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Vice President, FoodMinds

FoodMinds, a division of Padilla, is seeking a Vice President to serve as a senior leader and strategic counselor. The VP will work across several clients representing agricultural commodities, CPG companies across food, beverage and health & nutrition sectors, and industry associations. This position has oversight and management responsibility for the overall client relationship, strategic direction, program planning, budgeting and staffing of several key FoodMinds accounts. Responsibilities include team leadership and staff management, business development to secure new clients as well as income retention and strong growth with existing clients. Furthermore, the right candidate will add value to the company by contributing to agency culture, mentoring and professional development, and external thought leadership and marketing. The right candidate has proven ability to translate technical science, policy recommendations and insights into actionable, multi-year programs, strategic recommendations, and communications for clients targeted to health professionals, consumers, and science and policy stakeholder audiences.

This position is based in our Chicago, Minneapolis, New York City, San Francisco, Boston, Richmond, or Washington D.C. office.  This is not a remote position.

Your Responsibilities:

  • Translate science and navigate regulatory actions into strategies, thought leadership and compelling communications programs for clients
  • Secure and grow business with new and existing clients
  • Stay up to date and well-connected across the food, nutrition, health and policy landscape, with an eye to important food and nutrition topics such as dietary guidance and authoritative nutrition recommendations, sustainable food systems, and health and wellbeing, including food as medicine and personalized nutrition
  • Contribute as a senior leader to agency marketing and thought leadership efforts

Your Approach:

  • Draw upon driven, passionate leadership style and connections in food and nutrition to effectively lead teams and deliver great work
  • Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of global food and nutrition landscape and key stakeholders, including food policy, regulatory affairs, nutrition science, food systems, sustainability, and food, nutrition, health & wellness trends and news.
  • Strong relationships with thought leaders and organizations in food, beverage & nutrition industry, government, trade associations, nutrition science and the public health sector
  • Proven client relationship management experience – acting as a strategic counselor and thought leadership partner, business developer and relationship manager
  • Work across teams, comfortably functioning and managing up/down in a fast-paced working environment
  • Interpret and critically analyze regulatory headwinds, scientific research and other insights to support evidence-based strategies and insights-driven approaches.
  • Anticipate client needs and work challenges, creatively problem solving as senior management.
  • Able to sit or stand for extended periods of time, occasionally operate office equipment and travel as needed.

Your Relevant Experience:

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in nutrition, public health, public policy or a related discipline; equivalent working experience will be considered
  • 12-15 years of experience working in food and nutrition communications and strategy consulting related to scientific affairs, policy, regulatory, public affairs and health & wellness marketing
  • Communications agency or consulting experience preferred
  • Registered dietitian credential desired
  • Management experience that includes financial oversight and account management, new business development and staff management and development

 

Padilla is a full-service agency that transforms brands and organizations through strategically creative communications. Our work across a range of industry sectors is consistently recognized by the PRWeek Awards, PRovoke IN2 SABRE Awards and PRSA Anvil Awards, among others. Padilla operates in seven cities in the U.S. through its family of brands, which includes SHIFT (performance communications), FoodMinds (food and nutrition affairs) and Joe Smith (brand strategy). As an AVENIR GLOBAL company and a founding member of the Worldcom Public Relations Group, the agency provides services to clients through 155 offices worldwide. Transform with purpose at PadillaCo.com.   

 

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