Director, Strategic Stakeholder Engagement (SSE)

Position Overview

We are seeking a Director, Stakeholder Engagement (SSE) to lead strategic stakeholder initiatives for global healthcare clients. In this role, you will serve as a strategic leader, leveraging strong stakeholder engagement expertise (KOL identification and engagement, KOL-led medical education, patient advocacy initiatives, etc). Additionally, you'll have the ability to seamlessly translate stakeholder initiatives into impactful medical communication programs - whether for commercial or medical affairs teams - when needed.

Through data-driven insights and a passion for innovation, you will help our clients navigate a complex healthcare ecosystem, ensuring they successfully engage the stakeholders that matter most to their strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Stakeholder Engagement Strategy & Execution
• Strategic Planning: Develop and execute comprehensive stakeholder engagement strategies aligned with client objectives, including KOL relationship-building and other stakeholder engagement activities.
• Stakeholder Mapping & Analysis: Identify and prioritize key stakeholders and opinion leaders within specific therapeutic areas, using data-driven insights to optimize engagement.
• Relationship Management: Cultivate and maintain high-value partnerships with healthcare professionals, professional & patient advocacy groups, and other key stakeholders to drive meaningful collaboration.
• Meeting Leadership: Plan, facilitate, and provide strategic oversight for live or virtual meeting initiatives (e.g., advisory boards, speaker training), ensuring alignment with overarching stakeholder and organizational goals.
• Medical Communications Collaboration
• Integration of SSE & Medical Communications: Partner with cross-functional teams (scientific strategy, medical writing, client services, project management, and other functions) to ensure seamless pull-through of stakeholder engagement strategies into broader medical communications for commercial or medical affairs teams.
• Scientific Expertise: Leverage your scientific or clinical background to ensure scientific accuracy and integrity, elevating stakeholder-facing materials and discussions.
• Innovation & Thought Leadership: Monitor emerging trends in stakeholder engagement and medical communications, identifying opportunities for clients to stand out in a competitive market
• Project & Client Leadership
• Client Advisory: Serve as a trusted consultant to senior client stakeholders, recommending strategies that address corporate, commercial, or medical objectives.
• Project Oversight: Lead complex, multi-stakeholder projects, managing scopes, budgets, timelines, and cross-functional collaboration for successful delivery.
• Crisis & Reputation Management: Provide counsel during high-stakes scenarios (e.g., product launches, market changes), aligning engagement efforts with broader corporate, commercial, or medical strategies.
• Team Development (If Required)
• Mentorship & Coaching: If needed, mentor team members in best practices for stakeholder engagement and scientific communications.
• Collaboration: Foster a culture of high performance and cross-disciplinary teamwork.
• Measurement & Continuous Optimization
• Data-Driven Insights: Establish and track KPIs for stakeholder engagement, using analytics to refine approaches and drive ROI.
• Reporting & Recommendations: Regularly communicate status, insights, and strategic recommendations to clients and internal leadership, ensuring continuous improvement of stakeholder initiatives

Qualifications & Experience

• Education:
• Advanced degree (PhD, MD, PharmD) or equivalent in a life sciences or healthcare-related field strongly preferred. Bachelor's degree with equivalent experience will be considered.
• Stakeholder Engagement Expertise:
• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement within an agency or industry setting, with a proven track record in KOL mapping, advisory boards, and building relationships with professional and patient advocacy groups.
• Medical Communications Acumen:
• Knowledge of medical communications approaches and tactics, including KOL-led medical education and scientific communication initiatives.
• Ability to integrate scientific and stakeholder insights into cohesive and impactful communication programs.
• Strategic & Innovative Mindset:
• Proven ability to develop creative, forward-thinking solutions for complex, multi-faceted challenges in healthcare.
• Experience working across various therapeutic areas and understanding diverse market dynamics.
• Leadership & Communication Skills:
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including leading client presentations and workshop facilitation.
• Experience working with senior-level stakeholders, providing clear recommendations and influencing decisions.
• Business Development & Growth Orientation:
• Strong relationship-building skills that result in long-term client partnerships and potential new opportunities.
• Ability to demonstrate the ROI of stakeholder engagement initiatives in both commercial and medical contexts.
• Global Perspective:
• Familiarity with international healthcare systems and environments is advantageous.
• Experience managing cross-cultural stakeholder relationships is highly valued.

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