Vice President / Sr. Vice President, Life Sciences Communications

Location: Arlington, Virginia (Hybrid, in-office 3 days/week), relocation stipend negotiable

Experience: 9-12 years

Industry: Health Care / Pharmaceuticals / Public Relations Agency

• CURA Strategies, a fast-growing, award-winning health care communications agency is looking for a senior health care communications professional with agency-side pharmaceutical experience to join our team.
• At CURA, our aim is to transform health care through meaningful client work. Working with nonprofit and corporate clients in the areas of addiction, mental health, cardiology, kidney disease and more, we pride ourselves in creating lasting results for clients — and we are looking for someone who shares our passion and believes in our mission.
• If you have experience leading integrated strategic communications campaigns for life sciences clients to help transform health care and improve the lives of patients and are looking for a leadership position to help influence the direction of a growing agency, we want to talk to you.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the account lead on pharmaceutical and biotech client accounts overseeing client strategy and managing internal teams to ensure the highest level of client satisfaction
• Scope would include supporting corporate and internal communications, unbranded campaign development and execution targeting HCPs and/or patients and data communications
• Develop and oversee execution of integrated communications strategies for clinical milestones, readouts, scientific congresses, and FDA/EMA/regulatory interactions
• Lead proactive and reactive media strategy, including top-tier health care, business and trade outlets
• Counsel clients on reputation, risk management, and message development in highly regulated environments
• Translate complex science and clinical data into compelling, compliant communications
• Provide proactive high-level client counsel and creative recommendations that contribute to ROI and distinguish CURA Strategies as a valuable partner
• Develop external communications initiatives, campaigns and materials that reach health care stakeholders such as third-party organizations, health care professionals, media, patients, policymakers etc.
• Develop and oversee execution of clients’ internal communication and engagement initiatives
• Oversee high quality and error-free written and digital materials, including media correspondence, bylines, marketing collateral, videos, issue briefs, etc.
• Contribute to organic growth of the account by identifying new business opportunities and leading all initiatives required to secure additional contracts
• Supervise and train junior account staff; provide quality control, determine workflow and assignments
• Develop and oversee budgets and staffing plans to ensure the health of accounts from a staffing and financial perspective
• Contribute to ongoing health care business development and marketing efforts for office

QUALIFICATIONS

• 9-12 years of health care communications experience. Agency and pharmaceutical experience are required.
• Deep understanding of pharmaceutical industry communications and U.S. regulatory landscape
• Expertise in regulatory process, and scientific data communication
• Success leading strategic communications initiatives for corporate clients
• Understanding of the way corporate communications, marketing and government relations can support one another to advance client reputation
• Strong media relations and social media experience. Paid media experience a plus.
• Is an experienced people manager, having successfully overseen client teams responsible for delivering work on time and on budget
• Is a strong budget manager, with the ability to ensure the financial health of client accounts
• Is a skilled project leader who works well in stressful situations and can rally the team to the highest level of productivity
• Addiction-related and/or mental health experience is a plus

WHAT WE OFFER

• Unlimited PTO after one year of employment
• Weekly free lunches (plus lots of free snacks and drinks in the office)
• Robust health benefits program
• 401K with company match
• Company outings and social gatherings
• Professional learning and development opportunities
• Paid maternity/paternity leave
• Transportation benefits

TRAITS WE ADMIRE

• A passion for improving health care and driving smart creative programs to achieve transformational change.
• Results-focused approach, and the ability to work closely with senior members of the team to execute successful client work.
• Have a proactive, positive attitude toward client service and team management.
• Responsive, dependable and accountable to team members and clients, and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done—someone who doesn’t take no for an answer.
• Enthusiasm about the unlimited growth opportunities that come with working at a fast-growing start-up firm and wants to stay for the long-term.
• Mission-minded and excited to join the CURA family, which works hard to do good work (and has fun doing it).
• Comfort with all aspects of communications, from helping to develop a creative strategy to writing a press release—whatever it takes to get the results.
• Not shy in sharing bold opinions, but respectful of the bipartisan nature of our firm.

ABOUT CURA STRATEGIES

CURA Strategies is an integrated strategic communications and public affairs agency exclusively focused on health care and wellness.

Our name, CURA – Latin for care, concern, and attention to others – exemplifies our mission: to work with clients to transform the health care system and improve lives. Whether our client is a business, a non-profit or a government agency, we believe that taking transformative action to improve people’s lives is always the winning strategy. Our culture is built on a love for transforming health care through integrated communications, a desire to proactively serve and contribute, and strong partnership with our clients to deliver results.

Led by a bipartisan team of DC communications veterans, our approach has received considerable notice from industry peers. Since our launch in 2016, CURA has received numerous awards and recognition, including:

• Washington Business Journals Best Places to Work (2025)
• PRovoke North American Boutique Agency of the Year (2023)
• Top 10 Most Trusted Healthcare PR Firms, InsightsCare Magazine (2021)
• PR News Top Places to Work in PR (2020)
• PRWeek Boutique Agency of the Year, Honorable Mention (2020)
• PRovoke Global New Agency of the Year (2018)