Careers

Account Director (AD)

FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports To: Vice President (VP)
Department: Medical Communications
Supervises: Account Executive (AE), Senior Account Executive (SAE), and Account Supervisor (AS)

Position Summary:

The AD functions as the principal agency representative to client middle/senior levels of management. He/She is responsible for the overall development, servicing, and profitability of assigned accounts. He/She internally provides strategic leadership to the account, scientific, and creative team for the client. The AD is responsible for ongoing client satisfaction and developing additional business opportunities through building and maintaining strong client relationships. He/She provides overall direction for the account team and drives business within the team to meet or exceed the forecasted client business. The AD provides direct-line management to all personnel within a designated client service team.

Position Requirements:

Bachelor degree (minimum), preferably in the health sciences, marketing, or communications field; advanced degree a plus (MBA or master's in science). PharmD a plus
7-10 years of pharmaceutical and/or agency experience
Extensive experience estimating costs and developing budgets
Prior supervisory experience and the ability to motivate others to attain goals
Demonstrated leadership skills, both within the agency and with clients

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

In-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical and agency industry
Thorough understanding of communications planning and branding
Understanding of the science behind the disease and brand in order to contribute at more meaningful level
Comprehensive understanding of client strategic business plans
Superior oral and written communications skills
Strong analytical and problem solving skills
Ability to establish meaningful, long-term relationships with clients
Ability to guide and direct others and to develop and execute marketing/communications strategies
Ability to monitor competitor and industry developments
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Internet research
Excellent presentation, organizational, and interpersonal skills
Ability to motivate others and provide clear direction
Good financial awareness and an ability to manage profitable accounts and increase business within existing accounts
Ability to manage project allocation efficiently within the team
Ability to deal with personnel issues with tact, discretion, and authority

Position Responsibilities:

Demonstrates behavior expected of a professional member of the organization, including but not limited to:

Client management
- Ensures that the resources of the agency, department by department, are deployed with continued maximum effectiveness in line with the client's best interest
- Frequently lead the development of strategic communication (publication, advocacy development, and medical education) plans
- Guides, advises, assists, and stimulates AS in developing and presenting new proposals to their clients
- Determines manpower needs of account group for client
- Drives budgeting process
- Collaborates with VP to prepare annual client fee budget and to ensure budgets are updated as necessary
- Initiates and attends all meetings in which important strategies and plans are discussed
- Responsible for income and profitability of account
- Controls costs, such as account handling expenses, write-offs, and other concessions, in account services
- Identifies opportunities with clients to expand agency business within and across departments
Project management
- Identifies areas of potential weakness within the agency and works with team directors to find solutions
- Ensures team is following agency processes (estimates, change orders, workflow, etc.)
- Works with other team directors to ensure a consistent approach across all teams
Creative and scientific output
- Reviews and approves client/brand backgrounder for new clients prior to project kickoff meeting
- Reviews and approves briefing document
- Ultimately responsible for ensuring that creative and scientific output is on strategy, on message, and clearly exceeds the client's expectations
Agency Management
- Provides AE/JAE with research direction
- Develops proposals
- Ensures internal relationships between account group and other agency departments are productive and problem free
- Provides VP with recommendations to improve the agency or better customize services to meet client’s needs
- Anticipates and meets client’s needs
Personnel management
- Trains and supervises AE/SAE/AS
- Identifies and provides developmental opportunities for AE/SAE/AS
- Conducts AE/SAE/AS annual and midterm performance reviews
- Understands the expertise of internal team members and utilizes those resources responsibly to ensure high quality and time efficiency
- Manages, develops, and trains account team members and is instrumental in maintaining staffing efficiencies

Participates in professional growth and development:

Attends company-sponsored in-services and/or continuing education
Participates in professional development activities and maintains professional affiliations as necessary

Participates in other activities:

Performs other job duties as assigned
Cross-trains in other positions as requested

Special requirements:

Willing to travel (~30%)
Willing to work extra hours to meet impending deadlines

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Specific duties may change without notice.

jobs@medthink.com

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