Account Director

Job Description

Account Director – Medical Communications

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The Opportunity:

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Our client is seeking an experienced Account Director to lead and grow key client relationships within a fast-paced medical communications agency.

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This role is ideal for a strategically minded and commercially astute client services professional with a strong background in medical communications. You will act as a trusted partner to clients, providing strategic counsel and overseeing the successful delivery of a broad range of programmes and deliverables.

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You will take ownership of client relationships, account performance, financial management, organic growth, and team development, while working closely with scientific, creative, and operational teams to deliver high-quality work.

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A strong people leader, you will lead by example, provide clear direction, and support the development of a high-performing account team.

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Key Responsibilities

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Client Leadership & Strategic Partnership:

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• Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders, becoming a valued strategic partner and primary point of contact.
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• Develop a deep understanding of each client's business, strategic priorities, therapeutic areas, brands, and broader market environment.
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• Lead strategic conversations and provide proactive counsel that helps clients navigate challenges and identify new opportunities.
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• Partner closely with scientific and senior agency leads to shape and implement effective communications, brand, franchise, medical, or publication strategies.
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• Translate client objectives into clear, actionable plans and ensure internal teams are aligned around the right priorities.
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• Anticipate potential challenges before they arise and provide practical, commercially sound solutions.
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• Ensure clients have access to the appropriate scientific, strategic, creative, digital, and operational expertise across their programmes.
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• Maintain awareness of competitor activity, industry developments, and changes within the pharmaceutical and healthcare landscape.
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• Drive consistently high levels of client satisfaction and identify opportunities to strengthen and expand relationships.
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Account & Programme Leadership:

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• Provide senior oversight across multiple accounts, programmes, and workstreams, ensuring work is delivered on time, within scope, and to the highest quality standards.
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• Lead account teams with clear direction, ensuring priorities, responsibilities, and expectations are understood.
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• Work closely with scientific, creative, and project management teams to develop practical and effective delivery plans.
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• Maintain visibility across programmes, identifying risks, dependencies, and potential roadblocks early and taking appropriate action.
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• Ensure internal teams are appropriately briefed and equipped with the information they need to deliver successful outcomes.
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• Provide senior input and quality oversight across client work, partnering with scientific leads where appropriate.
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• Take a hands-on approach when required, supporting teams through complex projects and high-pressure situations.
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• Champion efficient ways of working and contribute to the continued improvement of internal processes and account management best practices.
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Financial & Commercial Leadership:

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• Take ownership of the commercial performance and financial health of assigned accounts.
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• Lead budgeting, forecasting, revenue planning, WIP management, and invoicing activities with accuracy and accountability.
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• Monitor account profitability and proactively address potential financial risks or challenges.
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• Ensure project scope, budgets, timelines, and deliverables are clearly defined and effectively managed throughout the lifecycle of each programme.
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• Identify and manage scope changes, ensuring additional work is appropriately communicated, budgeted, and recovered.
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• Maintain open and transparent conversations with clients around budgets, investment, and programme requirements.
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• Partner with senior leadership, finance, and operations teams to ensure accounts are appropriately resourced and commercially sustainable.
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• Promote strong financial discipline across the wider account team.
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Organic Growth & Business Development:

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• Take an active role in identifying opportunities to deepen and grow existing client relationships.
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• Develop a strong understanding of client needs and proactively introduce new ideas, capabilities, and solutions.
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• Lead or contribute to annual account planning and longer-term growth strategies.
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• Develop proposals, scopes of work, and strategic recommendations in response to new client opportunities.
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• Lead smaller pitches and support senior leadership on larger new business opportunities.
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• Contribute confidently to pitch development and client presentations.
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• Encourage commercial thinking across the account team and create an environment where new opportunities are actively identified and pursued.
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Team Leadership & Development:

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• Lead and develop direct reports, providing clear direction, meaningful feedback, and ongoing support.
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• Create a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team environment.
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• Coach and mentor junior and mid-level team members, supporting their development and progression.
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• Delegate effectively, balancing empowerment with the appropriate level of oversight.
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• Provide constructive feedback in real time and support team members in building their confidence and capabilities.
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• Help establish and embed best practices across the client services function.
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• Foster strong collaboration between client services, scientific, creative, digital, and operational teams.
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• Lead by example, demonstrating sound judgement, professionalism, resilience, and a solutions-focused approach.
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Experience & Qualifications:

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• Significant experience working within a medical communications agency .
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• Proven experience in a senior client services or account management position, ideally at Account Director level or equivalent.
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• A strong track record of leading complex client accounts and managing multiple programmes simultaneously.
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• Broad experience across a range of medical communications deliverables, clients, and therapeutic areas.
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• Strong scientific and pharmaceutical industry understanding, with the ability to engage confidently with complex medical subject matter.
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• Demonstrated experience providing strategic counsel and building trusted relationships with senior-level clients.
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• Strong commercial acumen, including experience managing budgets, forecasting, revenue, WIP, invoicing, and account profitability.
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• A proven ability to identify and convert opportunities for organic account growth.
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• Previous experience managing, mentoring, and developing client services professionals.
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• Excellent project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced agency environment.
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• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
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• A thorough understanding of the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory requirements, and medical communications best practices.
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• Experience working effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
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• A degree in a scientific, medical, healthcare, or related discipline is preferred.
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