Portland is a fully integrated communications consultancy trusted by some of the highest profile organizations, governments and individuals in the world.

We deliver global communications and public affairs campaigns across multiple platforms, helping clients manage their reputation, improve their visibility and achieve their policy goals.

Our work is national and international, with global offices in London, Paris, Berlin, Brussels, Washington DC, Singapore, Doha and Nairobi.

The Health team

The team brings together specialists in healthcare policy, public affairs (government affairs) and communications. You will be joining a team of consultants with unrivalled first-hand PA and PR experience at the highest level.

Our clients include some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies and biotechs, many of whom have become household names since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

We advise our clients on the most pressing health issues in the world today: from shaping global vaccine policy, to bringing to market innovative medicines, to ensuring patients with rare conditions can access new treatments.

The role

• We are seeking various levels, in particular Consultant or Senior Consultant (Account Manager/Senior Account Manager/Account Director/Senior Account Director), to help lead our policy and public affairs work for well-known clients in the pharmaceuticals and biotech sector.
• The successful applicant will be helping to solve some of the most important, high-profile, complex challenges in healthcare. You’ll be expected to lead account teams, plan and implement political and NHS stakeholder engagement strategies and become a trusted adviser to your clients.
• You will be guided and mentored by senior public affairs strategists with unrivalled experience in UK politics and beyond.
• You will also support our commercial growth, helping to grow existing client accounts and win new ones, and play a role in the Health Management Team to support team resourcing, planning and marketing.

About you

• The role is likely to suit someone currently working at Account Manager/Senior Account Manager/Account Director/Senior Account Director level in agency or equivalent in-house level, such as Government Affairs Manager.
• Experience of UK healthcare public affairs is essential, while some experience of international public affairs would be an advantage.
• You will have strong experience in the health sector, with an understanding of the UK health policy environment and its influencers

Key responsibilities

• Acting as account lead on major and complex client accounts, managing junior team members to ensure implementation of agreed programmes
• Developing engagement strategies for existing clients
• Writing and producing client-facing proposals, presentations, strategic plans, and other materials, both independently and in collaboration with Portland colleagues.
• Building strong client relationships and acting as a trusted advisor to senior clients
• Driving significant new business efforts – conceiving, leading and managing new business proposals and pitches
• Contributing to the smooth running of the health practice at Portland a member of the Health Management Team
• Line managing team members (Consultants, Associate Consultants and Executives) and overseeing their career development

Person Specification Competences applicable to the post:

Providing a quality service

You must:

• Be able to independently direct large public affairs programmes – a track record of agency experience is not essential but would be beneficial.
• Be able to develop public affairs/government affairs strategies to meet set objectives.
• Be highly organised with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Be able to deliver high quality written work, that you produce or support others to produce through clear guidance and feedback.

Personal effectiveness

You must:

• Be a credible and confident adviser and leader, able to command the confidence of clients and of your team.
• Have strong commercial awareness and the ability to support a drive for new business.
• Have excellent interpersonal skills with a real flare for pitching and presenting ideas and business plans.
• Understand the UK health policy environment and the key stakeholders within it and apply this knowledge to client challenges.

Team working and projects

You must:

• Be a leader: supporting teams to achieve results for clients.
• Be able to work with and communicate effectively with others across the agency.
• Be an excellent decision maker with a real ability to lead and mentor colleagues across different client accounts.

Qualifications and experience

You must have:

• Significant experience in Public Affairs/Government Affairs/policy engagement gained from an agency, in-house or government role.
• Specific experience in the healthcare sector. Knowledge and experience of healthcare policy/public affairs relating to the pharmaceutical sector is not essential but would be highly beneficial.

What we offer in return

Portland is a very results-drive business, with an unswerving focus on quality. To achieve this, we need to work collaboratively in a fun environment. We laugh, we strategise, we discuss, but we remember what is most important; advancing the interests of our clients, whilst advancing the careers of our people.

At Portland, we are client-centric but put people first. We have a culture where everyone is trusted

and valued in equal measure, whatever your role in the company.

Our aim is to recruit, develop and retain world class people, who come to Portland to do the best work of their careers.

We are committed to employee development and you will have the opportunity to learn from some of the most experienced people in the business.

We regularly reward and promote success, encouraging staff to take on new challenges and responsibilities to aid progression. Personal development and well-being are a key focus; there's regular training, lunch & learn sessions along with well-being workshops and activities.

Our remuneration package includes our competitive pension, private healthcare, life assurance cover and company contribution to gym membership. In addition, every permanent member of staff that works at Portland is eligible for our annual profit share bonus.

At Portland we take a flexible approach to work and encourage our colleagues to do the same. All of our roles are open to flexible working requests and we will consider all options during our recruitment process. This includes but is not limited to: hybrid working, flexible hours, compressed hours and job sharing.

We currently work a combination of days in the office and work from home.

Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications we receive it is not possible to respond directly to all applicants, only to those whose candidacy is being pursued. The length of the recruitment process varies based on the vacancy needs. Traditionally, the process takes approximately 3-4 weeks.

Do let us know if you need any adjustments made during the recruitment process.