Portland’s Health team consists of strategic communications experts, working with clients to shape the future of health in the UK and across Europe. We’re trusted by the most high-profile organisations in the world, including 5 of the 10 largest pharmaceutical companies.

The Role

• Lead multiple projects and account team management for several clients, simultaneously, from concept to completion
• Develop and oversee public affairs strategies that address client objectives and develop tactics that engage priority audiences
• Provide strategic counsel to clients, individually and as part of a team
• Identify potential engagement and advocacy opportunities in the UK political and policy environment and turn these into successful strategies to influence policy change and deliver client objectives
• Lead the Health Team’s monitoring process, providing steer and sign-off on client notes
• Manage client budgets and internal resource
• Support the growth and development of the team through high quality management of junior colleagues
• Contribute to commercial success by helping to grow existing clients and win new business
• Build internal and external networks with colleagues, politicians, policymakers, PAGs, journalists, professional associations, and other relevant third parties

Key Requirements:

• Proven experience as a programme lead with at least 4-5 years of public affairs experience working for pharmaceutical clients on behalf of a communications consultancy or in an in-house role
• Experience in developing and delivering healthcare public affairs strategies for engaging priority audiences including – but not limited to – politicians, policymakers, payers, HCPs and patients/PAGs
• Strong knowledge of, and interest in, the UK political and policy environment
• Strong understanding of UK parliamentary and HTA processes, the health system and policy influencing mechanisms
• Proven experience of leading the delivery of high-profile accounts/work programmes and be able to anticipate clients’ challenges and develop strategies to solve them
• Highly organised with the ability to manage and oversee multiple projects at any one time and meet deadlines
• Strong understanding of monitoring processes, including identifying when a note is needed, providing a steer to junior colleagues and ensuring the note is client ready