Senior Associate Director or Director, Health Policy/Communications

APCO; London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

APCO's London office seeks a Senior Associate Director or Director in Health Policy/Communications to drive new business and provide strategic advice. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in UK healthcare and public affairs, leading teams and managing client relationships effectively. This role offers the chance to work with a diverse range of clients and projects in a collaborative environment.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Mental health support

Competitive compensation package

Enhanced parental leave policy

Annual health and wellbeing allowance

Industry-leading global exchange program

Qualifications

• At least 9 years of UK healthcare, public affairs, and strategic communications campaign experience.
• Exceptional presentation, writing, and analytical skills.
• Solid project management experience.

Responsibilities

• Identify and lead new business opportunities for APCO.
• Manage and grow client relationships, overseeing client projects.
• Design and implement integrated campaigns for client issues.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Communication

Public Affairs

Client Management

Analytical Skills

Job description

Senior Associate Director or Director, Health Policy/Communications

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Senior Associate Director or Director, Health Policy/Communications

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Job Description

APCO’s London office is hiring a Senior Associate Director/Director to join our fast-growing healthcare team. We are looking for an ambitious, enthusiastic, and talented professional to join our team based on The Strand just a few minutes’ walk from Parliament.

Job Description

APCO’s London office is hiring a Senior Associate Director/Director to join our fast-growing healthcare team. We are looking for an ambitious, enthusiastic, and talented professional to join our team based on The Strand just a few minutes’ walk from Parliament.

We work with high-profile companies and organisations spanning emerging biotech to established pharmaceutical companies and public health organizations, whilst the wider agency works with clients spanning energy, transport, tech, sustainability AI and professional services. Candidates with an interest in these sectors would be welcomed. You will have strong expertise navigating UK health policy issues on behalf of clients in an agency setting and a deep understanding of public and government affairs.

The ideal candidate would need to have a minimum of nine years of relevant experience in consultancy/agency, whilst we are also very open to candidates who have worked both in-house and agency, however, this is not a pre-requisite for the role. This is a fantastic opportunity to be a key figurehead for our healthcare offering – driving new business, offering high-value strategic advice to clients and leading a world class team.

You will be self-directed, proactive and motivated to win for your clients every day, with a real appetite for new business generation. You will have experience leading teams and managing work streams while also serving as senior counsel on major projects. You will have a desire to learn and grow – both across industries/sectors and communication mediums, such as traditional media, social/digital media, issues advocacy, grassroots, and stakeholder communications. You know how to work with clients and have a positive, proactive attitude that wins the confidence of clients and inspires teams.

2025 promises to be a hugely exciting year in the ever-changing global healthcare space. By joining our team, you will be working with colleagues across APCO’s international network of 32 offices who are open, collaborative, collegiate, supportive and diverse.

Responsibilities

• Identify and lead new business opportunities for APCO, with an emphasis on growing a domestic pipeline of health business.
• Lead a wide range of healthcare, strategic communication and issue campaigns for our clients.
• Manage and grow client relationships including overseeing client projects, supervising project teams, allocating resources, and delegating and reviewing work effectively.
• Provide the highest level of client service on a daily basis through proactive account management, serving as the key client contact while also managing staff (both senior and junior) to successfully maintain and grow client relationships.
• Design and implement integrated campaigns to position client issues, messages and priorities with key audiences that may include politicians (national, regional and local), civil servants, media, trade associations, consumers and other key stakeholders for our clients.
• Lead strategy development and craft effective messages for both prospective clients (as a key part of the new business process) and for existing clients.
• Monitor developments in key client issue areas and flag opportunities for further client engagement.
  
  

Qualifications

• At least 9 years of UK healthcare, public affairs and strategic communications campaign experience including leading successful teams.
• Exceptional presentation, writing and analytical skills, and the ability to write both strategically and creatively under tight deadlines.
• Solid project management experience, including overseeing a team and multiple deliverables, providing clear and concise feedback to maintain high standards.
• Demonstrated success formulating and leading strategic engagements with external stakeholders.
• Proven track record in developing and leading new business generation initiatives and driving successful organic growth.
• Have strong enthusiasm and connections in the UK health space; deep understanding of the NICE process and experience of helping clients navigate the UK reimbursement landscape both for pharma companies and med tech clients.
• Indepth understanding of the ABPI code and advising clients on how to navigate this successfully.
• Have strong enthusiasm for UK politics and a deep understanding of Westminster & Whitehall, how connections are built, and policy forged.
  
  

We are recognised as one of the best agencies to work for in our industry, providing:

• The opportunity to work on a diverse range of clients and projects with some of the industry’s best and brightest.
• A collegial and collaborative working environment, where you will work closely with colleagues from around the world.
• Significant opportunities to develop professionally, with extensive training and personal development programmes.
• A competitive compensation and benefits package, including private medical insurance and mental health support.
• An enhanced Parental leave policy for all our employees from day one
• A paid opportunity each year to contribute to your community as part of our APCO Gives Back scheme.
• Annual health, wellbeing, and fitness allowance.
• Industry-leading global exchange program.
  
  

About APCO In London

APCO London has over 140 staff working with more than 100 clients and sits at the centre of the agency’s global operations. Thanks to a diverse and multilingual team, APCO London leads on many of the agency’s most dynamic global assignments.

With a growing client base in the most pressing issues facing the world today such as the transition to Net Zero and access to healthcare, APCO has been a fixture of the UK communications market since 1996 and continues to be at the forefront of the seismic changes facing economies and societies today.

We are a truly integrated agency, with deep expertise and experience across the full range of communication offerings including corporate communications, public affairs, digital strategy and paid media, as well as capital markets thanks to our recent acquisition of Camarco.

Careers at APCO

Through our recruitment, hiring and retention efforts, APCO is committed to building teams to bring the best possible expertise and robust perspectives to our clients. We embrace differences in experience, viewpoint and ideas, starting with our values and extending to our behaviors, policies and practices. We aim to create a positive work experience and welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.

About APCO

ABOUT US

APCO is a global advisory and advocacy firm helping leading corporations, foundations and governments navigate a complex world and create lasting impact.

Founded in 1984, with one woman’s vision and bold action, APCO has grown into an independent, majority women-owned firm of more than 1,200 employees with work spanning 80 markets around the world.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APCO is comprised of strategic advisers, consultants and creators, working together across borders and functions, to provide services and expertise on financial, competitive, political and societal issues.

APCO is a trusted partner to bold purpose-led leaders, lawmakers, government officials, NGOs, the media and other stakeholders in the health, energy, technology, transportation & infrastructure and food & consumer products sectors. For 40 years, the firm has provided public affairs, crisis & reputation, impact, corporate reputation and global solutions services.

APCO is renowned for its ability to champion clients’ interests and permission to operate , build their reputation and strengthen their standing. APCO’s integrated approach and team of tenacious and empathic talent create connections and winning strategies that accelerate progress and deepen impact.

By bringing diverse people and ideas together, and working beyond traditional boundaries, APCO builds the un/common ground upon which progress is made.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Public Relations, Marketing, and Consulting

• Industries

  Public Relations and Communications Services, Business Consulting and Services, and Marketing Services

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