VP, Strategy Director (Health

Position: VP, Strategy Director (Health)
Location: New York

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 lman 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 Qualifications8+ 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 clientsA 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…