Public Affairs Account Director (Healthcare)

Weber Shandwick; Brussel Hoofdstad; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Weber Shandwick in Brussels is seeking an experienced PR professional to join our Public Affairs Healthcare practice at Account Director level. You will lead multi-stream client engagements, design and implement campaigns, manage media relations and mobilize cross-functional teams to deliver on time and on budget.

A proven track record in EU healthcare policy, strong writing skills and a commercial mindset are essential to grow client relationships and contribute to new business.

Qualifications

• 7-9 years of relevant working experience.
• Excellent understanding of the EU institutions and political dynamics surrounding healthcare policies.
• Strong business acumen and appreciation of the commercial impact of policy decisions.
• Capability as an advisor, including first class communication and writing skills.
• An entrepreneurial approach to client servicing and business development.

Responsibilities

• Lead accounts with multiple work streams and team members, as appropriate for size of account or office.
• Leads/manages multiple integrated work streams and partners with clients to deliver on time/on budget work; Drives development of tactical plans, translating strategies into tactics, ensuring high quality deliverables align with strategies.
• Demonstrates a thorough understanding of how to design and implement public affairs campaigns on behalf of government, corporate and trade association clients, with an emphasis on highly-regulated industries.
• Applies working knowledge of business and policy media to manages media relations strategies on behalf of clients navigating issues management and corporate reputation challenges.
• Mobilize diverse, integrated teams of specialists including media, digital, creative and strategy, and to deliver comprehensive client programming; support and partner with team members to build and grow productive client relationships.
• Proactively support and suggest improvements and new ideas to exceed client expectations by leveraging industry knowledge and experience along with wider industry trends.
• Establish interpersonal, lasting relationships with clients that transcend our scope of work.
• Participate in new business development, organic business growth efforts and collaborate among practice areas in support of new business pitches.
• Develop relationships with the client and deep understanding of their business in order to spot organic growth opportunities and engage the right agency offering.
• Strengthen ability to identify organic growth opportunities in current client assignments.
• Manage programs and activities, allocating agency resources to match client budgets; Demonstrate financial acumen in the areas of budgeting, billing and staffing.

Skills

Public affairs

Media relations

Client leadership

Team leadership

Business development

Strategic planning

Policy understanding

Relationship building

EU healthcare policy

Job description

What’s happening

We are looking to appoint an experienced PR professional to join our Public Affairs Healthcare practice at Account Director level. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a successful team and take the next step up in your career at an award-winning global agency.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following key attributes:

CLIENT AND WORK

Communications

• Lead accounts with multiple work streams and team members, as appropriate for size of account or office
• Leads/manages multiple integrated work streams and partners with clients to deliver on time/on budget work; Drives development of tactical plans, translating strategies into tactics, ensuring high quality deliverables align with strategies
• Demonstrates a thorough understanding of how to design and implement public affairs campaigns on behalf of government, corporate and trade association clients, with an emphasis on highly-regulated industries
• Applies working knowledge of business and policy media to manages media relations strategies on behalf of clients navigating issues management and corporate reputation challenges
• Mobilize diverse, integrated teams of specialists including media, digital, creative and strategy, and to deliver comprehensive client programming; support and partner with team members to build and grow productive client relationships
• Proactively support and suggest improvements and new ideas to exceed client expectations by leveraging industry knowledge and experience along with wider industry trends
• Establish interpersonal, lasting relationships with clients that transcend our scope of work

LEADERSHIP AND TALENT MANAGEMENT

• Mentor, coach and develop direct reports to deliver high performance while supporting personal and professional development goals
• Participate in the hiring process, partnering with hiring managers to interview and to support onboarding
• Create and support an inclusive team environment and consistently displays behaviors that support integration
• Build and lead productive relationships internally, with interagency teams, and a diverse array of agency colleagues
• Participate in trainings that would specifically enhance cultural competency and ability to lead, coach and develop diverse teams
• Actively participate in office or agency DEI initiatives to attract and retain diverse talent

GROWTH AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

• Participate in new business development, organic business growth efforts and collaborate among practice areas in support of new business pitches
• Develop relationships with the client and deep understanding of their business in order to spot organic growth opportunities and engage the right agency offering
• Strengthen ability to identify organic growth opportunities in current client assignments

BUSINESS ACUMEN

• Manage programs and activities, allocating agency resources to match client budgets; Demonstrate financial acumen in the areas of budgeting, billing and staffing
• Collaborate with project management to support development of staff plans and new scopes of work and updates on scope management
• Build understanding of agency offerings beyond own area of expertise

What We’re Looking For

• 7-9 years of relevant working experience. Previous experience in other EU Public Affairs agencies or in EU institutions is a bonus.
• An excellent understanding of the EU institutions and political dynamics surrounding healthcare policies.
• Strong business acumen and appreciation of the commercial impact of policy decisions
• Capability as an advisor, including first class communication and writing skills
• An entrepreneurial approach to client servicing and business development
• Understanding of agency financials and experience budgeting projects.
• Dynamic team player and able to work in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to offer high-level advice on the spot