Sr Vice President / Director, Earned Media

djeholdings; New York (NY); On-site; USD 250,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

Edelman seeks a strategic, news-driven Senior Vice President of Health Media to lead high-impact healthcare storytelling for global pharmaceutical and healthcare clients. You will provide senior media counsel to executives and cross-functional teams on moments that matter, from drug development to regulatory milestones and product launches.

You’ll partner with health, corporate, creative, digital, analytics, and public affairs teams to shape narratives around innovations, data, people, and

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic media leadership for major pharmaceutical, biotech, and healthcare clients in regulated environments.
• Set the strategic direction for earned media programs spanning product launches, corporate reputation, and issues management.
• Counsel senior executives on media and reputational implications of FDA timelines, clinical data, and regulatory developments.
• Translate complex scientific and medical information into clear, credible narratives across cross-functional teams.
• Oversee executive visibility, media events, briefings, and relationships with health and policy journalists.

Job description

We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging. Consistent with this approach, we hire the best qualified candidates for all positions.

Edelman is seeking a strategic, news-driven Senior Vice President of Health Media to help lead high-impact healthcare and pharmaceutical storytelling for some of the most visible and consequential organizations in the industry. This is a role for an earned media leader who is energized by complex issues, fast-moving news cycles, and the opportunity to shape how science, medicine, innovation, and health policy show up in culture and conversation.

You’ll provide senior media counsel across a portfolio of global healthcare and pharmaceutical clients, advising executives and integrated teams on moments that matter: drug development, clinical and real-world evidence, corporate reputation, regulatory milestones, product launches, issues management, and emerging health innovation. It is a highly visible opportunity to influence perception, protect and build reputation, and help clients tell stories that are accurate, credible, compliant, and compelling.

The Opportunity

Lead earned media strategy for clients operating at the center of healthcare, science, business, technology, and policy.

Partner with senior leaders across Edelman's health, corporate, creative, digital, public affairs, analytics, and issues teams to build integrated, high-impact programs.

Shape narratives around the innovations, data, people, and decisions that influence patients, providers, policymakers, investors, reporters, and the broader public.

Join a team that values sharp editorial judgment, curiosity, collaboration, urgency, and calm counsel in high-stakes moments.

What You’ll Do

Strategic Media Leadership

Serve as a senior media strategist and counselor for major pharmaceutical, biotech, and healthcare clients navigating regulated, high-scrutiny environments.

Set the strategic direction for earned media programs spanning product launches, celebrity and creator activations, clinical and data milestones, pipeline announcements, executive positioning, corporate reputation, and issues management.

Counsel senior executives on the media and reputational implications of FDA timelines, clinical trial data, regulatory approvals, safety updates, policy developments, and emerging industry issues.

Anticipate shifts across healthcare, media, regulation, and technology and translate them into proactive communications strategies.

Bring urgency, judgment, and proactive counsel to fast-moving, high-profile client work that often intersects with the news cycle in real time.

Pharma, Data & Technology Storytelling

Translate complex scientific, medical, and technical information-including clinical data, real-world evidence, digital health, and AI-enabled innovation-into clear, credible, and compelling narratives.

Partner across medical, regulatory, legal, public affairs, creative, digital, and analytics teams to ensure accuracy, compliance, and strategic impact.

Advise clients on how data, technology, visuals, and digital assets can strengthen storytelling and earned media performance.

Navigate an evolving media landscape that includes traditional outlets as well as podcasts, newsletters, Substacks, creator-led journalism, and other emerging platforms.

Media Influence & Executive Visibility

Lead high-impact media strategies across national and local broadcast, print, digital, trade, business, science, technology, and emerging media.

Oversee milestone announcements, executive visibility programs, media events, briefings, and broadcast opportunities.

Build and maintain strong relationships with influential health, science, business, technology, and policy journalists and emerging media voices.

Counsel C-suite and senior executives on positioning, message development, media engagement, and high-stakes communications.

Advise clients on how to engage media influencers, creator-led platforms, and non-traditional media voices in ways that are credible, compliant, audience-appropriate, and strategically aligned.

Client Leadership & Business Growth

Serve as a trusted senior advisor to client stakeholders across communications, marketing, public affairs, medical affairs, and regulatory functions.

Strengthen senior client relationships while identifying communications needs, reputational risks, and opportunities to deliver greater value.

Drive organic growth within existing accounts and contribute to new business development, including strategy, proposals, pitches, and senior-level presentations.

Demonstrate strong commercial judgment and accountability for the health and growth of client relationships.

Team Leadership & Development

Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing media teams across levels.

Set a high bar for strategic thinking, media excellence, client service, and execution.