Managing Director Health and Life Sciences

Managing Director Health and Life Sciences

New York NY/Trenton NJ (Hybrid)

Position: Full-time Start Date: ASAP

RF|Binder, one of North America's most respected independent communications and consulting firms, is seeking a Managing Director to lead and expand our growing Health & Life Sciences practice. This new role is a unique opportunity for a seasoned communications leader who brings deep sector expertise; a strong command of earned media and cross-functional communications; and the desire and energy to shape a fast-growing practice grounded in purpose, impact, and integrated thinking. This individual is expected to bring strategic counsel at the highest levels, operate with significant ownership and autonomy, and serve as a trusted advisor to both clients and internal teams.

Our Managing Director, who will report to the Executive Managing Director overseeing our Health and Life Sciences practice, will bring the judgment, insight, and relationship-building skills required to counsel clients navigating complex environments, from scientific and clinical milestones to policy considerations and business objectives.

You will contribute to or lead some of the firm's most meaningful client relationships; build and develop a high-performing team; and play a central role in the evolution and growth of the Health & Life Sciences offering. You will partner closely with colleagues across creative, digital, strategy, research and insights to deliver work that is integrated, high-impact, and reflective of RF|Binder's clarity, rigor, creativity, and business acumen.

If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear more about you and why you'll be a great addition to the RF|Binder team.

Qualifications and Attributes

• 10+ years of agency experience in communications or PR marked by demonstrated success leading healthcare or health-related accounts (life sciences, health philanthropy, purpose-driven health initiatives, health technology, etc.).
• Practice builder who is energized by strengthening capabilities, offerings, and team culture within our growing Health and Life Sciences practice. Brings a clear point of view, anticipates issues and opportunities, and provides guidance that shapes both day-to-day decisions and long-term strategy.
• Strong understanding of the healthcare and life sciences landscape, including regulatory considerations, R&D, payer and provider dynamics, and issues of access and equity.
• Demonstrated success in national earned media, including strategy development and hands-on execution. Candidate should have a strong network of media contacts and a track record of securing national coverage.
• Relationship-focused counselor with a proven ability and strong desire to grow and retain accounts by offering proactive, insight-driven counsel that anticipates client needs, continuously delivering strategic and creative value that makes our partnership indispensable.
• Strong executive presence, with the ability to present confidently and succinctly in high-stakes settings, represent the firm with polish and credibility across industry forums.
• Experience leading and developing teams, including coaching others to strengthen their strategic communication and presentation skills, while ensuring quality, alignment, and accountability across workstreams.
• Demonstrated curiosity and a learning mindset, with an entrepreneurial approach to evolving tools and workflows, and a commitment to staying current on emerging capabilities (including thoughtful leveraging of AI).

Client and Account Leadership

• Drive major Health & Life Sciences accounts with full ownership, serving as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders and ensuring programs are aligned to business and communications strategy, while always looking to identify opportunities to expand. Proven ability to manage over $1M of annualized billings as well as expand and grow existing clients.
• Oversee account day-to-day health, profitability, staffing, and forecasting, ensuring teams are resourced appropriately and scopes, budgets, and timelines are managed effectively. Ensure overall quality management for the full team's work, reviewing and elevating deliverables so they meet RF|Binder's standards for clarity, accuracy, and strategic rigor.
• Provide counsel on issues and crisis preparedness and response, in partnership with senior leadership, helping clients navigate complex decisions and providing thoughtful, solution-oriented guidance.

Earned Media and Thought Leadership

• Lead earned media strategy and oversee its execution across national, business, trade, and regional outlets; includes building and growing relationships with influential reporters, editors, analysts, and influencers in health, science, and policy.
• Serve as a senior media strategist for the firm, advising internal teams and contributing to firm-wide best practices, media training, and evolving approaches to earned storytelling.
• Shape and elevate thought leadership platforms, including bylines, op-eds, speaking opportunities, and executive visibility programs.
• Identify emerging narratives, industry shifts, policy developments, and white space opportunities that position clients as leaders and inform long-range planning

Practice and Business Growth

• Work with practice and firm leadership to expand the Health & Life Sciences offering, which was strengthened by the addition of Taft Communications in late 2024, to grow the firm's market position. This includes helping shape capabilities, offerings, and processes.
• Make meaningful contributions to new business development, including proactive prospecting, RFI and RFP responses, program design, and pitch participation ensuring recommendations reflect RFB's integrated capabilities.
• Represent RF|Binder externally through thought leadership, industry involvement, partnerships, and appearances that elevate the firm's visibility and credibility in the Health & Life Sciences sector.

Team Leadership and Culture

• Lead and motivate a cross-functional team, setting clear expectations, modeling high standards and fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration.
• Mentor and develop junior and mid-level team members, promote a learning-centered and collaborative, inclusive environment that encourages curiosity and continuous improvement.
• Guide teams through complex or challenging client situations, helping them build confidence, poise, and strong decision-making.

After One Year, You'll Know If You Were Successful If:

• Clients view you as an indispensable partner, who consistently brings strategic counsel, business insight, and sound judgment that influence decisions that extend beyond communications.
• RF|Binder's Health & Life Sciences work has grown and is recognized for clarity, creativity, strategic rigor and measurable impact.
• You bring forward new ideas, tools, and innovations including thoughtful use of AI, that enhance team performance, workflows, client value, and inform firmwide best practices.
• Your business portfolio and accounts are strong and expanding, with high client satisfaction, clear results, and opportunities you helped surface and convert.
• You play a meaningful role in new business wins and demonstrate consistent contribution to the practice's growth, reputation, and long-term direction.
• You help articulate and advance the practice's narrative internally and externally, reinforcing RF|Binder's value, expertise, and positioning in the market.

About RF|Binder

RF|Binder is a fully integrated communications and consulting firm dedicated to building reputations and driving business growth. Powered by the firm's proprietary Clarity Lens™ framework, RF|Binder identifies the critical elements that shape each client's success, delivering strategic corporate and marketing communications solutions. The firms' tailored campaigns enhance brand awareness, strengthen stakeholder connections, and foster trust and engagement, ensuring measurable impact, and sustained growth.

With deep expertise across consumer, corporate, education, energy, financial services, healthcare, and life sciences industries, the RF|Binder team delivers strategic communications counsel, purposeful storytelling, and integrated marketing solutions—unbound by method, medium, or channel. RF|Binder is an independent, certified Woman-Owned Business headquartered in New York City with team members across the US and a global presence through PROI worldwide partners. RF|Binder has been recognized across the industry, appearing on lists such as the Observer Power List, PRNEWS' Agency Elite Top 120, PR Daily's Top Agencies Awards, and more. We invest in our employee experience and are honored to have been recognized as one of Crain's Best Places to work in New York each year since 2022. Our industry leading benefits and perks include:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Disability, Life Insurance
• Generous PTO
• Flex and Dependent Care Spending
• Unlimited Sick Days
• Social Justice Committees
• 401k
• Summer Fridays
• Bagel Wednesdays
• Flexible/Hybrid work environment
• Civic Engagement Days
• Mentor program
• Extensive learning and development programs