Account Director, Earned Media - Health & Wellness

Who we are:

Burson, part of WPP, is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. When you work at Burson, you are part of a global community of lifelong learners who thrive at the edge of innovation.

WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP) is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com 

For more information visit bursonglobal.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

More about the role:

We are seeking an Account Director, Earned Media to join our growing Health & Wellness practice and help lead earned media strategy and execution across pharmaceutical, biotech and wellness clients. This role is ideal for an experienced media relations professional who is passionate about finding compelling stories within complex healthcare topics, building strong relationships with journalists and helping clients earn meaningful attention in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.

You will play a hands-on role in developing and executing earned media strategies, identifying newsworthy opportunities and proactively engaging traditional, trade, consumer and emerging media. From complex science and clinical data to product milestones, disease awareness, thought leadership and consumer-facing campaigns, you will help translate healthcare stories into timely, relevant narratives that resonate with reporters and their audiences.

The ideal candidate brings strong healthcare communications experience, established media relationships, a track record of securing impactful coverage and the ability to confidently counsel clients and guide teams through execution. You will work closely with account, digital, social, creative and strategy colleagues to ensure earned media is integrated into broader communications programs.

The Team

The Health & Wellness team at Burson is one of the largest and most innovative groups in the space. We have pushed the limits of traditional healthcare communications with a complete 360-degree integrated offer for our clients: social, digital, data, brands, celebrity, science, corporate, consumer and more.

We are a group of people who work hard as a team to continue building our reputation as visionaries in the industry. We are looking for individuals who want to challenge both themselves and the status quo.

What you'll do:

• Develop and execute earned media strategies for healthcare clients that align with client objectives, communications priorities and the evolving media landscape.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with healthcare, business, consumer and trade reporters, editors and other influential media contacts.
• Proactively identify and pitch compelling stories ranging from complex science, clinical trial results, regulatory milestones and product approvals/launches to disease awareness campaigns, executive thought leadership and consumer-facing partnerships.
• Translate complex scientific and healthcare information into clear, relevant and newsworthy narratives for different media audiences.
• Serve as a trusted earned media counselor to clients, providing recommendations around story positioning, messaging, media targets, spokesperson preparation and outreach strategies.
• Identify opportunities to insert clients and subject-matter experts into timely healthcare, cultural and industry conversations.
• Work closely with account, digital, social, creative and strategy colleagues to integrate earned media into broader communications campaigns and ensure consistency across channels.
• Manage day-to-day earned media programs from strategy through execution, keeping workstreams moving and ensuring teams deliver high-quality work.
• Provide strategic counsel and support around issues management and sensitive media situations, working with senior team members as appropriate.
• Help develop earned media plans, measurement frameworks and KPIs, and use performance insights to continually strengthen media strategies.
• Oversee media monitoring and reporting across traditional, digital and trade outlets, identifying trends, opportunities and implications for clients.
• Analyze earned media performance and translate results into actionable insights and recommendations for clients.
• Manage and mentor junior team members, providing clear direction, feedback and opportunities to strengthen their media relations and healthcare communications expertise.
• Review and provide thoughtful feedback on media materials including pitches, press releases, talking points, briefing materials, Q&As and media strategies.
• Stay current on the evolving healthcare and media landscapes, bringing new reporters, platforms, trends and storytelling approaches to clients and internal teams.

Experience that contributes to success:

• 7+ years of experience in public relations and communications, with meaningful experience in earned media and healthcare, pharmaceutical, biotech or wellness communications.
• Demonstrated success securing media coverage for healthcare clients across areas such as product launches, clinical data, regulatory milestones, disease awareness, executive thought leadership and consumer-facing campaigns.
• Strong relationships with healthcare, business, consumer and/or trade journalists, along with an understanding of how reporters and outlets approach healthcare stories.
• Experience developing media strategies and translating those strategies into proactive, results-oriented media relations programs.
• Working knowledge of the regulatory considerations that shape pharmaceutical and healthcare communications, including experience working within regulated client environments.
• Strong client-management and counseling skills, with the confidence to present recommendations and provide thoughtful media guidance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to simplify complex scientific and healthcare information for a variety of audiences.
• Strong judgment and an understanding of what makes a story timely, differentiated, credible and relevant to the media.
• Experience managing multiple workstreams, deadlines and priorities in a fast-paced agency or communications environment.
• Experience mentoring and developing junior team members and providing constructive feedback on media strategy and execution.
• Experience using media monitoring, intelligence and measurement tools to evaluate earned media performance and inform recommendations.
• Familiarity with integrated healthcare communications, including how earned media can work alongside digital, social, influencer, creative and corporate communications.
• Desire to work in a diverse and inclusive organization as an active participant in culture initiatives, training opportunities and employee resource groups.

#LI-DG1

Burson is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers. 

Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package; click here for more details: https://mybenefits.wpp.com/public/welcome.

You belong at Burson:

Our vision is for Burson to be the leading ‘academy company’ for creative communications professionals and emerging leaders. We provide a dynamic environment where ambitious colleagues come to elevate their skills, expand their networks, and ultimately, produce the best solutions for today’s leading brands. Our commitment to your growth is reflected in our robust benefits and people programs, which include professional development opportunities, mentorship programs with industry leaders, a vibrant and inclusive company culture fostering collaboration and innovation and packages designed to reward and retain top talent. We invest in our people because we believe their success is our success.

At Burson, we’re an agency of learn-it-alls. We recognize that the things we do best, creativity and communications, require a level of nuanced understanding. That’s why it’s imperative for us to hire extraordinarily talented people of all backgrounds and identities. Without that we can’t do the essential work of inspiring bold ideas, fostering constructive dialogue, cultivating meaningful experiences, and driving innovation and creativity for our partners. Your unique point of view—your talent—is what makes you a #BursonPerson, and it’s how we deliver exceptional results for our clients, together.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

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