Vice President, Public Relations - Business of Health

Vice President, Public Relations (Business of Health)

Vice Presidents of Business of Health at Highwire serve as senior leaders within the firm's Health Industry Sector Team, shaping strategy, driving growth, and delivering impactful communications programs for organizations transforming how healthcare is financed, delivered, managed, and experienced. They oversee a portfolio of complex, high-value accounts, lead senior client relationships, and guide teams in delivering consistent, exceptional results.

This role represents a leadership opportunity for strategic, hands-on communications professionals with 10+ years of agency experience and deep fluency in the Business of Health ecosystem — spanning managed care and benefits, care delivery and talent, value-based care and care management, hospitals and health systems, and mental health and wellness. Vice Presidents mentor teams, contribute to thought leadership, and play an important role in new business development, talent growth, and the continued evolution of Highwire’s Business of Health offering.

Key Responsibilities

Practice & Client Leadership

• Serve as a lead for a portfolio of key Business of Health accounts, setting strategic direction and ensuring best-in-class delivery.
• Advise clients across managed care and benefits, health plans, care delivery and talent, value-based care and care management, hospitals and health systems, mental health and wellness, and health services.
• Define and oversee integrated communications strategies that build brand authority, trust, and long-term market leadership within a complex and rapidly evolving healthcare environment.
• Provide executive-level counsel on messaging, positioning, reputation management, issues and crisis response, and business-of-health narratives.
• Guide teams in translating complex healthcare business, operational, economic, and policy topics into clear, compelling, and relevant stories for executive, healthcare, clinical, employee, and mainstream audiences.
• Own senior client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor and escalation point while ensuring client satisfaction, retention, and expansion.
• Identify and drive organic growth opportunities across existing accounts, including expanded thought leadership, research-driven storytelling, executive visibility, and reputation-building programs.
• Oversee financial performance for assigned accounts, including budgets, forecasting, staffing models, and margin management.

Media, Thought Leadership & Market Influence

• Contribute to Highwire’s point of view on Business of Health trends, including healthcare economics, affordability and access, care delivery transformation, workforce and talent, value-based care, health system strategy, managed care, benefits, mental health, and evolving consumer expectations.
• Maintain and deepen relationships with top-tier healthcare, business, benefits, managed care, hospital and health system, workforce, mental health, policy, and trade media, as well as analysts and key industry influencers.
• Oversee thought leadership programs grounded in healthcare data, market insights, research, policy developments, business trends, and evolving models of care.
• Guide executive visibility strategies, including media training, keynote placements, bylined content, and conference speaking opportunities for CEOs, health system leaders, health plan executives, clinical leaders, and other senior healthcare executives.
• Support integrated amplification strategies across earned, owned, and social channels to extend the reach of research, business milestones, strategic announcements, executive commentary, and industry perspectives.
• Represent Highwire and its clients at major healthcare business, health system, managed care, benefits, care delivery, mental health, and healthcare innovation events and conferences.

Agency Operations, Leadership & Growth

• Lead, mentor, and develop account teams, setting a high standard for strategic thinking, client service, and quality.
• Support team growth through recruitment, coaching, performance management, and professional development.
• Play a key role in new business development, contributing to pitch strategy, proposal development, and client presentations.
• Partner with agency leadership and peers to support Highwire’s Business of Health go-to-market efforts and continued evolution of the firm's health offering.
• Contribute to agency marketing initiatives, including award submissions, case studies, and promotion of proprietary Business of Health research, insights, and points of view.
• Champion Highwire’s culture of inclusion, empowerment, collaboration, and continuous improvement, and uphold the firm’s commitment to DIBs (Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging).

Success Factors

• 10+ years of PR or strategic communications experience, with significant agency leadership experience (required).
• Deep expertise leading communications for organizations across the Business of Health, including managed care and benefits, health plans, care delivery, value-based care, care management, hospitals and health systems, mental health and wellness, or health services.
• Proven success owning and scaling integrated communications programs for complex, high-growth healthcare organizations and brands.
• Strong command of the healthcare business and media landscape, including healthcare, business, trade, policy, benefits, managed care, hospital and health system, workforce, and consumer media, as well as analysts and industry influencers.
• Solid understanding of the regulatory, policy, and market environment shaping healthcare communications, including Medicare and Medicaid, reimbursement and payment models, healthcare policy, and relevant regulatory and compliance considerations.
• Exceptional strategic writing, editing, and storytelling capabilities, with the ability to translate complex healthcare business and industry topics into compelling narratives.
• Demonstrated experience providing executive-level client counsel and managing senior stakeholder relationships, including C-suite and board-level engagement.
• Track record of building, mentoring, and retaining high-performing teams.
• Strong business acumen, including experience with forecasting, resourcing, account management, and revenue growth.
• Experience supporting and winning new business in a competitive agency environment.
• Confident, collaborative, and decisive leader with a passion for the Business of Health and the organizations shaping the future of healthcare delivery, access, affordability, and experience.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment while balancing strategic and operational priorities.

The salary range for this position is $130,000 to $195,000, with the final offer based on a combination of factors, including education, relevant experience, skills, prior training, internal equity, and local geographic market data. This role also includes a competitive benefits package with medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) matching, generous paid time off, and additional perks designed to support your overall well-being and growth. #LI-Hybrid