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 scientific and corporate communications strategies, and managing account teams. The consultant will provide peer-to-peer counsel, develop robust and evidence-based solutions, and produce high-standard client-ready work. Responsibilities include business development, proposal writing, financial planning, and ensuring regulatory compliance. The role requires strong leadership, communication, and technical abilities within the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, with a deep understanding of scientific principles and strategic communications models.

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 program 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 effectively and quickly course correct if challenges arise.
Able to use all in-house software and platforms competently.
Demonstrates ability to develop others and provide direction and feedback tailored to the skill level of team members.
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.
Aware of new and important product launches, pivotal clinical studies, new guidance, legislation and policies of relevance. Particularly those influencing their direct client account work.
Has a strong working knowledge of the science covering our clients’ areas of focus.
Has 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, both from the point of view of the client and their competitor environment.
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.
Keeps aware of latest announcements coming out of key congresses, key experts in the field, and any overall, rapidly-evolving trends (such as genomics, AI, CRISPR or the application of big data) and how these might impact scientific or communications strategy recommendations to the client.
Can confidently discuss strategy in reference to client goals and objectives.
Understands theoretical approaches and models used in strategy and communications consulting and applies these to client challenges.
Is a keen student of the evolving strategic communications environment (including new tools and models, and their strengths and limitations).
Takes an active role in strategic development and strategic workshop facilitation.
Demonstrate an understanding of the theory and application of new theories and tools in communications (e.g. behavior change, AI/big data etc.).
Has a good grasp of not only guidelines, but also the ethics of good communications practice in healthcare.

Nice To Haves

Networks outside of Arc Bio to support new business development identifying business leads and representing Arc Bio at industry events.
Generates and drives new business opportunities for both existing and new clients.
Actively brings new ideas and thinking to existing clients to drive business forward.

Responsibilities

Lead, build, and maintain excellent relationships with clients, providing ongoing consultation and counsel on a peer-to-peer basis.
Develop strong and effective scientific and/or corporate communications strategies and programs in service of client objectives.
Challenge client briefs through structured questioning and an understanding of the client and external landscape.
Produce strategically aligned high-quality communications/scientific content (e.g., narratives, scientific platforms, messaging, senior leader presentations, articles, social content).
Effectively lead, motivate, and inspire account teams to deliver communications programs and projects of high strategic value.
Build and maintain strong client relationships.
Effectively engage with senior-level pharmaceutical executives.
Grow business both organically through existing client relationships or support with new business opportunities and proposals.
Develop high-quality business proposals for both new and existing clients.
Set up relevant systems and processes to facilitate accurate program/project planning and management.
Produce accurate cost estimates and control budgets efficiently and carefully.
Establish the importance of regulatory and compliance measures and minimize risk.
Effectively delegate and prioritize within client account teams, providing direction to ensure delivery while providing ownership.
Demonstrate the ability to develop others and provide direction and feedback tailored to the skill level of team members.
Drive communication between teams and the client and take ownership of strategic client discussions versus day-to-day delivery.
Support, encourage, and challenge colleagues in a constructive and supportive way.
Present with confidence and conviction to all stakeholders.
Adapt communication style to suit different audiences and to gain buy-in.
Keep up-to-date with factors influencing the pharma and biotech sectors.
Engage in industry “scanning” and maintain a strong current knowledge of industry opportunities and developments.
Has a strong working knowledge of the science covering clients’ areas of focus.
Confidently discuss strategy in reference to client goals and objectives.
Understands the fundamental principles of healthcare marketing and communications, with strong capabilities in public relations, medical education and/or scientific communications.
Understands means of evaluation and KPIs across communications channels.