Senior Vice President (PR-Healthcare)

ICR, a leading corporate communications firm, is seeking an SVP to help grow our healthcare PR practice that works in concert with its  healthcare IR practice.  ICR has an established track record building leadership positions in sector-focused areas by combining senior PR professionals with its industry-leading IR team, comprised of former sell-side analysts and experienced communications professionals.  With an existing base of healthcare clients, the firm is now looking to accelerate the growth of the practice.

This senior role involves assisting the direction for the group, working closely with the Managing Partner overseeing PR, pitching and winning new business, overseeing/managing accounts and account teams, providing superior client counsel to companies in the Healthcare sector, and driving the team’s execution of plans and campaigns to exceed client expectations. This individual will be a lead for pursuing and securing the significant amount of new business activity the firm enjoys.  The ideal candidate is highly proactive and able to work independently while effectively managing teams and generating client confidence.

ICR is a “hands-on” environment where senior team members oversee multiple accounts and also actively execute PR strategies on behalf of clients. With the firm’s dominance in the investor relations space, it is also important for PR team members to have a solid grounding in financial communications and the ability to work closely with IR colleagues. The primary healthcare client base and new business opportunity consists of emerging growth (many pre-IPO) companies in the life sciences, med tech and healthcare IT space.

Responsibilities:

• Lead, manage and grow existing and new business opportunities in response to internally driven opportunities as well as proactive independently driven new business prospects
• Partner with IR teams to develop strategy aimed at improving cross sell penetration of IR clients
• Provide senior level counsel to C-suite executives across a broad range of healthcare subsectors including biotechnology, specialty pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics and HCIT.
• Provide strategic oversight and hands-on account management
• Develop and execute crisis communications plans
• Assist in managing, leading and mentoring corporate communications team
• Assist in developing long-term growth strategy for team

Qualifications:

• Proven track record developing and securing new business
• Minimum of 15 years corporate communications/Healthcare PR agency experience
• Must understand multiple areas of the Healthcare industry; biotechnology and specialty pharmaceuticals strongly preferred
• Experience in mentoring and coaching a team in a fast-pace, evolving environment
• Significant experience counseling public company C-suite executives
• Strong understanding of the capital markets and public company financial communications
• Experience in crisis and transaction communications would be a plus
• Savvy, smart, efficient, fast-working, results-oriented leader with good intuition for problem solving and issues management
• Ability to thrive in entrepreneurial environment
• Superior written communication skills
• Excellent verbal communications and interpersonal skills