Braun Board

Account Executive - Healthcare

Pinkston · Falls Church, VA

Base
$60K–$65K
OTE
Not disclosed
Quota attainment
Not disclosed
Posted
1mo ago

Why it matters: OTE tells you what you could earn. Attainment tells you how realistic it is.

Ask: “What percentage of fully ramped reps hit quota last year?”

Still open · checked 1h agoon Pinkston's careers page

The job

What you'd do
You pitch healthcare, biotech and life sciences stories to reporters to win earned media for agency clients, based in Falls Church, VA. Requires 1–2 years of comms experience; salary $60k–$65k.
What you'd sell

Helps companies get news coverage by pitching stories to reporters

When a healthcare or biotech company has news, it usually sends a press release and hopes a reporter bites. The problem is, reporters only cover stories that fit what they write about, and a release that misses that goes nowhere. Pinkston pitches stories to reporters and writes the press releases and talking points, so clients get covered in the outlets their customers read.

In plain English, from their own job posts. Something wrong? Tell me · More Sales & marketing companies →

Who you'd sell to
Still reading the posting. Check back within the hour.
Where deals come from
Not stated in the posting.

The Braun Read

Ask hard questions

Too much is left unsaid. Make them answer before you invest.

Pay
Base is listed but not OTE. Ask what the variable is and how many people hit it.
Transparency
Says nothing about quota, attainment, deal size, territory or sales cycle.
Pipeline
Doesn't say where pipeline comes from. Ask.
Time on market
Open 37 days. Normal, but not fresh.
Company hiring
This is their only open sales role.

Based only on what the posting says. Lights are a starting point for your first call, not a final judgment.

Questions to ask on the first call

Built from what this posting leaves out. How they answer tells you as much as what they say.

  1. 1.

    What percentage of fully ramped reps hit quota last year?

    OTE is what you could earn. This is how likely you are to earn it.

  2. 2.

    What percentage of reps on the team have been here more than 18 months?

    Tenure shows whether people stay long enough to get paid.

  3. 3.

    Has the comp plan changed in the last 12 to 18 months? What changed?

    A plan that changes every year means the goalposts keep moving.

  4. 4.

    Who sits with reps and reviews calls each week?

    Coaching is often what's behind a good or bad attainment number.

  5. 5.

    What's the OTE, and what did the median rep earn last year?

    Base is what you're guaranteed. OTE and the median show the upside.

  6. 6.

    Why is this role open? Did someone leave, or is it new?

    New headcount is growth. A replacement means someone left. Ask why.

› When the offer comes

Save these for later. They land better once they've said yes to you.

  1. 1.

    Can I see the full comp plan in writing, including clawbacks and accelerators?

    What's in writing is what gets paid. Read it before you sign.

  2. 2.

    Can I see the actual comp distribution for the team last year, not just the OTE?

    The spread shows what most reps really take home. OTE is just the target.

  3. 3.

    I'd be walking away from earned commission to join. Is there room for a sign-on bonus to help cover that?

    Leaving money behind is a fair reason to ask. The worst answer is no.

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Full posting
Position Summary Account Executives at Pinkston regularly interact with members of the press and clients, coordinating interviews and facilitating meetings while building a track record of meaningful media placements. Primary responsibilities include securing media coverage, developing written materials, and supporting the day-to-day communications needs of clients. Account Executives are expected to be constant consumers of the news, industry developments and emerging issues to identify relevant opportunities for clients within the news cycle. This role will have a particular focus on supporting a broad range of healthcare, biotech, life sciences and related clients, while also providing opportunities to work across additional industries. The ideal candidate is curious about complex issues and able to quickly develop an understanding of scientific, policy and healthcare business topics and translate them into compelling communications opportunities. Additional Details - Status: Exempt Salaried - Work Location: Falls Church, Virginia - Travel: 0–5% - Salary range: $60k - $65k Role Responsibilities Pitching/Writing, Media Intelligence & Client Relations - Pitch relevant and compelling stories to media contacts and secure earned media opportunities for clients - Monitor healthcare, biotech, life sciences, business, policy and broader news cycles to identify creative and strategic opportunities for media coverage - Develop a credible understanding of media outlets, reporters, outlet audiences and the issues they cover, particularly within healthcare and other client-related industries - Establish and develop productive working relationships with media contacts - Coordinate with team members to draft and edit written materials, including media pitches, talking points, press releases, and other written materials - Conduct research and develop an understanding of complex healthcare, scientific, business and policy issues as needed to support client communications - Support client meetings, media interviews and other communications activities - Assist with the onboarding and development of entry-level and new team members Skills & Qualifications Required - Undergraduate degree or relevant experience in public relations, communications, journalism or a related field - 1–2 years of relevant communications experience - Strong research, interpersonal, writing and editing skills - Ability to quickly learn and communicate about complex subjects, such as healthcare, biotech, life sciences, business or policy issues - Strong interest and awareness of current events and the ability to recognize how news and emerging issues may create opportunities or challenges for clients - Ability to adapt to change, meet deadlines and effectively prioritize deliverables - Alignment with Pinkston’s guiding principles Preferred - Experience working within healthcare, biotech, life sciences, pharmaceutical, medical or other highly regulated industries - Familiarity with healthcare trade media and the Washington, D.C. media landscape Culture - Possesses persistence in all tasks; seeks to push through challenges and ensure excellence in deliverables - Demonstrates a commitment to excellence and a drive to exceed expectations - Seeks to understand the broader story of client work and how individual contributions support a greater narrative - Possesses a collaborative spirit, values teamwork, and demonstrates an ability to give and receive feedback and instruction - Understands how individual actions and deliverables impact the internal organization, clients and external stakeholders - Demonstrates intellectual curiosity and a willingness to learn new industries, issues and subject matter Who We Are Pinkston is a full-service branding, marketing, and communications agency offering integrated public relations, creative, digital, and research services to transform companies and organizations. As an outcome-driven agency, Pinkston is committed to delivering customized, strategic solutions that drive real-world impact. Benefits Pinkston offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes company-sponsored health, dental, and vision plans accompanied by employer-funded life insurance, HRA, and short-term disability plan. Optional long-term disability and additional Life Insurance are also available. Pinkston provides a 401k retirement plan and contributes to each employee’s retirement annually regardless of employee participation. At Pinkston, we believe great things happen when people come together and are committed to building a collaborative in-person work environment. Pinkston is also committed to a healthy work-life balance. We offer flexibility through an innovative hybrid work model that gives team members the opportunity to work from home 30% of the time. Pinkston provides generous holiday and vacation policies, paid parental leave, and an additional week of paid “volunteer time off” to encourage employees to invest time in a 501C non-profit of their choice. Equal Opportunity Employer Pinkston is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Pinkston makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.
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