Account Director

We are looking for a talented Account Director to join our growing team. The ideal candidate will have minimum 8+ years of successful communications and event management experience, ideally in Healthcare (Pharma, Biotech, Diagnostics).The salary is based on industry experience. This role will require travel around the UK.Your key responsibilities:

• Have an excellent understanding of the value of the business’ services, and combine these with knowledge of the latest communication and meetings & events industry changes and best practices, and apply this to create meaningful change for our clients
• Represent the business and our values with clients, partners, and at industry events. Demonstrate thought leadership and strategic expertise
• Work with the Country Head and Head of Accounts, have a deep understanding of the business’ strategic plan, and as an Account Director, how to contribute in order to support Company growth
• With input from the Country Head / Head of Accounts, create the account strategic plan and take responsibility - and support any account team members - to ensure both account retention and growth against revenue targets. Lead account forecasting
• Build strong relationships, mutual trust and earn respect, with clients
• Gain a deep understanding of clients, their organisation, internal audiences, and industry communication needs, challenges, and objectives
• Lead requests for proposal and proposal development, provide strategic direction and lead client presentations
• Build and secure project scope and appropriate project teams, with support from resourcing and production functions, based on knowledge of the client requirements and company expertise
• Utilise knowledge of client needs/challenges/objectives, and the business’ services, to provide strategic insight and appropriate direction to the internal project team, to ensure projects deliver on the client brief and achieve their objectives, to the highest quality
• Directly manage account team members as required i.e. Account Manager/Executive (roles could be located across the company’s network). Demonstrate leadership, coach, and mentor, share knowledge and expertise, help them understand the client, set a positive example, and foster a culture in-line with the company’s values. Help nurture their personal and professional growth
• Consult and collaborate with account team members and other Account Directors / Country Heads to resource account team on projects based on knowledge of account forecast, project requirements, team experience, and capacity
• Lead the project teams, providing a clear brief, motivation, and focus. Use a hands-on management style, working closely with them to ensure they understand and proactively deliver on the project brief, that upholds the vitality of the agency/client relationship
• Ensure projects are delivered within budget, acting as the day-to-day escalation point for queries. Manage client expectations and obtain client approval if scope evolves (up or down)
• Ensure project learnings are captured and carried forward to future projects.

About you:

• Excellent client management experience, confident in building relationships and pitching new ideas to senior stakeholders
• Minimum 8+ years of successful communications and event management experience, ideally in Healthcare (Pharma, Biotech, Diagnostics)
• 6+ years of business development experience, ideally with a focus on strategic communications and event planning
• Excellent understanding of event marketing and audience engagement strategies. Ideally using integrated digital communications
• The ability to assist clients in understanding and defining objectives from an audience perspective
• Ability to build new networks and identify new business opportunities, both within current client organizations and also potential new clients
• A can-do attitude, with strong collaboration and cross-functional leadership skills
• Excellent written and verbal English language communication skills
• Flexible, versatile, and copes well under pressure
• Proven experience meeting deadlines and communicating effectively with internal and external stakeholders
• Demonstrates the ability to innovate and challenge the status quo
• Experience managing a team
• Able to travel around London and the UK to attend events and meet clients.