Associate Director, Healthcare

at  APCO Worldwide

APCO’s Brussels office is hiring an Associate Director to join our fast-growing healthcare team. We are looking for an ambitious, enthusiastic and talented professional to join our team based on rue Montoyer, just a few minutes’ walk from the European Institutions.
We work with high-profile companies and organisations spanning energy, transport, health, tech, sustainability AI and professional services. Candidates with an interest in these sectors would be welcomed. You will have strong expertise navigating EU and healthcare policy issues on behalf of clients in an agency setting and a deep understanding of developments in the European Institutions.
The ideal candidate would need to have a minimum of seven years of relevant experience in consultancy, in-house, EU political institutions, or within trade associations/think tanks on matters related to healthcare. Experience in both policy and communications is desirable.
You will be self-directed, proactive and motivated to win for your clients every day. You will have experience leading teams and managing work streams while also serving as senior counsel on major projects. You will have a desire to learn and grow – both across industries/sectors and communication mediums, such as traditional media, social/digital media, issues advocacy, grassroots, and stakeholder communications. You know how to work with clients and have a positive, proactive attitude that wins the confidence of clients and inspires teams.
By joining our team, you will be working with colleagues across APCO’sinternational network of 32 offices who are open, collaborative, collegiate, supportive and diverse.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least 7 years of EU public affairs and strategic communications campaign experience including leading successful teams.
• Exceptional presentation, writing and analytical skills, and the ability to write both strategically and creatively under tight deadlines.
• Solid project management experience, including overseeing a team and multiple deliverables, providing clear and concise feedback to maintain high standards.
• Demonstrated success formulating and leading strategic engagements with external stakeholders.
• Have strong enthusiasm for EU politics and a deep understanding of how connections are built, and policy forged. The ideal candidate should already have a strong network within the EU institutions and broader EU health policy community.

• Lead a wide range of public affairs, strategic communication and issue campaigns for our clients.
• Manage and grow client relationships including overseeing client projects, supervising project teams, allocating resources, and delegating and reviewing work effectively.
• Provide the highest level of client service on a daily basis through proactive account management, serving as the key client contact while also managing staff (both senior and junior) to successfully maintain and grow client relationships.
• Design and implement integrated public affairs campaigns to position client issues, messages and priorities with EU and national level policy-makers, media, trade associations, and other third-party stakeholders for our clients.
• Lead strategy development and craft effective messages for both prospective clients (as a key part of the new business process) and for existing clients.
• Monitor developments in key client issue areas and flag opportunities for further client engagement.
• Identify and lead new business opportunities for APCO.