Vice President, Public Relations (Business of Health)

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop account teams, setting a high standard for strategic thinking, client service, and quality.
• Support team growth through recruitment, coaching, performance management, and professional development.
• Play a key role in new business development, contributing to pitch strategy, proposal development, and client presentations.
• Partner with agency leadership and peers to support Highwire’s Business of Health go-to-market efforts and continued evolution of the firm's health offering.
• Contribute to agency marketing initiatives, including award submissions, case studies, and promotion of proprietary Business of Health research, insights, and points of view.
• Champion Highwire’s culture of inclusion, empowerment, collaboration, and continuous improvement, and uphold the firm’s commitment to DIBs (Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging).
• Own senior client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor and escalation point while ensuring client satisfaction, retention, and expansion.
• Identify and drive organic growth opportunities across existing accounts, including expanded thought leadership, research-driven storytelling, executive visibility, and reputation-building programs.
• Oversee financial performance for assigned accounts, including budgets, forecasting, staffing models, and margin management.
• Contribute to Highwire’s point of view on Business of Health trends, including healthcare economics, affordability and access, care delivery transformation, workforce and talent, value-based care, health system strategy, managed care, benefits, mental health, and evolving consumer expectations.

Requirements

• 10+ years of PR or strategic communications experience, with significant agency leadership experience (required).
• Deep expertise leading communications for organizations across the Business of Health, including managed care and benefits, health plans, care delivery, value-based care, care management, hospitals and health systems, mental health and wellness, or health services.
• Proven success owning and scaling integrated communications programs for complex, high-growth healthcare organizations and brands.
• Strong command of the healthcare business and media landscape, including healthcare, business, trade, policy, benefits, managed care, hospital and health system, workforce, and consumer media, as well as analysts and industry influencers.
• Solid understanding of the regulatory, policy, and market environment shaping healthcare communications, including Medicare and Medicaid, reimbursement and payment models, healthcare policy, and relevant regulatory and compliance considerations.
• Exceptional strategic writing, editing, and storytelling capabilities, with the ability to translate complex healthcare business and industry topics into compelling narratives.
• Demonstrated experience providing executive-level client counsel and managing senior stakeholder relationships, including C-suite and board-level engagement.
• Track record of building, mentoring, and retaining high-performing teams.
• Strong business acumen, including experience with forecasting, resourcing, account management, and revenue growth.
• Experience supporting and winning new business in a competitive agency environment.

Benefits

• This role also includes a competitive benefits package with medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) matching, generous paid time off, and additional perks designed to support your overall well-being and growth.