Senior Manager, Health Public Affairs

Adelphi Group; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Weber Shandwick in Washington, DC, is seeking a Senior Manager for our Public Affairs team. This role blends health policy, public affairs, business and media to lead integrated campaigns for corporate, coalition and public sector clients. Hybrid schedule and strong client leadership are key.

You will craft earned-first media strategies, manage cross-functional teams, and mentor junior staff while expanding business and reputational impact across a complex health landscape.

Qualifications

• 6–8 years of professional experience in communications and public affairs.
• Experience developing earned media strategies and integrated campaigns.
• Ability to translate complex health policy issues for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute integrated communications programs and campaigns across earned, owned and paid media for health-focused clients.
• Track health policy and cultural developments; provide actionable counsel to clients.
• Lead day-to-day client relationships, workplans, timelines and budgets.
• Develop earned-first media strategies and craft compelling messaging and materials.
• Build relationships with journalists and stakeholders and conduct proactive media outreach.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams and agency partners for cohesive campaigns.
• Coach and mentor junior team members and support new business development.

Skills

Public affairs

Strategic thinking

Client management

Media relations

Stakeholder engagement

Team leadership

Earned media

Job description

Agency

Weber Shandwick

Job Function

Communications and PR

Job Subfunction

Public Relations

Job Description

About the Opportunity

Weber Shandwick is seeking a Senior Manager to join our Public Affairs team in Washington, D.C. This role is for a communications strategist who thrives at the intersection of health policy, public affairs, business, media and culture. You’ll help develop and lead communications strategies and issue advocacy campaigns for a diverse portfolio of corporate, coalition, trade association and public sector clients working across a complex and rapidly evolving health landscape.

The ideal candidate closely tracks health policy and political developments, can translate complex issues for a range of audiences, and knows how to build effective public affairs strategies and stakeholder engagement programs. You’ll also bring experience developing earned-first media strategies and integrated communications campaigns, including patient advocacy initiatives. This position is based in our Washington, D.C. office and follows a hybrid schedule.

About You

You’re a strategic thinker, trusted client partner and collaborative team leader who is energized by health policy and public affairs. You follow the news and policy conversations shaping the health sector, understand how political and cultural developments affect clients, and can turn complex issues into clear insights and communications opportunities.

You bring experience developing earned media strategies, positioning clients and executives for media opportunities, and creating compelling content that captures their voice. You understand U.S. health policy and the federal, state and local political landscape, as well as how earned, paid and owned channels work together in an integrated campaign. You’re also comfortable managing client work, coordinating cross-functional teams and helping junior colleagues grow.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute integrated communications programs and public affairs and issue advocacy campaigns across earned, owned and paid media for corporate, coalition and trade association clients, with a focus on the health sector.
• Track health policy, political, cultural and media developments; translate emerging issues and risks into timely insights and recommendations for clients, partnering with senior leaders to provide clear, actionable counsel.
• Lead day-to-day client relationships and account operations, including workplans, deliverables, timelines and budgets, and major client assignments, including executive messaging, positioning and thought leadership in support of business and reputation goals..
• Develop earned-first media strategies and craft compelling narratives and materials—including press releases, op-eds, pitches, messaging, Q&A, briefings and social content—to support corporate, public affairs and issues management communications.
• Build and sustain relationships with journalists and other relevant stakeholders, and conduct proactive media outreach to advance client narratives and objectives.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams and agency partners to deliver cohesive, integrated campaign work.
• Coach and mentor junior team members through hands-on guidance, feedback and opportunities to take on greater responsibility.
• Contribute to new business development, including identifying opportunities, developing proposals and supporting pitches.

What You’ll Bring

6 – 8 years of professional experience in communications and public affairs. Experience or demonstrated interest in integrated communications and health policy. A resilient mindset, deep curiosity and healthy sense of humor. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to confidently engage with and provide counsel to clients, establishing yourself as a trusted driver of work. A talent for building strong relationships and working effectively across multiple teams and disciplines. Experience engaging media, with a track record of delivering successful earned media campaigns. A sharp, solutions-oriented mindset focused on meeting deadlines, managing budgets, and delivering measurable results.

ABOUT US

Weber Shandwick is the earned-first global communications agency. Led by world-class strategic and creative thinkers and activators, Weber Shandwick has won some of the most prestigious awards in the industry, including being named #1 in the Public Relations and Brand Strategies category on Fast Company’s 2024 + 2025 + 2026 Most Innovative Companies list, one of Fast Company’s Best Workplace for Innovators in 2023, PRWeek’s 2024 Global Agency of the Year, ranked #1 on PRovoke’s Global Creative Index in 2024 and honored on Ad Age’sA-List in 2026, 2025, 2024 & 2020 and Best Places to Work in 2019, in addition to being awarded Campaign Global’s PR Agency of the Year in 2023. Weber Shandwick was the most awarded PR agency at the 2023 and 2024 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity for the past three years, including earning the PR industry’s first-ever idea-led Cannes Grand Prix in the Brand Experience & Activation category and cumulatively earning more than250Cannes Lions. Weber Shandwick has also been named PR Agency of the Year by Campaign USin 2021, honored asPRovoke’sGlobal Agency of the Decade in 2020 and ranked #1 on PRovoke’s Global Creative Index in 2021 and 2022. Additionally, the firm was named PRWeek’sGlobal Agency of the Year in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 and was awarded PRWeek’s Purpose Agency of the Year in 2020 and 2021. Weber Shandwick also receivedHonorable Mention on the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Global Marketing Agencies in 2021, as the only PR agency featured. Weber Shandwick is part of Omnicom Public Relations and Omnicom (NYSE: OMC). For more information, visit https://www.webershandwick.com/. Weber Shandwick is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Weber Shandwick recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnic or national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or citizenship status. We’re passionate about expanding the boundaries of what we offer our clients by bringing diverse perspectives to the table. We’re always looking for new colleagues who reflect the best of our values: curiosity, inclusion, courage and impact. We makeour careers website accessible to any and all users. If you need an accommodation to participate in the application process, please contact us at [e-mail]. This email address is not for general employment inquiries or vendors; rather it is strictly for applicants who require special assistance accessing our employment website. Due to volume, messages sent to this email address that are not related to an accommodation cannot be answered.

Salary Range: 95,000 - 110,000

To the extent permissible by local law, Omnicom’s policy requires employees to work in the office for a minimum of three days a week, unless additional in-office days are directed by their agency or manager.

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