A range of medical, dental, vision, 401(k) matching, paid time off and/or other benefits also are available.