VP, Strategy Director (Health)

VP, Strategy DirectorEdelman is looking for a standout VP, Strategy Director to join our award-winning agency and work with some of the world's biggest and most innovative brands across healthcare — spanning retail health, pharmacy, payer and benefits, care delivery, and consumer health. We're looking for a curious mind with a creative eye. A thorough researcher with a keen ability to uncover inspiring insights. A compelling storyteller, whether speaking to a room or writing a strategic plan. We're looking for a strong, collaborative teammate to help define and champion the craft of strategy for our health practice and the network at large.Edelman is a new kind of strategic communications agency at the intersection of PR, Advertising, Integrated Marketing, Social, Digital, Earned Media and Experiential. We blur the lines among mediums to create smart, innovative and powerful work that gets people talking and engaging with brands in new ways. Intrigued yet?You will be challenged to push convention and your own creativity to find the most innovative ways to drive consumer behavior and brand engagement. This role will include developing consumer, patient, and — where relevant — HCP campaigns, providing strategic guidance to clients, and pushing for brand communications strategies that drive results and impact. This role is for you if you have a passion for inspiring big ideas, uncovering insights that lead to bigger, better, and bolder earned-centric campaigns, and are interested in making a difference in how people live healthier, better lives.Key ResponsibilitiesLead end-to-end strategy for priority healthcare clients, including opportunity framing, research design, insight development, brand positioning, messaging, and omnichannel plans (earned-centric with smart paid and owned pull-through)Design & synthesize research (primary + secondary) across consumer, patient, caregiver, and HCP audiences; turn category and cultural dynamics into clear strategic POVs; facilitate alignment workshopsPartner closely with account leadership to brief and shape creative, working across creative, media, earned and measurement teams, while stewarding work through relevant regulatory and claims review with clarity and rigorShape measurement frameworks tying behavioral, attitudinal, and business outcomes to campaign objectives; optimize in-marketChampion responsible AI use and teach AI tools for insight mining, scenario planning, testing, and content development with strong governance and QA standardsBasic Qualifications8+ years in brand/communications strategy at a health agency or consultancy, with substantial experience in healthcare (e.g., retail health, pharmacy, payer and benefits, care delivery, or consumer health); adjacent wellness experience is a plus, partnering cross-functionally with creative, analytics, and client leadershipAbility to follow our hybrid work policyBachelor's degree or equivalent experiencePreferred QualificationsThorough understanding of consumer and patient audiences (HCP a plus) and media (including health and lifestyle publications), and comfort working within regulated categories and claims substantiationDemonstrated ability to utilize syndicated tools and research, social/digital analytics, and competitive intelligence tools to mine for insight and inspire project and creative briefsExcellent presentation and facilitation skills with senior stakeholders, with the ability to argue a point-of-view coherently and concisely without seeming dogmatic or inflexibleComfortable in a fast-paced agile environment, with the moxy and compelling rationale to support their insights and strategies alongside a team of smart and inquisitive team members and clientsA self-starter who is comfortable solving problems independently and providing a point of view with little guidance or oversightBreadth across adjacent consumer health and wellness categories (e.g., OTC, nutrition & supplements, personal care, fitness, mental wellbeing) that complements a healthcare foundationCorporate reputation and communications experience a plus — brand purpose, executive positioning, issues/crisis, and building trust with stakeholders beyond the consumerA track record of organically finding new strategic creative opportunities that lead to business with existing clientsComfort orchestrating earned-centric ideas that travel across social, digital, influencer, experiential, and paid amplificationProven record leading multi-market programs and pitches; exceptional written storytellingStrong familiarity with common digital and social platforms and how to efficiently leverage these channels to deliver compelling communicationsInnate curiosity about what makes people act and think the way they do; able to find meaningful insights and craft powerful narratives to deliver that story