Senior Manager Public Affairs, Diagnostics

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 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Senior Manager, Public Affairs Diagnostics

About Abbott

Abbott is a global healthcare leader, creating breakthrough science to improve people’s health. We’re always looking towards the future, anticipating changes in medical science and technology.

Working at Abbott

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of .

• Free medical coverage for employees* via the Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO

• An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution

• Tuition reimbursement, the [Register to View] target="_blank">Freedom 2 Save student debt program and [Register to View] target="_blank">FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.

• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.

• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

The Opportunity

This position works out of our Abbott Park location in the Public Affairs division.

The Senior Manager, Public Affairs, Diagnostics plays a pivotal role in identifying opportunities, developing strategy and managing programs to always protect and enhance Abbott's reputation generally and in diagnostics specifically. The Senior Manager is responsible for identifying storytelling opportunities, developing compelling stories and content, and engaging media to help convey those stories amongst multiple external stakeholders. Candidates must have a proven ability to develop compelling storylines, frequently from highly scientific topics, that align to traditional, digital and social channels and a track record of success in earned media placements.

The Senior Manager must be able to demonstrate strategic thinking and the ability to provide thoughtful counsel to a broad range of internal and external contacts across all levels of management. The Senior Manager will work closely with the department director on certain topics and independently on others. The Senior Manager is responsible for the supervision of public relations firms and management of internal client relationships to help execute communications programming. Responsibilities include serving as a Company spokesperson on diagnostics business activities, products, issues and performance. The position will report directly to the Senior Director, Public Affairs for Abbott’s rapid diagnostics business. All division PA functions have a line reporting relationship to Corporate Public Affairs

What You’ll Work On

• Develop strategic communications and positioning for diagnostics products (roughly 40% split on US programming / 60% ex-US).

• Cultivate strong relationships with media in both the trade (health and diagnostics) arena and consumer media (business, health) – leading to coverage in top-tier business, financial and consumer media as well as trade journals. Maintain relationships with key contacts through thoughtful, strategic engagement.

• Work extensively with US and international business, including affiliates, to enhance the visibility of our products and services amongst identified target audiences, with approved key messages.

• Bring to the table an understanding of today’s communications environment amongst earned, owned, social and paid media and how to align and maximize opportunities provided by these channels for Abbott’s diagnostics products.

• Drive good communications practice globally. Provide counsel and support to markets in how to utilize and execute strategic communications to help achieve their business goals.

• Oversee development and approval of messages, press materials, social posts and other communications tools.

• Act as a primary spokesperson for assigned topics – by business or therapeutic area, and in other situations as required. Interact with journalists to help ensure favorable positioning within stories.

• PR agency management – independently and in coordination with colleagues.

• Interface with various division and corporate internal stakeholders to achieve goals, including Govt Affairs, investor relations, legal, finance, marketing, regulatory, medical, clinical and senior management.

• Coach divisional spokespeople and third-party spokespeople on delivery of messages.

• Work to anticipate, identify, plan and mitigate for issues which could represent a business risk. Collaborate across functions to develop coordinated responses, mitigation plans as well as counsel management on reputation/business impact. Work to actively influence the business decision making process. As issues arise, develop issues management plans, statements/ other communication documents and oversee execution of plans.

• Responsible for compliance with applicable Corporate and Divisional Policies and procedures.

• Finance/Administrative: Ensure proper adherence to all financial and administrative policies. Ensure programs fall within budget parameters and all paperwork is completed in appropriate manner (invoice logging, purchase orders, statements of work, etc.).

Required Qualifications

• More than 7 years of experience in media relations, with a deep understanding of how to use external communications to enhance reputation.

• A bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations, communications, business, marketing or related field.

• Strong contacts and working relationships with a variety of top tier media.

• Able to achieve results while dealing with ambiguity and a rapid pace of change.

• Demonstrated ability to use communications to drive business results.

• Excellent writer and communicator who can organize, summarize, clarify and communicate ideas simply, succinctly and accurately.

• Experience with science storytelling and successfully communicating complex scientific topics in understandable language.

• Experience in developing and implementing media relations plans and proven ability in placing media stories and managing relationships with national/international contacts

• Experienced user and creator of social media to drive awareness and engagement

• Some experience with issues and policy communications preferred.

* Participants who complete a short wellness assessment qualify for FREE coverage in our HIP PPO medical plan. Free coverage applies in the next calendar year.

Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: [Register to View] target="_blank">[Register to View]

Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.

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