Director, Strategic Communications
Description
Focus: The Director, Strategic Communications will be responsible and accountable for the strategic scientific leadership of a portfolio of products and/or major accounts. This key role, within a broader team, is focused on delivering industry-leading communication and educational initiatives that support product/portfolio strategy and positioning.
Strategy:
- Analyze and assimilate market, therapy area and product information in order to provide consultancy advice on product differentiation, positioning, and strategy (at both product and franchise/portfolio levels, as required)
- Initiate, and be a focal point for, strategic discussions at a senior client level, demonstrating innovative thinking, commercial and scientific knowledge and pragmatic approaches to address complex issues
- Focus on innovative ideas and initiatives to proactively address key portfolio/franchise communication challenges
- Drive the development of all critical strategic planning stages within communication and publication plans from concept to execution
Relationship Development and Management:
- Build network and develop strong business relationships with all relevant clients within franchise alongside other senior ream members.
- Develop effective long-term client relationships through consistent application of a consultancy approach and demonstration of expertise in medico-marketing and medical communications
- Where appropriate, identify and develop thought leader relationships to support and enhance account team credibility, knowledge and positive perception among clients, thought leaders and relevant societies within assigned therapy area(s)
- Lead discussions on strategy and product positioning at all levels within client company
- Drive and lead brand portfolio communication strategy meetings, in collaboration with other senior team members
- Work with other senior team members to influence overall direction and content of brand strategy within designated client portfolio
- Highlight potential issues for the client in dealing with multiple products within a franchise, identifying solutions to help the client overcome obstacles
Delivery:
- Provide strategic and tactical consultancy to clients
- Ensure that team understand strategic goals for every initiative undertaken by obtaining a full and clear brief from the client
- Lead and develop the strategic planning elements of all communication and publication planning activities taking into consideration marketing goals and objectives
- Facilitate planning/advisory meetings with external participants (client and thought leaders), as required
- Lead and facilitate internal planning and brainstorming meetings
- Write, support or manage the delivery of defined sectors within a communication and/or publication programme
- Provide clear direction to wider team on product/portfolio strategy
- Through knowledge of clients and thought leaders provide direction for teams on potential issues/sensitivities, intervening (with the assistance of other senior team members where appropriate) to assist teams in handling any issues which arise
Internal focus:
- Facilitate effective working relationships with all relevant internal teams within agency and across HCN
- Ability to assume the role of therapy area consultant at a group-wide level
- In consultation with other senior team members provide high-level mentoring to team
- Involvement with identification and delivery of training of team members, with a particular emphasis on individual and team development of strategic planning and creative thinking/problem-solving
- Matrix management support of team members in conjunction with management colleagues to ensure work delivered meets client brief and is aligned with product/portfolio strategy
- Proactively share ideas and best practice to support team development and facilitate demonstration of added value of agency services to clients
Business development:
- Utilise therapy area expertise, scientific understanding and commercial acumen to lead new business development in collaboration with colleagues both within own agency and on a group-wide level
- Where relevant and appropriate, assume lead role on pitches and proposal development
- Lead identification and conversion of further business opportunities with clients in co-operation with other senior team members
- Contribute to development of new products and services
Finance:
- Services provided will be of recognised, billable value to clients
- Estimating of project hours for individual and team projects as required
- Monitoring of own time incurred on projects and liaison with account management
- Accurate and timely completion of personal time-sheets
Skills/qualifications required:
- High-level analytical and strategic thinking skills
- At least a BSC or equivalent in a relevant science subject; PhD preferred
- Ability to input both commercially and scientifically at senior level
- Wide experience (gained over several years) of developing and implementing strategic communication/publication plans and initiatives
- High-level inter-personal and negotiation skills
- Authoritative presentation skills
- Ability to network and build relationships at a senior level
- Mentoring and training skills
Requirements
- High-level analytical and strategic thinking skills
- At least a BSC or equivalent in a relevant science subject; PhD preferred
- Ability to input both commercially and scientifically at senior level
- Wide experience (gained over several years) of developing and implementing strategic communication/publication plans and initiatives
- High-level inter-personal and negotiation skills
- Authoritative presentation skills
- Ability to network and build relationships at a senior level
- Mentoring and training skills
Benefits
Competitive salary and benefits package.