Sr Vice President / Director, Earned Media

Edelman•New York, NY

1d•$150,000 - $200,000

About The Position

Edelman is seeking a strategic, news-driven senior earned media leader to help lead 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 influencing perception and protecting and building reputation through accurate, credible, compliant, and compelling storytelling. The role leads earned media strategy for organizations at the intersection of healthcare, science, business, technology, and policy. It partners with teams across health, corporate, creative, digital, public affairs, analytics, and issues to create integrated programs, and shapes narratives for patients, providers, policymakers, investors, reporters, and the public. The position calls for sharp editorial judgment, curiosity, collaboration, urgency, and calm counsel in high-stakes moments. The position also leads client relationships and business growth, and develops high-performing teams. The posted annual salary range is $150,000–$200,000. Employee pay within the range depends on factors including education, qualifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, travel requirements, and business needs. Total compensation may also include annual bonuses, paid time off, and region-specific benefits.

Requirements

At least 10 years of earned media and communications experience, ideally including significant work with pharmaceutical, biotech, life sciences, or other highly regulated healthcare organizations.
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 stories, moments, voices, and platforms with high potential for impact.
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 programs that are strategically grounded, culturally relevant, and built to drive earned media impact.

Responsibilities

Serve as a senior media strategist and counselor for pharmaceutical, biotech, and healthcare clients in regulated, high-scrutiny environments.
Set earned media strategy for product launches, celebrity and creator activations, clinical and data milestones, pipeline announcements, executive positioning, corporate reputation, and issues management.
Counsel senior executives on media and reputational implications of FDA timelines, clinical trial data, regulatory approvals, safety updates, policy developments, and emerging industry issues.
Anticipate changes in healthcare, media, regulation, and technology and turn them into proactive communications strategies.
Provide timely, proactive counsel on high-profile client work that intersects with fast-moving news cycles.
Translate complex scientific, medical, and technical information—including clinical data, real-world evidence, digital health, and AI-enabled innovation—into clear and credible narratives.
Partner 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 performance.
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 health, science, business, technology, and policy journalists and emerging media voices.
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 senior advisor to client stakeholders in communications, marketing, public affairs, medical affairs, and regulatory functions.
Strengthen client relationships and identify communications needs, reputational risks, and opportunities to deliver greater value.
Drive organic growth within existing accounts and contribute to new business development through strategy, proposals, pitches, and senior-level presentations.
Maintain commercial judgment and accountability for client relationship health and growth.
Lead, mentor, and develop media teams across levels; set standards 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 creative, digital, analytics, and public affairs teams.