Svp - Advocacy
Feinstein Kean Healthcare (Washington, Washington DC)

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Feinstein Kean Healthcare (FKH) provides strategic communications counsel and services to biotechnology, molecular medicine, pharmaceutical, medical technology, and healthcare services clients. 

 

The Senior Vice President - Advocacy is a senior leader of the firm. She/he must understand the multiple scientific, medical, economic and social trends that drive biotechnology, healthcare, technology and life science development and delivery, and how those trends are affecting multiple stakeholders (or, in this role, critical constituencies and the policy makers that represent them). She/he must understand and advance the role of FKH as a key player at the intersection of disruptive technologies, policy, market and public perceptions, helping to shape the clients’ strategies. She/he must be able to think at multiple levels (business strategy; communications strategy; public affairs; communications tactics) to achieve client goals. This position will be responsible, in partnership with other practice leaders and Sr. management of the firm, for the future direction and growth of the practice.

 

She/he is responsible for working in tandem with other senior leaders of the firm to achieve the strategic, operating and financial goals of the firm near-term and longer-term. At FKH, Senior Vice Presidents provide intellectual leadership and counsel to vice presidents and other team members. SVPs show commitment to the firm and inspire cooperation and confidence in others within the firm. SVPs are visible and recognized inside and outside the firm for their expertise and ability to successfully build and manage business and people. SVPs are responsible for building business for the entire firm and developing resources – internal to FKH and throughout the Ogilvy network -- that can be used firm-wide.   

 

Essential Job Responsibilities (With members of the management team as appropriate):

Cultivate existing client relationships with government agencies; industry, professional and patient groups; biotech, healthcare and health technology innovators; academic research institutions; and/or healthcare providers and payors, which meet and/or exceed expectations and cause the relationships to flourish. Activities to oversee, in coordination with staff and peers in management can include:Planning and implementation of advocacy, public health and/or policy related programs for clients from a variety of specialty areas, potentially ranging from emerging life science technologies – such as nanotech; proteomics; bioinformatics; genomics; stem cell; and/or neurotech – to established areas of healthcare and prevention (key disease categories or distinct patient populations, for example)Mobilizing advocacy organizations and/or key constituencies in support of client objectives to support research, development and/or distinct policy initiatives critical to advancement of innovation in the life sciences and healthcare Oversight for related content and materials on all program areas, including definition of editorial opportunities and writing assignments for FKH staff across the network, or relevant freelancersOversight of media opportunities, challenges, and sensitive issuesInteractions with government program managers or advocates who may not be experienced with the communications demands placed on themBuild a collaborative team around vision and goals of FKH with respect to its role in advocacySupervise, develop, evaluate and advance existing staffSet ambitious but realistic annual revenue targets for the Practice, and manage operations to achieve the targetsBuild business in critical business areas, consistent with FKH’s broader business strategy and visionRecruit and train appropriate new staff to support growthAdhere to high quality of client work and serviceEnhance visibility/stature of the FKH brand in the life sciences

This SVP is expected to be a leader in:

Client Relationships

Hold primary responsibility for high-level relationships, including client management; shaping strategic plans; overseeing the implementation; doing appropriate tasks personally. Gain the trust of the senior leadership within client organizations, as well as FKH staff and peer managers.Hold primary responsibility for other client relationships, including supervision of Account Teams; availability to provide senior counsel to clients, as neededHold responsibility for quality of client service for entire practice

 Vision and Direction

Develop with FKH senior management:Strategic direction for the practice, responsive to the changing needs of the marketplace as the healthcare system evolvesAnnual plan for the practiceServe as a creative “engine” for the team in crafting new communications approachesStay abreast of the field, and develop thoughtful “body” of ideas around communications that will continue to sustain FKH’s “first mover” advantageDevelop new FKH services to address the challenges faced by technology adoption (digital influence and its role in advocacy relations)

Conceptual/Editorial Direction

Provide (or draw upon other FKH resources to gain) the scientific understanding requisite to the development of strategic communications for clients who are seeking to define their organizations in an evolving landscapeHelp to “translate” the science for a multitude of audiencesHelp to define and shape the multiple vehicles (websites, brochures, etc.) that will inform and shape perceptions of policy makers; media; general public, etc.

      Business Development

Defining target clientsDrafting and/or supervision of new business proposalsPro-active outreach to targeted new business

      Marketing of the practice

        Development of annual marketing plan for the Practice including:

Positioning and key messagesKey relationships and means/resources to cultivate themOrganizational membership/participationSpeaking engagements and authorship of articles, blog posts, etc.Creation of marketing materials, such as case studies, as needed

 Operations

Recruitment and retention of top-performing staff in partnership with Human ResourcesOn time performance reviews for staffMentoring and Review of staffTraining and developmentOversight of billing processForecasting and budget oversightManagement of staff billability/productivity

FKH Leadership

Serve as Member of FKH Sr. Staff, taking an active role in shaping the firm’s future directions and sustaining the uniqueness of the cultureInterface with Ogilvy offices where appropriate for shared businessVisible leader in the life sciences/healthcare community at the local and national level

Competency:  To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Ability to understand, and then translate the emergence of a new health care paradigm into a portfolio of services for clientsProficiency in the management of client relationships; capacity to quickly become a trusted advisor to clients, peer managers and reports; facility in delivering high quality, tangible work with demonstrable impact toward client objectives Demonstrated leadership ability to grow existing accounts, as well as in developing new businessExcellent oral and written communications skillsSupervisory and mentoring skillsBudgeting and project management skills 

Required Skills, Knowledge, Must Haves and Experience:

Minimum of 15 or more years of communications experience in the private sector, health care–related government agency, or life science industry (some agency experience preferred, though not required)5+ years of strategic communication/public affairs consulting experience preferred Is sought and valued by senior client contacts and company employees for counsel; that is, is comfortable in the “C” SuitePossesses knowledge and sustains awareness of critical issues in the life science and healthcare industriesPossesses and applies extensive knowledge relevant to their area of discipline (e.g., policy, advocacy, public affairs, media relations, etc.)Projects self-confidence, authority and enthusiasm and serves as a problem solver on behalf of clients, teams or general management of the officeIs a leader in maintaining and growing business relationships either through new or existing clients, both within and across offices, practice areas and functionsRoutinely and rigorously applies knowledge, skills and personal reputation to building the agency’s reputation and business base Demonstrates superior ability to manage the business and allocate appropriate resourcesDepth and diversity of experience in tackling challenging communications/policy/public health problems, and consistent track record of achieving relevant objectivesAbility to monitor and manage client budgets and the financial performance of individual client relationshipsStrong people management and mentoring skills

Education (Degrees, technical training, etc):

BS/BA, at minimum, with relevant subsequent experience in policy or advocacy connected roles and some level of periodic, ongoing professional development

 

Technical Expertise (Systems, software, etc.):

Facile with MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Familiarity with life science tools, technologies

Other requirements, skills, capabilities (Languages, presentation skills, etc.):

Seeks opportunities – such as authoring articles, speaking engagements – and other thought leadership activities, to drive the reputation of the firm and its visibilityIs a positive role model for all others within the firm.

Work Conditions (Travel requirements, etc.):

Occasional travel is required to client sites as well as for business development purposes and relevant life science meetings throughout the country.  Travel will be approximately 30%, depending on location.

 

Primary Contacts (Key working relationships required to effectively complete the position responsibilities -excluding direct reports):

Managing Director/COO, CEO Practice EVPSVP Finance and SVP-HR Other FKH SVPs, across practices and offices