Head of Earned Media - Healthcare PR

Havas SO; Greater London; On-site; GBP 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Havas SO in London seeks a senior Head of Earned Media to lead earned-first media across healthcare communications, social, influencer and emerging platforms.

You will develop evidence-based strategies, guide media craft, mentor talent, and collaborate with Creative, Strategy and Digital to deliver award-winning, measurable outcomes for clients and new business.

Qualifications

• Lead the development of earned-first media strategies across channels.
• Monitor trends and new platforms, incl. podcasts, newsletters and multimedia storytelling.
• Maintain media lists, editorial calendars, and journalist databases.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of evidence-based, earned-first media strategies across earned, owned and shared channels, ensuring consistent, high-quality media counsel and delivery across client accounts.
• Monitor and share relevant developments in media trends and platforms, expanding understanding of non-traditional channels.
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of up-to-date media lists and journalist databases, building relationships with media partners, influencers and content creators.
• Collaborate with Creative, Strategy, Digital and account teams to ensure media thinking informs ideas from the outset.
• Identify and develop media talent, delivering internal training programmes and promoting learning about media best practice.
• Lead media strategy development for new business pitches, credentials and proposals.
• Provide senior-level media counsel to client teams, including strategic advice and media training.

Job description

We’re not just another health communications agency. We’re a multi-expertise collective of strategists, creatives, and problem-solvers - built for clients that refuse to settle.

Summary of the role

The Head of Earned Media is a senior strategic role responsible for leading and advancing the agency's media capabilities across earned, social, digital, influencer, content and emerging platforms. The role focuses on developing best practice, elevating media craft, supporting capability development, and ensuring high-quality media strategy and delivery across client work and new business. The role combines strategic leadership with hands‑on expertise, driving innovation, growth, operational excellence and integration across the agency. The Head of Earned Media ensures our work earns attention, influences behaviour and delivers measurable impact across global and local markets.

About Us

We’re a multi-expertise collective of strategists, creatives, and problem-solvers - built for clients that refuse to settle.

For clients ready to break through today’s complex health’s challenges, we’re the ones who make it happen. Fast, frictionless, and future-ready, we break down traditional communications siloes, and craft solutions that are always audience and creative-first.

With the unprecedented disruption taking place in our industry today, we don’t believe in formulas: No communications stone left unturned, no opportunity wasted, just smart, integrated communications built for the modern world.

What you can expect to be doing:

• Lead the development and implementation of evidence-based, earned-first media strategies across earned, owned and shared channels, ensuring consistent, high-quality media counsel and delivery across client accounts
• Monitor and share relevant developments in media trends, publications, platforms and journalist movements, while expanding the agency's understanding of non-traditional channels including podcasts, streaming platforms, newsletters and multimedia storytelling
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of up-to-date media lists, editorial calendars, and journalist databases, and build professional relationships with media partners, influencers and content creators
• Collaborate with Creative, Strategy, Digital and account teams to ensure media thinking informs ideas from the outset, supporting the agency's ambition for award-winning earned-first ideas
• Identify and develop media talent throughout the agency, delivering internal training programmes and promoting a culture that encourages learning about media best practice and collaboration
• Lead media strategy development for new business pitches, credentials and proposals, contributing to compelling narratives that demonstrate the agency's earned‑media expertise
• Provide senior‑level media counsel to client teams, including strategic advice, issues management and media training, while building and maintaining strong client relationships
• Work with the Senior Leadership Team to plan, allocate, and optimise media resources across accounts, identifying future capability needs and making evidence‑based recommendations for hires, partnerships, tools and investment areas

This role could be a great fit for you if:

• You have extensive experience in healthcare communications and leading media strategy and delivery across earned, social, digital, influencer and emerging platforms, with a deep understanding of modern communications and earned‑first thinking
• You possess strong strategic and creative thinking skills, with the ability to collaborate across disciplines and push the boundaries of modern media innovation
• You have proven leadership capabilities, including talent development, team building and the ability to inspire and mentor others in media best practice
• You have a successful track record in new business development, including leading pitches and identifying growth opportunities within existing client portfolios
• You excel at building and maintaining relationships with clients, media partners, influencers and stakeholders at a senior level
• You have strong financial and resource management skills, with experience optimising budgets, workload distribution and profitability across accounts
• You are passionate about staying ahead of media trends and have a proactive approach to monitoring developments in publications, platforms and storytelling formats
• You champion integrated working, collaboration and knowledge sharing, with the ability to represent the media function within senior leadership discussions