Sr Vice President / Director, Earned Media

Daniel J. Edelman•New York, NY

About The Position

Edelman is seeking a strategic, news-driven senior earned media leader to guide high-impact healthcare and pharmaceutical storytelling for prominent organizations. The role provides senior media counsel across global healthcare and pharmaceutical clients, advising executives and integrated teams on drug development, clinical and real-world evidence, corporate reputation, regulatory milestones, product launches, issues management, and emerging health innovation. The position focuses on shaping credible, accurate, compliant narratives that influence public perception and help build and protect client reputations. The successful candidate will lead earned media strategy in complex, regulated, high-scrutiny environments and partner with senior colleagues across health, corporate, creative, digital, public affairs, analytics, and issues teams. They will translate scientific, medical, technical, and data-driven topics into compelling stories; lead media influence and executive visibility programs; counsel senior client stakeholders; grow client relationships and business; and lead and develop high-performing teams. The role calls for editorial judgment, curiosity, urgency, collaboration, and calm counsel during high-stakes and fast-moving situations.

Requirements

10 or more years of earned media and communications experience; significant work in pharmaceutical, biotech, life sciences, or other highly regulated healthcare organizations is preferred.
Experience counseling senior executives and leading complex, high-profile client relationships and communications programs.
Strong understanding of FDA regulations, clinical data communications, regulatory milestones, and compliance-driven review processes.
Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical innovation, health technology, AI, data analytics, digital health, and the broader healthcare ecosystem.
Experience leading communications around major product, clinical, regulatory, corporate, cultural, or reputational moments.
Proven ability to contribute to organic client growth and new business development.
Expertise across broadcast, print, digital, trade, and emerging media, including studio production, satellite media tours, visual storytelling, podcasts, newsletters, Substacks, and creator-led journalism.
Established relationships with health, science, business, technology, and/or policy media.
Strong editorial instincts and ability to identify high-impact stories, moments, voices, and platforms.
Fluency in using data, analytics, technology, and emerging platforms to strengthen earned media strategy.
Exceptional storytelling, writing, presentation, and executive counseling skills.
Ability to translate technical, scientific, or regulated topics into accessible and compelling narratives.
Strong executive presence and confidence advising senior stakeholders through complex, high-stakes communications challenges.
Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and develop talent.
Ability to create clarity, accountability, collaboration, and momentum across fast-moving client workstreams.
Strong business acumen, sound judgment, and a collaborative leadership style.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with FDA regulations, clinical data communications, regulatory milestones, and compliance-driven review processes is highly valued.
Experience leading consumer earned-led creative activations with celebrities, notable creators, or influential partners, particularly strategically grounded, culturally relevant programs designed to drive earned media impact.

Responsibilities

Lead earned media strategy for major pharmaceutical, biotech, and healthcare clients in regulated and high-scrutiny environments.
Set strategic direction for media programs covering product launches, clinical and data milestones, pipeline announcements, executive positioning, corporate reputation, issues management, and other major moments.
Counsel executives on media and reputational implications of FDA timelines, clinical trial data, regulatory approvals, safety updates, policy developments, and emerging industry issues.
Anticipate changes across healthcare, media, regulation, and technology and turn them into proactive communications strategies.
Translate scientific, medical, technical, and data-driven information—including clinical data, real-world evidence, digital health, and AI-enabled innovation—into clear and compelling narratives.
Coordinate with medical, regulatory, legal, public affairs, creative, digital, and analytics teams to support accuracy, compliance, and strategic impact.
Advise clients on using data, technology, visuals, and digital assets to strengthen storytelling and earned media results.
Lead media strategies across national and local broadcast, print, digital, trade, business, science, technology, and emerging media.
Oversee milestone announcements, executive visibility programs, media events, briefings, and broadcast opportunities.
Build and maintain relationships with influential journalists and emerging media voices across health, science, business, technology, and policy.
Counsel C-suite and senior executives on positioning, message development, media engagement, and high-stakes communications.
Advise on engagement with media influencers, creator-led platforms, and non-traditional media voices in credible, compliant, audience-appropriate, and strategically aligned ways.
Serve as a trusted senior advisor to client stakeholders across communications, marketing, public affairs, medical affairs, and regulatory functions.
Strengthen senior client relationships and identify communications needs, reputational risks, and opportunities to deliver greater value.
Drive organic account growth and contribute to new business development, including strategy, proposals, pitches, and senior-level presentations.
Lead, mentor, and develop media teams; set expectations for strategic thinking, media excellence, client service, and execution.
Provide direction, coaching, and actionable feedback to support talent development and retention.
Foster collaboration across integrated teams, including creative, digital, analytics, and public affairs.