Director, Public Affairs

---

Job description

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals, and branded generic medicines. Our 109,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of health care, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritional's and branded generic medicines. Our 109,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

We are currently seeking a Director of Public Affairs to support our Structural Heart business, based in Santa Clara, CA, and with operations in Plymouth, MN.

The successful candidate is passionate about emerging health tech and its impact on human health. Abbott is seeking a candidate who is a strong storyteller in technology and health care and who has a proven-track record of top-tier media placements, compelling content development, managing issues, and developing "big ideas" to build strong brands. Seeking a candidate with an ability to manage multiple projects across a matrixed organization, experience in working with other PR teams/agencies, and has experience in managing crisis scenarios (proactive and reactive).

What You'll Do:

The Public Affairs team supporting Structural Heart plays a critical role in raising patient and physician awareness of Abbott's innovative therapy options for people battling valve disease and congenital heart conditions, including surgical and transcatheter heart valves and valve repair options, closure devices to repair holes in the heart and lower the risk of stroke, and pediatric structural heart devices.

The Director of Public Affairs has global responsibility for identifying opportunities, developing strategy and managing the execution of public relations programs to build Abbott's brand and protect and enhance Abbott's reputation among employees, health care professionals, investors and consumers. Key responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic counsel to marketing groups, internal/external partners, commercial teams and leadership on business-related efforts and initiatives. Partner with various stakeholders including regulatory affairs, operations, quality, R&D, HR, government affairs, investor relations, legal, finance and senior management.
• Developing external public relations strategies and approaches for key global product launches/filings, clinical data presented at major medical meetings, product awareness programs/outreach, and disease-state awareness efforts.
• Working extensively with U.S. and international businesses. Develop plans and support communication needs and product promotion activities of country managers and affiliates around the world. Oversee PR agency management and conduct/oversee PR agency selection process as needed.
• Ensuring optimal use of budget for PR programming within their scope of work at the division and corporate level.
• Fostering and leveraging relationships with national consumer, finance and trade media to enhance and protect the company's reputation and advance business objectives. Proactively pitch stories to generate impactful media coverage and increase Abbott's share of voice.
• Generating local and regional media coverage by working with sales and field clinical teams and KOLs to identify patient stories that showcase our therapies.
• Partnering with Abbott's Content teams to infuse corporate owned and social channels with content from the business unit. Developing multimedia and digital strategies to complement key Public Affairs campaigns.
• Developing executive and employee communications strategies and materials.
• Identifying and anticipating issues and working with appropriate functions to counsel management on reputation/business impact and influence business decision making process.
• Overseeing development of messages, press materials and other communications tools. Developing strategic communications and competitive positioning for brand and/or company, with particular emphasis on competitive environment and marketplace.
• Coaching senior divisional executives, businesses, regions and third-party spokespeople on delivery of key messages.

Education & Experience You'll Bring

Required:

• A bachelor's degree in journalism, public relations, communications, business, marketing or related field is required.
• 12+ years of experience in public relations, media relations and/or communications, with a deep understanding of how to use external communications to enhance reputation.

Preferred:

• Experience in consumer, healthcare, and/or technology communications preferred.
• Consistent track record of excellent professional writing, communications and project management skills.
• Strong experience in developing compelling content for product communications and developing key positioning, messaging, toolkits.
• Proven ability in placing media stories and managing relationships with U.S. top-tier technology, lifestyle, consumer and business media; experience with international media and media landscapes.
• Experience in working in a regulated environment.
• Experience working with and counseling senior management.
• Exhibits strong judgement and executive presence.
• Experience in crisis communication and exhibits anticipatory thinking.
• Proven experience in leading digital, social media and influencer projects to build brands.
• Understanding of how to work within a matrixed organization and get things done.
• Ability to communicate persuasively and influence others.
• Relationship building: ability to form authentic and effective relationships both inside and outside the organization.

What We Offer

At Abbott, you can have a good job that can grow into a great career. We offer:

• Training and career development, with onboarding programs for new employees and tuition assistance
• Financial security through competitive compensation, incentives and retirement plans
• Health care and well-being programs including medical, dental, vision, wellness and occupational health programs
• Paid time off
• 401(k) retirement savings with a generous company match
• The stability of a company with a record of strong financial performance and history of being actively involved in local communities