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Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Primary Job Function

The Litigation and Issues Communications Manager will play a pivotal role in helping to protect the company while helping to position Abbott as a global healthcare leader. The role requires a strategic communicator who has demonstrated the ability to manage complex issues, conduct media relations, develop communications plans and collaborate with key stakeholders. This person should have experience working on a range of issues with the potential to impact reputation, such as crises, legal matters, political, financial, social and/or product issues. The right candidate will be an excellent writer with experience succinctly communicating on complex topics and have experience managing stakeholders/clients on fast-moving matters.

Core Job Responsibilities

• Protect the company through strategic communications planning, media relations and external storytelling.

• Cultivate and manage relationships with key reporters/editors. Serve as company spokesperson on key topics.

• Manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders, serving as a trusted business partner and providing strategic communications counsel.

• Create content across multiple channels on key topics.

• Manage and maintain internal issues management reporting systems.

• Must be a strong teammate who:

• Operates with principled leadership and sound business ethics, exercising the highest level of integrity.

• Has an entrepreneurial, solution-oriented mindset combined with an ability to navigate a large, complex organization.

• Takes a global view.

• Has sound judgment and strong decision-making skills, with an ability to quickly assess risks and opportunities.

• Produces work of the highest quality.

• Treats others with respect – listens and cares.

Position Accountability / Scope

• Develops and executes communications plans to protect Abbott’s reputation in key areas.

• Interfaces with various division and corporate constituencies, including legal, government affairs, investor relations, finance, marketing, regulatory, medical and senior management.

• Develops materials including media messaging, research summaries/analysis, one-page summaries, social media posts and other communications tools.

• Oversee PR agency management.

• Reports to the Senior Manager, External Communications.

• Readiness to travel 15% annually.

Minimum Experience / Training Required

• More than 7 years of experience in media relations, with a direct experience managing or working on a range of reputation-related issues and a deep understanding of how to use external communications to protect reputation.

• Experience building and managing relationships with reporters/editors.

• Excellent writer and communicator who can organize, summarize, clarify and communicate ideas simply, succinctly and accurately.

• Skilled at building stakeholder trust and providing strategic counsel.

• Able to achieve results while dealing with ambiguity and a rapid pace of change.

• A bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations, communications, business, marketing or related field.

The base pay for this position is $95,000.00 – $190,000.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Abbot welcomes and encourages diversity in our workforce.

We provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities.

To request accommodation, please call 224-667-4913 or email corpjat@abbott.com