Health Strategy Lead, Healthcare

Ruder Finn

Health Strategy Lead driving strategic thinking across healthcare clients. Transforming insights into compelling strategies and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.

Posted 7/10/2026full-timeNew York City • California, New York • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $160,000 - $240,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead strategic planning across a portfolio of healthcare clients, serving as a senior advisor on creating insights and strategies that lead to creative concepting, ideation and integrated solutions
Utilize our agency’s planning framework across all clients and new business opportunities to drive the development of strategic brand communications plans
Develop insight-driven communications strategies that align with client business priorities and lead to the development of innovative, culturally and audience-grounded creative programs
Translate market dynamics, stakeholder research, cultural trends, competitive intelligence, and audience insights into actionable communications recommendations
Partner closely with account, creative, digital, and analytics teams to ensure strategic consistency across all client deliverables
Drive research briefs with analytics team and develop creative briefs for creative teams
Lead strategic workshops, messaging sessions, positioning exercises, and brand narrative development with clients and cross-functional teams
Develop messaging architectures, audience segmentation strategies, communications platforms, campaign frameworks, and measurement approaches
Identify emerging trends across healthcare, AI, technology, media, and culture that can inform innovative client strategies
Provide strategic counsel during product launches, data milestones, regulatory events, issues management, and corporate reputation initiatives
Elevate strategic thinking and creativity across the healthcare practice by mentoring teams on planning methodologies, storytelling, and insight development
Play a leadership role in business development by developing strategic approaches, leading discovery sessions, contributing to pitch narratives, and presenting to prospective clients
Collaborate with senior leadership to identify opportunities for client growth, new service offerings, and innovation across the healthcare portfolio
Champion the use of AI, analytics, research, and emerging technologies to strengthen strategic planning and improve client outcomes

Requirements

What you’ll need

12+ years of experience in strategic planning at an agency with an expertise in healthcare
Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Business, Life Sciences, Public Health, or a related field
Deep understanding of the healthcare ecosystem, including pharmaceutical, biotech, medical technology, payer, provider, and patient advocacy landscapes
Proven experience as an inspirational leader, mentor, and strategist
Demonstrated experience developing integrated communications strategies for healthcare brands across multiple stages of the product lifecycle
Strong understanding of healthcare audiences, including healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, advocacy organizations, policymakers, investors, and employees
Experience leveraging audience research, data, analytics, cultural insights, and market intelligence to shape communications strategy
Outstanding presentation, facilitation, and storytelling skills with the ability to influence senior client stakeholders
Experience leading strategic planning for new business opportunities and agency pitches
Strong collaborator with the ability to work across multidisciplinary teams and inspire strategic thinking at every level
Curiosity about emerging technologies, including AI, and enthusiasm for applying new tools to strategic planning and communications
Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced agency environment

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Company paid life insurance
Flexible spending account
401k matching plan
Monthly allowance for cell phone and office equipment
Generous PTO policy with paid maternity/paternity leave
Transit benefits
Professional learning and development opportunities
Workplace flexibility
On-site and off-site social gatherings

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

Strategic Brand CommunicationsMessaging Architecture DevelopmentCampaign FrameworksMarket IntelligenceCultural InsightsProduct Lifecycle StrategyStakeholder ResearchCreative Brief DevelopmentEmerging Technologies ApplicationData-Driven Decision Making

Soft Skills

Outstanding Presentation SkillsFacilitation SkillsStorytelling SkillsCollaborationOrganizational Skills