JPA Health is hiring: Director, Earned Media in Washington

Overview

JPA Health is a fully integrated marketing, communications and medical communications agency focused on the health sector. We work with biotech, pharmaceutical clients and public health organizations to improve and protect lives.

The Role

JPA Health is seeking a future-forward Earned Media Director who is well versed in healthcare and can drive breakthrough news coverage that builds reputations, changes opinions and motivates action. This role blends strategic counsel, national and local media pitching, storytelling, and integrated campaign execution to elevate our clients’ narratives and deliver measurable impact. The Earned Media approach should seamlessly integrate into the larger Omnichannel Engagement offering at JPA, helping shape the future of earned media. The ideal candidate bridges traditional PR with modern digital earned strategies—leveraging media relations, thought leadership, organic buzz, and influencer amplification to create impactful, scalable engagement. This role is ideal for someone who loves to roll up their sleeves but also has strategic vision, streamlining efforts and ensuring Earned Media is an integrated core part of client strategies. This is a full-time, hybrid role reporting to any JPA office (Boston, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, New York City) with 2 days per week in the office and 3 days remote.

The Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day earned media strategy and execution for life sciences, public health, and health technology clients.
• Build out modern earned media offerings that maximize JPA Health proprietary AI tools, the latest technology platforms and results reporting to demonstrate earned media ROI.
• Own media relations efforts, securing impactful coverage across healthcare, life sciences, and health tech.
• Develop compelling story angles, press materials, and media lists tailored to national, trade, consumer, and local outlets.
• Work independently and collaboratively, building integrated earned strategies that support and enhance paid and owned efforts.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on media opportunities, such as FDA approvals, public health initiatives, and corporate announcements.
• Support crisis communications ensuring a steady hand when it matters most.

About You

Our ideal candidate must have:

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 8 years of Earned Media experience, spanning traditional PR and digital earned strategies.
• Agency experience, specifically supporting life sciences industry clients.
• Demonstrated success landing high-quality coverage across national, regional, consumer, trade, TV/radio, and online outlets.
• Strength in identifying newsworthy angles and crafting pitches that break through crowded health news cycles.
• Fluency in healthcare storytelling spanning oncology, women’s health, mental health, cardiology, rare disease, and/or health policy (or adjacent).
• Strong strategic mindset, but also comfortable executing and getting things done.
• Skilled at working both independently and collaboratively, integrating Earned Media into broader omnichannel campaigns.
• Excellent communicator and storyteller, able to make the role of Earned Media clear and actionable.

What Makes Us Different

We offer the opportunity to work with purpose and achieve extraordinary results for our clients. You will elevate your career in an environment at the intersection of wellness, connection, and compassion. Our mission is to help people live healthier lives, starting with you.

We prioritize compassion to support work-life balance and flexible arrangements. Our Collaboration Days strengthen relationships and well-being. We value respect, inclusion, camaraderie and connection as the heart of our ethos. We push ourselves to think bigger and work collaboratively.

Benefits & Compensation

We offer a comprehensive benefits package to support you and your family’s physical, mental and financial well-being. Compensation for this role is anticipated to be between $130,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, qualifications and location. Performance-based bonuses may apply. Compensation is reviewed annually with quarterly discussions about promotions.

Equal Opportunity & DEI

JPA Health is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We are committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and strive to create an environment where every individual feels valued, respected and heard. If you require an accommodation to apply, please contact Recruiting@jpa.com.

How to Apply

Interested in joining JPA Health? Please apply through the standard job posting, and note that this description may be updated as the role evolves.