VP (Associate Director) - Public Affairs

What is strategic planning at Weber:

We influence cultural value and help health clients navigate the age of earned: an age where clients have to earn the right to attention by delivering real value for audiences. Nowhere is this more important than in healthcare, where disparities in access to treatment, information, and healthcare services loom large. Our talented team change opinions and behaviours at scale through the right mix of talent, platforms and latest technology to bring insight and creativity to some of the world’s biggest health companies including Sanofi, Roche, and Novartis.

We are known for:

• Developing data driven insights and strategy to drive measurable impact
• Creating impactful creative that taps into culture
• Crafting scientific storytelling that brings data to life
• Creating channel and platform agnostic campaigns that grow organically
• Delivering integrated campaigns that are earned-first but deliver for paid and owned

 

A snapshot of the role: 

Weber Shandwick is excited to be recruiting for a SVP Strategic Planning. This role will sit within the central Strategy team in London and will be a part of the broader Health Collective in the UK and EMEA.

The successful candidate will be the strategic lead for global healthcare clients. In this role, you will lead all elements of strategy, including designing market research, using resources to uncover data and market trends, crafting and selling in strategy, briefing and shaping creative, and developing sophisticated measurement approaches. This senior role will also play a key role in supporting new business growth and leading the strategy for new business pitches.

The successful candidate will partner with the wider team, including specialists from across analytics, creative, integrated media and client experience to deliver impactful client solutions.

 

What will you be doing?

• Evolve our approach to strategy and how it is applied to deliver value and increase the impact of our activities for clients
• Demonstrate the power of strategy for internal stakeholders, ensuring strategy is profitably integrated into client solutions and seen as a key lever for growth across the agency
• Ensure best practice and tools are effectively shared within the Health team and more broadly across EMEA / Global network as appropriate
• Lead the strategy process for key global clients and new business pitches from ideation through to execution (incl. overseeing and developing research design, strategy development, creative briefing and measurement approaches)
• Partner closely with agency leadership across other key disciplines – including data analytics, creative and other key sector / specialism leads (e.g. consumer or sustainability) – to develop our approach and methodology
• Act as internal thought leader for the agency on key trends and issues likely to impact the discipline of strategic planning and ensure the broader health team is well equipped to help clients navigate the cultural shifts
• Deploy strategic capabilities to unlock organic growth among existing clients
• Build a culture within strategy, nurturing the next generation of strategy talent and upskilling the team

 

Who are you?

• An experienced healthcare strategist with deep healthcare/ pharma experience, ideally within a strategy department of a communications / advertising agency
• Possess deep intellectual curiosity about culture, media, and technology, and how they affect human behaviour. Not satisfied with the status quo and always pushing the work to be as good as it can be
• An ambassador for the company, who lives the values of the company, and a leader for the team, who mentors and coaches others
• Deep experience with research techniques and insight generation as well as demonstrated experience with analytics and insights teams
• Excellent at distilling and simplifying compelling insights into craft creative briefs and shaping creative campaigns
• Excellent storytelling skills – be they verbal, written or oral
• Deep business acumen with the ability to identify areas for growth and unlock organic growth  
• Strong experience in leading the strategy for high value, multi-market new business proposals
• Adept at building relationships based on collaboration, trust and respect with your colleagues and clients

 

Who are we:  

Weber Shandwick is a leading global communications network that delivers next-generation solutions to brands, businesses and organisations in major markets around the world. Led by world-class strategic and creative thinkers and activators, we have won some of the most prestigious awards in the industry.

Data-led, with earned ideas at the core, the agency deploys leading and emerging technologies to inform strategy, develop critical insights and heighten impact across sectors and specialty areas, including brand and B2B marketing, healthcare marketing, change management, employee engagement, corporate reputation, crisis management, data and analytics, technology, public affairs, social impact and financial communications.

Weber Shandwick is part of the IPG DXTRA family and wider Interpublic Group. Check out more about team, the work, and what it’s like to work at Weber Shandwick here

At IPG DXTRA we are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

 

 

What’s in it for you:

• JUICE – Our flexible working model
• 25 days annual leave + Birthday & xmas period off
• Personal pension plan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Private dental insurance
• Gym discounts
• Heath cash plan
• Group life assurance
• Group income protection
• Flexible life insurance
• Critical illness insurance
• Buy & Sell Holiday
• Private pension plan
• Travel Insurance
• Private medical

 

 

 

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Who is Weber Shandwick?  

We create cultural value and help brands navigate the ever-changing age of earned: an age where consumers actively say no to advertising; an age where everyone is an influencer that can make or break your brand; an age where content can be turned into commercial opportunity.  

Our talented team builds brands by finding connection points in the real world. We energise the right mix of talent, using the right platforms and latest technology to choreograph stories that make a real and meaningful impact for some of the world’s leading brands and businesses e.g. Mars, Princes, IKEA and Pinterest to name a few.   

We earn affection, attention, affinity and purchase by delivering value to people around the world, with deep specialisms across food & drink, travel & tourism,  tech,  health, automotive, sports sponsorship, entertainment & lifestyle and energy. We are known for: 

• Developing data driven insights and strategies to drive measurable impact   
• Creating impactful campaigns that tap into culture   
• Creating channel and platform agnostic campaigns that grow organically  
• Delivering integrated campaigns that are earned-first but deliver for paid and owned 

 

What’s happening?

Weber Shandwick is looking for a talented Manager who wants to be part of the Corporate practice in our Manchester office. The practice is made up of a smart, dedicated and fun team with expertise spanning B2B, Corporate, FMCG, Public Affairs, Crisis/Issues, Social Impact/ESG and Technology.  

The ideal candidate will be an experienced practitioner who is curious, ambitious, proactive and friendly. The role offers a portfolio of diverse and well-known brands, as well as work on integrated campaigns involving earned media, strategy, creative, analytics and digital specialists. You’ll lead the day-to-day running of accounts, provide counsel, support in the development of campaign and media strategies, and manage the flawless execution of activities.  

While we’re looking for a corporate practitioner, the beauty of our agency is that there is plenty of opportunity to grow your skills in different areas – whether that’s diving into digital and design, or an appetite to engage more in public affairs. We’re keen for this role to deliver as many new opportunities for the candidate as possible!  

 

What will you be doing?

• Be responsible for the delivery of an exceptional client experience by acting as a primary day-to-day contact for clients, who will come to you for valued counsel and recommendations 
• Develop and oversee the execution of media/campaign strategies 
• Manage the day-to-day running of accounts, including client/internal meetings, materials (e.g media lists, status updates), media monitoring and reporting 
• Overseeing all facets of media programmes and materials, and a play substantial role in media pitching 
• Stay on top of industry news, trends and influencers in specific industries and be able to link these to your clients’ objectives 
• Supporting the development and presentation of new business pitches 

Who are you?

• Previous experience in Corporate PR, ideally in an agency environment 
• An interest in the complex world of Corporate comms – in fact, an interest in the world full stop. The corporate team is an incredibly curious one, with interests spanning tech, retail, FMCG, sustainability, education, politics and more. We use this to bring fresh perspective, helping tell client stories through the lens of so many other industries   
• Proficiency in both media relations and the delivery of an exceptional client experience 
• A comprehensive roster of journalist contacts with corporate, technology, B2B and vertical sector beats at titles covering international, national and trade/vertical sector publications 
• Experience working with multiple disciplines and specialists to deliver integrated campaigns 
• Mastery in developing media materials including press releases, key message documents, pitches, social media content, etc. 
• Strong presentation skills and a desire and experience being involved in new business pitching 
• Experience developing and managing campaigns and being a day-to-day lead for clients, with a track record of providing strategic counsel 
• Be an excellent communicator and possess exceptional writing skills, particularly the ability to digest complex information and turn it into compelling, understandable content 
• A proactive approach to identifying opportunities for the client, practice and team 
• Attentive to detail and quality 
• Fluency in Microsoft programs and digital/social media platforms, tools and solutions 

Core Benefits:

• Private medical insurance
• Group life assurance
• Group income protection
• Personal pension plan
• Employee Assistance Programme

Flexible Benefits:

• Buy or sell holiday
• Additional life assurance cover
• Critical illness insurance
• Personal Accident Insurance
• Dental insurance
• Travel insurance
• Health screening
• Gym discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Health cash plan
• Flexible working with our 3:2 hybrid work model
• Equivalent of $250 USD for new joiners on 6 month + contract to support home working setup
• 25 days’ annual leave (in addition to public holidays) plus 2 volunteering days, birthday day off work and discretionary festive closure
• Flexible public holidays
• Sweets and snacks in the office
• Exclusive shopping discounts and perks
• Annual eyecare voucher
• Season ticket loan
• Referral bonus scheme
• Long service bonus
• Enhanced family leave
• Inclusive and invisible health policies
• Monthly social events organised by the Manchester office’s ‘Culture Club’  

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