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Chicago, Illinois, United States
Onsite
We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging. Consistent with this approach, we hire the best qualified candidates for all positions.
About the Edelman Associate Practice
The Edelman Associate Practice is the foundation of our client service talent and the launchpad for early-career professionals who want to shape the future of communications. Bringing together emerging talent across communications, public affairs, and advisory disciplines, the practice is designed to develop well-rounded, integrated practitioners from day one. Associates contribute meaningfully to client work across industries and sectors—building strong fundamentals in research, writing, project management, and media engagement—while gaining exposure to diverse clients and capabilities. Rather than being confined to a single track at the start of their careers, Associates are empowered to explore, collaborate across teams, and discover where their interests and strengths can make the greatest impact.
Rooted in community and driven by growth, the Associate Practice combines hands-on client experience with structured development, peer connection, and dedicated leadership support. As the industry evolves, so does the role—blending operational excellence with increasing strategic contribution and AI-enabled innovation. Associates learn not only how to execute exceptional work, but how to think critically, solve complex problems, and build the judgment and confidence that define Edelman excellence. This is more than a first step in your career—it’s an opportunity to grow alongside a connected cohort, contribute to transformative client work, and help redefine what modern communications looks like.
About the Role
Senior Account Executives (SAEs) are strong communicators who serve as trusted connectors between clients, teams, and media or stakeholder networks. They show emerging leadership by anticipating needs, solving problems proactively, and influencing both internal and external stakeholders with clarity and confidence. SAEs demonstrate supportive ownership of workstreams, contribute to strategic planning and execution, and engage with senior leadership and clients. As they continue to build their expertise, SAEs may begin to specialize in a particular practice area based on their skills, experience, and professional goals.
In this role, you will primarily support work across Health clients with U.S. and global footprints. These clients are in regulated industries, specifically and such as medical technology, health services, animal health, and more. Your day-to-day work may include:
Media landscape research, engagement, and materials development
Social media campaigns and content creation
Executive visibility and thought leadership initiatives
Proactively researching and analyzing industry trends
Administrative reporting, tracking, and operational management
Key Responsibilities
Client & Account Support
Actively support senior team members in day-to-day client interactions around assigned projects, helping to manage deliverables and ensure alignment with objectives.
Actively support senior team members in client calls, providing tactical counsel, and proactively flagging issues, risks, or opportunities.
Build strong relationships rooted in reliability, responsiveness, and trust, focused on internal audiences and stakeholders in addition to client interactions
Strategic Planning & Program Management
Support senior leads around client strategy development, message framing, and campaign planning through research, trends analysis, operational activation, presentation creation, etc.
Assist with integrated program execution across functions, ensuring alignment with goals, timelines, and budgets.
Collaborate internally and throughout the firm with creative, digital, and analytics partners, for example, to deliver seamless, multi-channel campaigns.
Content & Storytelling
Write and/or edit high-quality materials such as press releases, op-eds, briefing documents, messaging, talking points, stakeholder materials, or other client-facing content.
Translate complex scientific, technical, and business information into clear, compelling, and accessible narratives that connect to business and reputation outcomes.
Review and refine content to ensure quality and consistency in client deliverables.
Show eagerness, interest, and willingness to learn, as well as developing a strong understanding and/or curiosity to help distill and understand complex, evolving healthcare topics and issues for varying stakeholder groups
Review and refine content with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail, ensuring client deliverables are clear, consistent, polished, and aligned with approved messaging, key stats and facts, and with consideration to overarching operational priorities.
Media & Stakeholder Relations
Support proactive outreach to journalists, influencers, and conference organizers; secure earned media and stakeholder engagement results; do so under the guidance of senior external engagement team members.
Monitor trends and provide recommendations that shape client strategy, response, and day-to-day real time opportunity potential.
Develop and maintain strong relationships across media, industry, and relevant stakeholder networks.
Executive Visibility and Thought Leadership
Conduct research and provide clear recommendations for conferences, awards, and media engagements for executives.
Conduct both company-level and peer-level competitor audits.
Draft messaging framework and/or platform development for executives.
Manage logistics for media and event engagements, including preparation of talking points, briefing materials, etc.
Leadership & Team Development
Provide and seek guidance and feedback with colleagues both junior and senior to foster their growth and development.
Model professionalism, collaboration, and inclusion; support performance and actively support team performance and development conversations.
Contribute to new business initiatives through research, insights, idea development, or presentation design refinement.
Basic Qualifications:
2 to 4 years of professional experience in communications, public affairs, or a related discipline.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
Proven ability to manage multiple small or medium-sized projects simultaneously
Clear understanding of the clients’ businesses and their missions, as well as their key stakeholders that could include but are not limited to consumers, patients, clinicians, employees, investors, regulators, media, vendors, partners, other businesses/organizations, etc.
Ability to functionally and successfully work in a dedicated time zone, but with day-to-day team members internally who dispersed throughout multiple time zones and office locations.
Demonstrated ability to help develop communication programming and plans, implement integrated tactics and impart knowledge to junior account team members and peers.
Able to perform well under pressure and be a team player.
Strong research, writing and editing skills, as well as the ability to interact with clients professionally and show active engagement internally as well.
Demonstrate strong intellectual curiosity and the ability to quickly absorb new information, ask thoughtful questions, and rapidly build an understanding of clients, their businesses, and the broader industry landscape.
Operate with a proactive, self-starting mindset and a strong sense of urgency, anticipating needs and moving work forward without requiring significant direction.
Thrive in a fast-moving environment, adapting quickly to shifting priorities and balancing speed with sound judgment and attention to detail.
$60,000 - $80,000 a year
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An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, travel requirements, revenue-based metrics, any contractual agreements, and business or organizational needs. The range listed is just one component of DJEH’s total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, a Paid Time Off policy, and region-specific benefits.
DJEH offers a wide range of benefits: medical and dental insurance, vision, 401K, life insurance, disability insurance, paid time off, travel assistance and wellness programing.
DJEH is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and believes in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek applications from all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, military and veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. If you require a reasonable accommodation in any part of the employment process, please let us know.