Manager, Strategic Communications

Unlockhealth; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

Health, Dental and Vision benefits

Disability Insurance

401(k) with company match

Unlimited PTO

Parental Leave

Hybrid and Remote schedules

Employee Assistance Program

Employee Referral Program

Job summary

Unlock Health is seeking a Manager, Strategic Communications to own strategic engagements for healthcare clients. You will lead integrated campaigns, oversee teams and deliverables, and mentor junior members while aligning work with client objectives and Unlock Health standards.

You will guide audience strategies, message platforms, and campaign assets, while coordinating across communications, managed care, creative, media, digital, analytics, and finance teams to deliver high-quality outcomes.

Qualifications

• 5-7+ years in healthcare communications, marketing, or strategy.
• Experience leading integrated campaigns across earned, owned, shared, and paid channels.
• Proven track record advising senior stakeholders and guiding client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary advisor for key client stakeholders and manage day-to-day client relationships.
• Translate client priorities into integrated communications strategies across channels.
• Lead client meetings, present recommendations, and share performance insights.

Skills

Healthcare communications

Strategic counsel

Client relationship management

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Presentations and facilitation

Data-driven storytelling

Excel (intermediate)

Tools

Cision

Meltwater

Job description

Who You Are

You’re a seasoned healthcare communications or marketing professional who can turn complex business, reputational, and industry challenges into clear, actionable strategies. You bring strong client judgment, confidently counsel senior stakeholders, and know how to lead integrated teams from initial strategy through execution and measurement.

As a Manager, Strategic Communications, you’ll own strategic communications engagements and serve as a trusted advisor to healthcare clients. You’ll set the direction for integrated campaigns, oversee teams and deliverables, and ensure the work reflects both the client’s objectives and Unlock Health’s standards. You’ll also mentor junior team members, strengthen account operations, and identify opportunities to deepen client relationships and grow Unlock Health’s healthcare portfolio.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as a trusted advisor and primary point of contact for key client stakeholders, providing proactive strategic counsel and leading day-to-day account relationships.
• Translate client priorities and complex healthcare challenges into integrated communications strategies across earned, owned, shared, and paid channels.
• Lead client meetings and present strategic recommendations, campaign updates, performance insights, and new opportunities to senior stakeholders.
• Oversee account operations—including scopes, budgets, timelines, staffing, and deliverables—while anticipating risks and resolving challenges.
• Develop and refine audience strategies, narrative frameworks, message platforms, communications plans, executive materials, and campaign assets.
• Lead cross-functional teams across communications, managed care, creative, media, digital, analytics, finance, and revenue cycle to deliver cohesive, high-quality work.
• Delegate assignments, review deliverables, provide actionable feedback, and support the development of junior team members.
• Monitor healthcare trends, regulatory developments, media coverage, and managed care activity to translate emerging insights into timely client recommendations.
• Establish campaign objectives and performance measures, using data and audience insights to evaluate results and optimize strategies.
• Identify opportunities to expand client relationships and contribute to renewals, proposals, and new business efforts.

What You Bring

• 5-7 years of experience in healthcare communications, marketing, or strategy, preferably within an agency, consulting firm, or other client-service environment.
• Experience leading integrated communications strategies across earned, owned, shared, and paid channels.
• A track record of managing healthcare client relationships, advising senior stakeholders, and translating complex information into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Strong writing, editing, presentation, and facilitation skills, with experience developing communications plans, message platforms, executive materials, and client-facing presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage multiple scopes and priorities, and coach junior team members.
• Experience using campaign data, performance metrics, and market insights to evaluate results and guide strategy; intermediate Excel skills are preferred.
• Knowledge of managed care, healthcare reimbursement, regulatory developments, and payer-provider relationships is preferred; experience with Cision or Meltwater is a plus.

Perks and Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• Health, Dental and Vision benefit packages to fit all types of lifestyles
• Life, Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance paid 100% by the company
• FSA / HSA Options
• 401(K) with a generous company match program
• Flexible Paid Time Off (aka- unlimited)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Hybrid and Remote work schedules available
• Employee Assistance Program (unlimited free telephonic counseling for a variety of issues such as mental health, financial support, and legal advice)
• Employee Referral Program

About Us

Unlock Health is a full-service marketing communication agency, grounded in technology, built for healthcare - and integrated with a managed care consultancy with deep revenue strategy expertise. We brought together leading healthcare firms to solve a core challenge: aligning brand, marketing, technology, and revenue strategy so healthcare organizations can attract and retain patients, grow brand equity, and protect their margins. We help our clients do everything from patient acquisition and brand building, to simplifying complex martech ecosystems, and creating digital experiences. Our work is rooted in clarity, authenticity, and a deep understanding of what moves healthcare forward.

Equality Opportunity Employer Statement

Unlock, and its affiliate companies, is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. We provide equal employment opportunities without regard to an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.