Vice President, Health Public Affairs

Agency:

Weber Shandwick

Job Function:

Communications and PR

Job Subfunction:

Public Relations

Job Description:

Vice President, Health Public Affairs

Who We Are 

Weber Shandwick is more than a leading global PR agency – we’re an engagement agency working at the cutting edge of the new media landscape. We’re storytellers and content creators who engage people IN the story. Our success is built on a deep commitment to client service and our people, embracing creativity and collaboration to build brands and reputations. 

 

Who We’re Looking For 

Weber Shandwick is currently seeking a Vice President to join its Public Affairs team, helping to lead key healthcare client engagements and serve as a leader and trusted partner on health policy and public affairs in collaboration with leaders across our teams. This position will be based in our Washington, D.C. office on a hybrid schedule. 

The ideal candidate is someone who sees patterns that others don’t, constantly tracks the latest developments in healthcare, excels at unpacking complex health policy for a variety of audiences, and understands how to shape winning healthcare public affairs strategies and craft patient advocacy programs.  

Most importantly, we are looking for someone who wants to put their strategic skills to work driving engagement for healthcare clients and on important issues, who is highly collaborative, and who is excited about growing work in the health policy space. The chosen candidate must have a strong public affairs and media relations background in the Washington, D.C. market; a proven track record of leading external communications and issues management campaigns in the health space, including the pharmaceutical industry; and experience working directly with senior-level clients to shape and execute communications and media strategies. Public affairs experience should include thorough understanding of current U.S. health policy and the political landscape at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as the intersection of earned, paid, and owned media. 

 

Candidates must be driven, poised, and team-oriented, with a demonstrated ability and enthusiasm to learn issues quickly and communicate effectively with internal and external audiences. They must possess exceptional judgment when working with team members, client contacts, and partners, including legal and government relations partners, and experience managing teams and supervising individuals. As a vice president, the candidate should also be committed to serving as an energetic and constructive team lead and a supportive, trusted supervisor and mentor for more junior colleagues.  

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Design and implement public affairs and issue advocacy campaigns on behalf of corporate, coalition, and trade association clients, with an emphasis on the health sector. 

• Provide counsel to senior level executives among firm clientele on health policy developments, public affairs campaigns, and strategic communications planning; apply best practices in communications counsel and projects, in collaboration with other senior leaders. 

• Develop, oversee, and execute reputation, stakeholder engagement and integrated marketing and communications programs and campaigns, including but not limited to: data and analytics, strategic planning, formative research, message testing, creative concepting and production, earned, paid, and owned media. 

• Lead major assignments for corporate healthcare clients in support of business initiatives, including supporting leadership or executive messaging, positioning, and thought leadership. 

• Craft and execute earned-first media strategies and high-quality materials as part of corporate, public affairs and issues/crisis communications. 

• Serve as a primary client contact responsible for strategic counsel; management of account deliverables, deadlines, budgets and contracting; and oversight of cross-functional teams, ensuring we deliver our best work and exceed client expectations. 

• Create opportunities for team members to learn and grow – promoting and maintaining a collaborative, inclusive work environment conducive to success. 

• Serve as a key member of the public affairs team, contributing to ongoing business development and talent development. 

DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE 

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s Degree 

• 9-12 years related professional experience 

• Integrated communications and public affairs experience, specializing in health policy and advocacy 

• Experience leading and motivating integrated teams that collaborate effectively and deliver high-impact outcomes 

• Robust earned strategy and media relations experience 

• Experience providing counsel to senior leaders  

• Proactive self-starter and problem solver with meticulous attention to detail 

• Effective oral and written communication skills 

• Experience supervising and mentoring colleagues 

• Resilient mindset, deep curiosity, and a healthy sense of humor 

$138,000 USD - $175,000 USD

To the extent permissible by local law, Omnicom’s policy requires employees to work in the office for a minimum of three days a week, unless additional in-office days are directed by their agency or manager.

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