Responsibilities

• Serve as a lead for a portfolio of key health accounts, setting strategic direction and ensuring best-in-class delivery.
• Advise clients across life sciences, specialty pharma, biotechnology, rare disease, clinical trials, medtech, health technology, medical devices, diagnostics, digital health platforms, pharmacy, senior care, Medicaid/Medicare, and health services.
• Define and oversee integrated communications strategies that build brand authority, trust, and long-term market leadership in a highly regulated and mission-driven industry.
• Provide executive-level counsel on messaging, positioning, reputation management, issues and crisis response, and science-to-story narratives.
• Guide teams in translating complex clinical, scientific, and health technology concepts into clear, compelling, and business-relevant stories for executive, clinical, patient, and mainstream audiences.
• 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, and executive visibility programs.
• Oversee financial performance for assigned accounts, including budgets, forecasting, staffing models, and margin management.
• Contribute to Highwire's point of view on health industry trends, clinical innovation, regulatory developments, and market shifts across life sciences, health tech, and the business of health.
• Maintain and deepen relationships with top-tier health, science, trade, business, and policy media, as well as analysts and key industry influencers.

Requirements

• 10+ years of PR or strategic communications experience, with significant agency leadership experience (required)
• Deep expertise leading communications for health companies, including life sciences, specialty pharma, biotech, medtech, digital health, or health services
• Proven success owning and scaling integrated communications programs for complex, high-growth health and life sciences clients
• Strong command of the health media landscape, analyst community, patient advocacy groups, and industry influencers
• Solid understanding of the regulatory and compliance environment governing health communications, including FDA, FTC, HIPAA, and relevant industry codes
• Exceptional strategic writing, editing, and storytelling capabilities, with the ability to translate science into narrative
• 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, and revenue growth
• Experience supporting and winning new business in a competitive agency environment
• Confident, collaborative, and decisive leader with a passion for health innovation and improving patient and population outcomes
• Thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment while balancing strategic and operational priorities

Benefits

• Competitive salary with merit-based opportunities for growth
• Flexible hybrid work model tailored to your schedule and lifestyle
• Generous vacation policy, including extended summer and winter breaks
• Early log-off on Fridays through our Empower Hours program
• 401(k) plan with employer matching
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus FSA options
• Paid parental leave benefits
• Commuter benefits
• Annual Growth Mindset Stipend for books, events, or learning experiences
• Monthly technology reimbursement