Associate Director, Crisis & Issues Communications & Media

MSD•Columbia, SC

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director, Crisis & Issues Communications & Media, will play a critical role in advancing our Company’s enterprise reputation and supporting its business objectives through strategic communications. This role reports to the Director, Issues, Crisis and Policy Communications. This role will support integrated communications strategies in partnership with the U.S. State and Federal policy teams, Human Health Communications, and colleagues across the enterprise. The Associate Director will help shape and deliver clear, compelling narratives around our Company’s positions on key healthcare and policy issues that matter to patients, providers, and policymakers. This individual will bring experience in health policy, crisis communications strategy, and executive counsel, along with a deep understanding of the external environment. This is a highly collaborative and execution-focused role suited for a communications professional eager to grow their policy communications and healthcare enterprise experience.

Requirements

5-8 years of experience in policy communications, public affairs, or related roles, ideally within the healthcare or pharmaceutical sector.
Experience working on Capitol Hill, and an understanding of the legislative and regulatory process.
Demonstrated experience with integrated communications strategies around complex policy issues.
Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills with the ability to translate complexity into clarity.
Proactive and self-motivated, with the ability to take initiative and operate with a high degree of ownership.
High emotional intelligence, discretion, and professional maturity.
Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to anticipate needs and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
Crisis Communication Management
Media Relations
Media Strategies
Policy Knowledge
Press Releases
Professional Judgement
Social Media Management
Speech Writing

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of U.S. healthcare policy and the biopharmaceutical industry landscape.
Experience collaborating across matrixed organizations and global communications structures.
Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Public Affairs or related field.

Responsibilities

Support the execution of communications strategies that support our Company's policy and advocacy priorities across U.S. State, Federal, and enterprise levels.
Translate complex health policy and legislative issues into concise, engaging communications for internal and external audiences.
Develop, manage and execute communications plans to mitigate various issues across the enterprise.
Develop high-quality messaging frameworks, Q&As, press materials, and communications toolkits to support key objectives and thought leadership efforts.
Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and amplification of our Company's public policy positions across channels and audiences.
Support proactive media engagement to advance our Company's perspective on public policy and healthcare innovation.
Develop relationships with reporters, editors, and policy media outlets to support storytelling opportunities and manage inquiries.
Support opportunities for executive visibility and thought leadership on health policy and access topics.
Collaborate on issues management and rapid response communications.
Contribute to strategic counsel and content development support for senior leaders on policy-related topics and stakeholder engagement.
Draft and refine speeches, talking points, briefings, and presentations for internal and external use, ensuring clarity, consistency, and enterprise alignment.
Partner with colleagues to prepare leaders for engagements with policymakers, trade associations, advocacy groups, and other key stakeholders.
Collaborate closely with policy, communications, and Corporate Affairs teams to ensure integrated planning, message alignment, and coordinated execution across the enterprise.
Serve as a connector between U.S. State and Federal policy functions, Human Health communications, commercial and enterprise communications to ensure consistent messaging and impact.
Contribute to cross-enterprise initiatives that elevate understanding of our Company's policy priorities and commitment to patients and science.