Account Director - PR and Policy

ZPB Associates is a healthcare strategy and communications firm working with leading names across healthcare - including the NHS, independent healthcare, digital health and tech. We combine strategy, integrated marketing, PR and policy engagement to help our clients navigate an increasingly complex and commercially competitive healthcare landscape. Our work is strategic, creating visibility and credibility whether that is through share of voice, brand-building, or market positioning. We create editorially confident, genuinely creative content that is market moving and supports our client’s success.

About the Role

We're looking for an Account Director to lead ZPB's PR and policy work, holding full commercial responsibility for a portfolio of clients where healthcare policy, politics and public affairs are central to the brief. You'll combine senior media relationship management with genuine policy fluency — comfortable advising a client on a complex regulatory development one day and securing national press coverage the next. You'll lead pitch teams and new business, mentor a team spanning Account Managers to Account Executives, and represent ZPB externally as a credible senior voice on healthcare policy and public affairs.

Responsibilities

• Own full commercial responsibility for a portfolio of PR and policy clients, delivering fully-costed proposals and achieving target revenue within budget
• Lead senior media relations and maintain strong relationships with health, trade, national and policy press, as well as key commentators and sector influencers
• Provide informed, senior counsel to clients on complex issues spanning healthcare policy, politics and business, translating regulatory and political developments into practical recommendations
• Maintain a strong working understanding of how UK political and regulatory institutions relevant to healthcare — including the NHS, CQC, NICE, MHRA and other public bodies — shape client strategy
• Lead and refine ZPB's approach to public affairs and policy communications, including delivering thought leadership and training to clients and the wider team
• Offer crisis management and counsel to clients, and extend ZPB's networking and influence in relevant policy and media circles
• Lead pitch teams and drive new business, including responding to prospect briefs and identifying organic growth within existing accounts
• Mentor and develop a team spanning Account Managers to Account Executives, embedding strong policy and media judgement across the team
• Represent ZPB externally as a senior voice on healthcare policy and public affairs, including through speaking opportunities and written commentary
• Identify potential crisis situations early and implement crisis management techniques when required
• Lead ZPB’s use of licenses, tools and platforms – including AI – to ensure best-in-class methodologies and approaches.

Qualifications

• A relevant degree (politics, public policy, health policy, communications or a related subject) — not essential if you can demonstrate the skills above

Required Skills

• Substantial experience (typically 6–8+ years) in healthcare PR, policy communications or public affairs, with significant experience at Senior Account Manager level or above, ideally within a healthcare or public affairs consultancy
• Strong understanding of how political and regulatory institutions relevant to healthcare — including the NHS, MHRA, NICE, CQC and other bodies — work in the UK
• Proven track record of developing senior media and policy relationships, including with commentators, spokespeople and sector influencers
• Demonstrated experience managing client budgets, achieving revenue targets and holding full commercial responsibility for accounts
• Strong crisis management skills, with experience providing counsel to clients through high-stakes situations
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence advising senior and board-level clients
• The right to work in the UK

Preferred Skills

• Experience working across regional and global healthcare policy or public affairs environments
• A track record of leading new business pitches and proposals
• Experience mentoring or line-managing junior team members
• An established external profile or thought leadership presence in healthcare policy or public affairs
• Familiarity with AI and digital tools, and how they are changing policy monitoring and communications delivery

Pay range and compensation package

• A salary of £55,000–£65,000, dependent on experience
• A senior leadership role at the intersection of healthcare communications and public affairs, with genuine influence over ZPB's policy offer
• Full commercial ownership of a portfolio of accounts, and the autonomy that comes with it
• Direct involvement in shaping ZPB's policy and public affairs proposition alongside the Managing Director
• A collaborative, editorially minded team with a genuinely no-nonsense approach to client work
• 25 days holiday and on top the office is closed between Christmas and New Year
• Private health insurance
• Employee assistance programme including free legal advice, therapy and health checks
• Paid four-week sabbatical after four years
• And Summer Friday's – office closes early!

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