Codeword Hiring for VP – Healthcare Comms at Chicago, IL Full Time

Are you passionate about healthcare innovation and working with companies who are transforming the landscape with breakthrough products and solutions? Does the future of health care inspire you? Do you like translating complicated stories about science, data and technology to educate wider audiences? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We are looking for a Vice President who has deep experience working with pharmaceutical clients to join our team and help our clients tell their stories in bold, unconventional ways. 

It’s a very exciting time for our rapidly growing Healthcare Practice as we continue to build the client roster and win some of the most exciting accounts in the industry. Our team sits at the intersection of profound change in healthcare. Big data, personalized care, digital medicine— it’s all a tidal wave of implications and opportunity. We are skillful guides for these innovation rides because we are equally adept at translating what’s coming out of the lab as we are at navigating regulatory and reimbursement hurdles. And we never lose sight of the human side of the story. Meaning, we make clients’ stories live and breathe. We give them a beating heart. 

WE provides a breadth of communications services to clients across the healthcare ecosystem, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, health tech, payers and consumer health. We serve clients on a mission to improve healthcare outcomes, address current limitations of healthcare delivery, and contribute to a healthcare system that is more accountable, equitable , cost-effective, sustainable, and personalized.  

The ideal candidate is a seasoned healthcare communicator who thrives in an environment where passion, creativity and curiosity are valued. We are looking for someone who has experience managing large, integrated pharmaceutical client accounts working closely with media, digital and creative specialists to deliver on client objectives; writing decks and designing multi-media communications programs; managing third-party relationships with patient/professional advocacy groups, policymakers and/or high-profile spokespeople; orchestrating drug product launches and other major company announcements like FDA approvals and data/ science publications and presentations ; and motivating junior staff for results. We are looking for someone who can see the bigger picture of it all, but who has an eye for detail to ensure that what the team delivers to clients is buttoned-up and error-free. 

What You’ll Be Doing

Client Service:

• Lead up to 2 mid-to-large client engagements, serving as day-to-day client lead 
• Demonstrate success in nurturing, growing and sustaining client relationships 
• Recommend strategic communications approaches based on deep healthcare knowledge and experience with key audiences, including patients, doctors, payers, regulators, policymakers, patient advocates, investors, employees and media 
• Develop creative campaign programming and continually look for ways to improve client programs to achieve objectives 
• Manage and track budgets ensuring programs are delivered on budget and within client’s expectations 
• Ensure flawless execution of all program elements across multichannel programs that incorporate digital and social media communications 
• Establish strong collaboration and communication across account teams and cross-agency teams  
• Be a problem hunter – identify client pain points and proactively offer or develop solutions 

Technical Skills

• Understanding of “best practice” communications approaches within an FDA-regulated environment and ability to counsel the internal team on what we can/cannot do , and converse knowledgeably on this topi c with clients
• Excellent project management skills – keeping all trains moving on time and on budget. Forecasting what’s to come, staying steps ahead of clients 
• Strong writing/editing skills. Ability to develop complicated documents such as press releases, backgrounders, Q&As 
• Strong deck/PPT development skills. Developing strategic recommendations and creating a story flow within decks. Knowledge of how to set up slides so they are visually appealing and easy to read/look at 
• Strong presentation skills including slide presentations in front of clients and new business prospects and well as leading client calls and in-person meetings 
• Some experience with media relations is preferred.  Our philosophy is that the best people to pitch media are the account team, because they know the business the best . You will need to guide the team and media specialists on media relations strategy.

People Management

• Mentor and motivate staff with the goal of retention and development 
• Supervise direct s and take ownership of career planning activities 
• Inform resource allocation across team including monthly client budget management and staffing assignments 
• Model and hold team accountable to demonstrate agency values 
• Participate in L&D activities, both sharing your knowledge and experience, as well as engaging in agency provided learning opportunities 

Agency Business

• Build new statements of work 
• Manage and track team utilization
• Support organic growth opportunities and new business efforts 
• Participate in cross-agency initiatives
• Set and meet client expectations within budget parameters 

Minimum/Preferred Requirements

What you’ve been able to accomplish

• Bachelor’s degree required in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, English or related field 
• At least 7 years of experience in PR – in an agency and/or corporate environment 
• Minimum of 4 years direct experience working in pharmaceutical or biotechnology, whether agency-side or client-side 
• Minimum of 3 years team management experience, including experience developing a team 
• Experience in strengthening employee engagement and morale  
• Track record of building deep, broad relationships  
• Demonstrated aptitude for expanding existing accounts and securing new accounts 
• Passion for doing great work and being part of a growing organization where creativity and collaboration are valued 

About Us

WE Communications:

WE is one of the largest communications and integrated marketing agencies in the world. We’re independent, we’re all about our people — both our clients and our employees — and we believe in the power of communications to move audiences to positive action.

For more than 30 years, we have been helping translate complex innovations into powerful, persuasive stories. Our sector expertise across key verticals — including technology, healthcare, consumer, and brand purpose — translates into insights and strategies that are informed, current and credible.

We work with companies that are embracing the ever-evolving digital world to reinvent themselves, to deliver new value to their customers or reach them in new ways and ultimately improve people’s lives.

Codeword

Codeword is a fast-growing agency that combines content, media relations and thoughtful creativity to build effective communications programs. We work with the biggest and smallest tech companies in the world, and our clients trust us to launch their startups, run multi-channel campaigns, grow their user bases, and lead comprehensive PR and marketing initiatives. We’re storytellers and brand engineers, and we love big ideas that serve a real purpose.

Codeword is a proud member of the WE Worldwide network. We’re committed to an inclusive, diverse, equitable culture that values every team member and helps advance their careers. Codeword is a remote-first company, with physical office locations in San Francisco, New York, Austin, Salt Lake City and Seattle/Bellevue.

Your Salary

The target range of base salary in all locations within the United States for this role is $140,000 – $180,000 per year. Actual salary is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to business needs, level of responsibility, skill set, level of experience, and geographical location.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Generous time off including PTO, holidays, annual wellness break, summer Fridays and personal days
• 401k plan including company match and financial wellness support
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave for all employees
• 22-24 weeks paid parental leave when coupled with Short-term disability
• 2 weeks caregiver leave
• Support with home office equipment
• Bi-annual Wellness Credits
• Monthly Technology Credit (to offset internet / phone costs)
• Community Engagement Days
• Learning and Development Programs for our employees

Equal Opportunity: WE provides equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate against an employee or applicant because of age, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, or other legally protected class status.

Diversity and Inclusion: WE values a diverse and inclusive workforce and is committed to creating a workplace where everyone thrives. We promote an atmosphere in which diversity of people and ideas are welcomed and valued. Diversity includes differences in race, religion, gender identity or expression, age, lifestyle, ethnic background and sexual orientation as well as differences in experiences and ideas.

Beginning September 2023, North America employees will be asked to come into the office on Tuesdays only.