Senior Strategic Communications Consultant

IQVIA•New York, NY

About The Position

Arc Bio Communications, an IQVIA business, is seeking a highly experienced healthcare communications consultant. This role involves leading client relationships, developing and executing scientific and corporate communications strategies, and managing account teams. The consultant will work on a peer-to-peer basis with clients, providing counsel and developing robust, evidence-based solutions. The position requires strong project management skills, including financial planning and risk management, and the ability to lead and inspire teams. The role also emphasizes business development, both organically and through new business opportunities. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, strong scientific knowledge relevant to client areas, and expertise in strategic communications, public relations, and medical education.

Requirements

A highly experienced healthcare communications consultant.
A minimum of 8 years’ experience in public relations, medical communications and/or scientific communications.
Relevant experience in developing effective scientific or communications strategies and solutions aligned to the client’s business objectives.
Relevant experience in challenging and interrogating client briefs through structured questioning and an understanding of the client and external landscape.
Relevant experience in producing strategically aligned high-quality communications / scientific content (e.g. narratives, scientific platforms, messaging, senior leader presentations, articles, social content).
Relevant experience in effectively leading, motivating and inspiring account teams to deliver communications programs and projects of high strategic value.
Relevant experience in building and maintaining strong client relationships.
Relevant experience in effectively engaging with senior level pharmaceutical executives.
Relevant experience in growing business both organically through existing client relationships or supporting with new business opportunities and proposals.
Relevant experience in accurate financial planning, management, forecasting and team resourcing.
Able to use all in-house software and platforms competently.
Demonstrates the ability to influence, negotiate and overcome objections from senior stakeholders.
Skilled at giving upward feedback to internal and external stakeholders.
Keeps up to date with factors influencing the pharma and biotech sectors (including M&A activity, pharma corporate innovation strategy and the various industry head- and tail-winds).
Understands the mechanics underpinning industry sector activities and has a competent knowledge of the basics of business (e.g. factors influencing company valuations, fundamental financial definitions and mechanisms).
Has a strong working knowledge of the science covering our clients’ areas of focus.
Understands theoretical approaches and models used in strategy and communications consulting and applies these to client challenges.
Strong capabilities in public relations, medical education and/or scientific communications.
Has a good grasp of not only guidelines, but also the ethics of good communications practice in healthcare.

Nice To Haves

Candidates must have relevant experience in: Developing effective scientific or communications strategies and solutions aligned to the client’s business objectives
Challenging and interrogating client briefs through structured questioning and an understanding of the client and external landscape
Producing strategically aligned high-quality communications / scientific content (e.g. narratives, scientific platforms, messaging, senior leader presentations, articles, social content)
Effectively leading, motivating and inspiring account teams to deliver communications program and projects of high strategic value
Building and maintaining strong client relationships
Effectively engaging with senior level pharmaceutical executives
Growing business both organically through existing client relationships or supporting with new business opportunities and proposals
Accurate financial planning, management, forecasting and team resourcing
In chosen areas of specialism (scientific or strategic), is capable of constructively challenging client thinking on a peer-to-peer level, producing novel points of view to help clients view potential solutions from new angles where appropriate and useful.
Demonstrate an understanding of the theory and application of new theories and tools in communications (e.g. behavior change, AI/big data etc.)

Responsibilities

Lead, build, and maintain excellent relationships with clients, providing ongoing consultation and counsel.
Develop strong and effective scientific and/or corporate communications strategies and programs in service of client objectives.
Produce client-ready work of the highest standard, in an efficient and timely manner.
Build enduring and successful relationships with colleagues, clients, and suppliers.
Develop high-quality business proposals for both new and existing clients.
Grow existing accounts organically through high-quality work and ongoing discussions with clients.
Network outside of Arc Bio to support new business development, identifying business leads and representing Arc Bio at industry events.
Generate and drive new business opportunities for both existing and new clients.
Actively bring new ideas and thinking to existing clients to drive business forward.
Set up relevant systems and processes to facilitate accurate program/project planning and management.
Effectively and quickly course correct if challenges arise.
Produce accurate cost estimates and control budgets efficiently and carefully.
Ensure finances and budgets are managed in line with agency procedures.
Establish the importance of regulatory and compliance measures and minimize risk.
Effectively lead client account teams, setting strategy, proactively reviewing and evaluating progress, and course correcting where necessary.
Effectively delegate and prioritize within client account teams, providing direction to ensure delivery while providing ownership.
Develop others and provide direction and feedback tailored to the skill level of team members.
Embrace and action team and peer feedback as a driver for change.
Generate buy-in, listen openly to colleagues, recognize contributions, and ensure consistency of own and team decisions.
Take accountability for their team and outcomes, encouraging their team to do the same, inspiring and fostering team commitment.
Drive communication between teams and the client and take ownership of strategic client discussions vs. day-to-day delivery.
Support, encourage, and challenge colleagues in a constructive and supportive way.
Present with confidence and conviction.
Influence, negotiate, and overcome objections from senior stakeholders.
Adapt communication style to suit different audiences and to gain buy-in.
Think clearly and quickly, always have a professional point of view, and provide ad hoc client counsel.
Keep up to date with factors influencing the pharma and biotech sectors.
Understand the mechanics underpinning industry sector activities and have a competent knowledge of the basics of business.
Engage in industry “scanning” and maintain a strong current knowledge of industry opportunities and developments and our clients’ operating environment.
Use findings to draw conclusions, formulate actions, and exploit opportunities relevant to the Arc Bio business.
Be aware of new and important product launches, pivotal clinical studies, new guidance, legislation, and policies of relevance.
Have a strong working knowledge of the science covering our clients’ areas of focus.
Maintain an ongoing commitment to deepening and expanding knowledge in modalities, modes of action, epidemiology, clinical trial design, and anything else that may be relevant to strategic planning and advice.
Constructively challenge client thinking on a peer-to-peer level in chosen areas of specialism.
Keep aware of latest announcements coming out of key congresses, key experts in the field, and any overall, rapidly-evolving trends.
Confidently discuss strategy in reference to client goals and objectives.
Understand theoretical approaches and models used in strategy and communications consulting and apply these to client challenges.
Be a keen student of the evolving strategic communications environment.
Take an active role in strategic development and strategic workshop facilitation.
Understand the fundamental principles of healthcare marketing and communications.
Demonstrate an understanding of the theory and application of new theories and tools in communications.
Understand means of evaluation and KPIs across communications channels.
Have a good grasp of not only guidelines but also the ethics of good communications practice in healthcare.