Sr. Advisor, Media Relations and External Communications

McKesson is an impact-driven, Fortune 10 company that touches virtually every aspect of healthcare. We are known for delivering insights, products, and services that make quality care more accessible and affordable. Here, we focus on the health, happiness, and well-being of you and those we serve – we care. What you do at McKesson matters. We foster a culture where you can grow, make an impact, and are empowered to bring new ideas. Together, we thrive as we shape the future of health for patients, our communities, and our people. If you want to be part of tomorrow’s health today, we want to hear from you.

McKesson is in the business of better health and we touch the lives of patients in virtually every aspect of healthcare. At McKesson Canada, we touch the lives of 12 million Canadians every day. We carry more than 35,000 products in 12 distribution centers and ultimately provide distribution to 6,300 retail pharmacies, 1,350 hospitals, long-term care centers, clinics and institutions all over Canada. But we’re so much more than a distribution company. We’ve automated 2,500 retail pharmacies and dispense over 100 million doses a year through our automation solutions. Manufacturers, healthcare providers and patients count on us for a full range of services that contribute to the quality and safety of care for us all.

At McKesson Canada, you’ll help us carry out our mission to improve lives and advance healthcare. Working here is your opportunity to shape an industry that’s vital to us all.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director, Public Relations and Communications, the Sr. Advisor, Media Relations and External Communications will be responsible for planning and managing highly effective multi-channel media and external communications campaigns. They will be instrumental in creating impactful PR strategies to increase the profile of McKesson Canada and its various business units within consumer media, trade media and new media opportunities (influencer and social) as well as opportunities within the B2B market that we operate in.

The successful candidate must work with multiple corporate and business unit stakeholders, including business marketing teams, to develop strategic go-to-market communication plans that are aligned with the company’s business priorities. This role is best suited for a high achiever with a high level of proactivity and a proven track-record of managing successful media relations campaigns from planning to execution.

Section A - Responsibilities

• Work with Government Affairs, HR, Marketing, Legal Affairs, and other corporate departments to develop and execute proactive and reactive integrated communications programs that bolster the company’s reputation and support the achievement of business objectives

• Partner with business stakeholders across the company to identify and analyze market trends to support media relations programs

• Work closely with Senior Advisor, Strategic Business Communications to create dynamic integrated PR plans as appropriate

• Work closely with Social Media team to ensure consistent and timely messages for high profile media campaigns

• Work with internal and external resources to execute high impact integrated campaigns including content development, thought leadership, etc. that increase brand awareness

• Partner with media team in the US

Media Relations

They will lead proactive media relations, with the goal of establishing and maintaining a favourable image of the company with stakeholders, customers, employees and the public:

• Triage incoming media requests, provide recommendations and messaging for appropriate response and next steps

• Proactively work with business units to identify PR and media relations opportunities.

• Develop media relations strategy for earned media across business units

• Write and develop media materials from press releases, media pitches, fact sheets, backgrounders, MAT stories. Op-Eds, submitted columns and speeches, external key messages and positioning statements

• Provide advice concerning media relations to business partners, and prepare business partners for media engagements

• Plan media press conferences and events

• Research health landscape to identify proactive media opportunities

• Monitor press coverage for company, industry and competitors

• Keep on top of communications trends and new ways of communication within evolving media landscape

• Proactively manage media relationships

• Engage and manage select media outlets, journalists and publications to develop responses to inquiries

• Develop key metrics and KPIs by program

• Manage PR agency as required

• Support Sr. Advisor Business Strategy on enterprise-wide external PR programs

• Plan media training for senior leaders as appropriate

Thought Leadership, External and Crisis Communications

Support thought leadership positioning through external PR opportunities such as:

• Support Director with President and executive communications external plan and messages

• Secure speaking opportunities to enhance McKesson Canada’s brand and reputation amongst a wide industry audience base

• Support with presentation and writing

• Proactively seek external opportunities to bring McKesson leadership message to key external audiences

• Identify influencers in health segment, and appropriate strategies to target stakeholders within B2B market

• Support strategic business initiatives, plans and execution as required, including creating strategic communications plans and executing plans as communications lead and/or supporting Sr. Advisor Business Strategy on large scales programs

• Support issues and crisis communications by partnering and supporting Director on key issues as identified

Section B - Position Requirements

• 5+ years of public and media relations with experience proactively pitching to media

• Have an excellent understanding of media relations and the media landscape in Canada

• Demonstrated ability to illustrate high level strategic thinking and planning with excellent project management and execution skills

• Experience developing and executing comprehensive integrated PR plans

• Experience working with external print and broadcast journalists

• Experience working with senior level executives in large corporate environments

• Healthcare landscape/pharmacy knowledge in a regulated environment is a strength

• Bilingualism is an asset (French/English)

• Excellent writing and editing skills

• Excellent organizational skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills

• An eye for detail and accuracy

• Self-directed, proactive with strong ability to prioritize

• Must be able to work to tight deadlines and react quickly to changing priorities

• Must be able to develop news angles from a corporate business environment

• A good team player, ability to work cross functionally and build strong relationships both internally and externally

• Ability to interact with executives and maintain discretion with confidential information

• Ability to work and thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume, collaborative, and iterative environment

• Ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously

#LI-AR2

#LI-Hybrid

At McKesson, we care about the well-being of the patients and communities we serve, and that starts with caring for our people. That’s why we have a Total Rewards package that includes comprehensive benefits to support physical, mental, and financial well-being. Our Total Rewards offerings serve the different needs of our diverse employee population and ensure they are the healthiest versions of themselves. For more information regarding benefits at McKesson, please click here.

As part of Total Rewards, we are proud to offer a competitive compensation package at McKesson. This is determined by several factors, including performance, experience and skills, equity, regular job market evaluations, and geographical markets. In addition to base pay, other compensation, such as an annual bonus or long-term incentive opportunities may be offered.

Our Base Pay Range for this position

$84,500 - $140,800

McKesson is an Equal Opportunity employer.

The material contained herein is provided for informational purpose only. All open jobs offered by McKesson on this recruitment system are subject to specific job skill requirements. The job skill requirements, qualifications, and preferred experience are determined by a subsidiary, office or department within the company which is offering the position, and all positions are subject to local prevailing employment laws and restrictions. This would include immigration laws pertaining to work authorization requirements and any other applicable government permissions or compliance.

The materials on this site are provided without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to warranties regarding the completeness of information contained on this site or in any referenced links. While McKesson attempts to update this site on a timely basis, the information is effective only as of the time and date of posting.

McKesson is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in its workforce. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and will accommodate applicants’ needs, up to the point of undue hardship, throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process.

The information on this site is for information purpose only and is not intended to be relied upon with legal consequence.

Current employees must apply through internal career site.

Join us at McKesson!