VP, Strategy Director (Health) at Edelman in Chicago

VP, Strategy Director (Health)

Location: New York, New York, USA · Hybrid

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 looking for a standout VP, Strategy Director to join our award-winning agency and work with some of the world's biggest and most innovative brands across healthcare — spanning retail health, pharmacy, payer and benefits, care delivery, and consumer health. We're looking for a curious mind with a creative eye. A thorough researcher with a keen ability to uncover inspiring insights. A compelling storyteller, whether speaking to a room or writing a strategic plan. We're looking for a strong, collaborative teammate to help define and champion the craft of strategy for our health practice and the network at large.

Edelman is a new kind of strategic communications agency at the intersection of PR, Advertising, Integrated Marketing, Social, Digital, Earned Media and Experiential. We blur the lines among mediums to create smart, innovative and powerful work that gets people talking and engaging with brands in new ways. Intrigued yet?

You will be challenged to push convention and your own creativity to find the most innovative ways to drive consumer behavior and brand engagement. This role will include developing consumer, patient, and — where relevant — HCP campaigns, providing strategic guidance to clients, and pushing for brand communications strategies that drive results and impact. This role is for you if you have a passion for inspiring big ideas, uncovering insights that lead to bigger, better, and bolder earned-centric campaigns, and are interested in making a difference in how people live healthier, better lives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end strategy for priority healthcare clients, including opportunity framing, research design, insight development, brand positioning, messaging, and omnichannel plans (earned-centric with smart paid and owned pull-through)

• Design & synthesize research (primary + secondary) across consumer, patient, caregiver, and HCP audiences; turn category and cultural dynamics into clear strategic POVs; facilitate alignment workshops

• Partner closely with account leadership to brief and shape creative, working across creative, media, earned and measurement teams, while stewarding work through relevant regulatory and claims review with clarity and rigor

• Shape measurement frameworks tying behavioral, attitudinal, and business outcomes to campaign objectives; optimize in-market

• Champion responsible AI use and teach AI tools for insight mining, scenario planning, testing, and content development with strong governance and QA standards

Basic Qualifications

• 8+ years in brand/communications strategy at a health agency or consultancy, with substantial experience in healthcare (e.g., retail health, pharmacy, payer and benefits, care delivery, or consumer health); adjacent wellness experience is a plus, partnering cross-functionally with creative, analytics, and client leadership

• Ability to follow our hybrid work policy

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Thorough understanding of consumer and patient audiences (HCP a plus) and media (including health and lifestyle publications), and comfort working within regulated categories and claims substantiation

• Demonstrated ability to utilize syndicated tools and research, social/digital analytics, and competitive intelligence tools to mine for insight and inspire project and creative briefs

• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills with senior stakeholders, with the ability to argue a point-of-view coherently and concisely without seeming dogmatic or inflexible

• Comfortable in a fast-paced agile environment, with the moxy and compelling rationale to support their insights and strategies alongside a team of smart and inquisitive team members and clients

• A self-starter who is comfortable solving problems independently and providing a point of view with little guidance or oversight

• Breadth across adjacent consumer health and wellness categories (e.g., OTC, nutrition & supplements, personal care, fitness, mental wellbeing) that complements a healthcare foundation

• Corporate reputation and communications experience a plus — brand purpose, executive positioning, issues/crisis, and building trust with stakeholders beyond the consumer

• A track record of organically finding new strategic creative opportunities that lead to business with existing clients

• Comfort orchestrating earned-centric ideas that travel across social, digital, influencer, experiential, and paid amplification

• Proven record leading multi-market programs and pitches; exceptional written storytelling

• Strong familiarity with common digital and social platforms and how to efficiently leverage these channels to deliver compelling communications

• Innate curiosity about what makes people act and think the way they do; able to find meaningful insights and craft powerful narratives to deliver that story

#LI-KW1

$105,000-$175,000 a year

An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, travel requirements, revenue-based metrics, any contractual agreements, and business or organizational needs. The range listed is just one component of DJEH’s total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, a Paid Time Off policy, and region-specific benefits.

DJEH offers a wide range of benefits: medical and dental insurance, vision, 401K, life insurance, disability insurance, paid time off, travel assistance and wellness programing.

DJEH is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and believes in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek applications from all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, military and veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. If you require a reasonable accommodation in any part of the employment process, please let us know.