Senior Communications Strategist

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted communications advisor to senior leaders by offering guidance on messaging, reputation, and stakeholder engagement
• Create integrated communication strategies that align with business goals and organizational priorities
• Develop messaging frameworks, narrative platforms, executive presentations, talking points, FAQs, and communication plans
• Anticipate communication risks and opportunities and recommend proactive approaches to strengthen reputation
• Lead corporate and external communications efforts, including media relations, press materials, interview preparation, and issue management
• Build and maintain relationships with healthcare, business, consumer, and trade media, along with relevant influencers and content creators
• Support communications for strategic partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, organizational change, and business transformation initiatives
• Partner with Investor Relations and senior leadership on financial communications, executive messaging, and stakeholder communications
• Develop communication strategies that support therapy awareness, reputation building, and audience engagement across patient, consumer, and healthcare professional groups
• Translate complex clinical and business information into clear, audience-focused content in collaboration with cross-functional teams
• Support executive and internal communications, including leadership messaging, organizational announcements, and change communications
• Develop content optimized for traditional search and AI-powered discovery using SEO, AEO, and GEO best practices
• Use AI tools to support communication planning, content development, and workflow efficiency
• Write and edit a wide range of communications materials, including press releases, media pitches, thought leadership, website copy, social content, internal communications, crisis communications, and executive presentations
• Ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment with brand standards across all deliverables

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related discipline
• 10 to 15+ years of progressive communications experience
• Experience in healthcare, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, or another highly regulated industry
• Strong background in healthcare and consumer communications
• Proven experience in corporate communications and public relations strategy
• Experience supporting mergers and acquisitions, organizational change, or transformation communications
• Experience with investor relations communications and executive communications
• Strong media relations skills and established relationships across relevant media channels
• Excellent writing, editing, storytelling, and executive presentation development abilities
• Ability to counsel senior leaders with confidence, professionalism, and sound judgment
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to independently manage priorities
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, highly matrixed environment
• Working knowledge of SEO, Answer Engine Optimization, and Generative Engine Optimization

Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related discipline
• 10 to 15+ years of progressive communications experience
• Experience in healthcare, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, or another highly regulated industry
• Strong background in healthcare and consumer communications
• Proven experience in corporate communications and public relations strategy
• Experience supporting mergers and acquisitions, organizational change, or transformation communications
• Experience with investor relations communications and executive communications
• Strong media relations skills and established relationships across relevant media channels
• Excellent writing, editing, storytelling, and executive presentation development abilities
• Ability to counsel senior leaders with confidence, professionalism, and sound judgment
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to independently manage priorities
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, highly matrixed environment
• Working knowledge of SEO, Answer Engine Optimization, and Generative Engine Optimization

Preferred Skills

• Experience in both agency and corporate communications settings
• Experience supporting Fortune 500 or global organizations
• Familiarity with AI tools that improve communication planning, content development, and productivity
• Experience developing influencer engagement strategies
• Strong executive presence and the ability to build trusted relationships at all levels
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution
• High attention to detail and a collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset

Benefits

Horizontal is committed to fostering a workplace where diversity, equity, and inclusion are core to how we work, collaborate, and grow. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and encourage applications from individuals who bring different perspectives, experiences, and ideas.

By applying for this position, you acknowledge and agree that Horizontal Talent may contact you regarding your application using automated technology, including phone calls, SMS/text messages, or email, which may be delivered by our virtual AI recruiter, Alex.

All applicants applying must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment.