At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic direction for client marketing and communications in a dynamic healthcare agency.
- Company: Join Cherry, a vibrant and innovative healthcare agency recognised as a Great Place to Work.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, work from anywhere policy, and an annual wellbeing allowance.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for global mobility and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping compelling narratives and strategies in healthcare.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in medical communications with strong strategic and analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 ÂŁ per year.
The Senior Planner is a senior strategic leader responsible for setting and driving the strategic direction of client marketing and communications programmes across medical communications and creative work. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, they lead strategy from brief through to delivery, translating complex scientific and commercial challenges into clear positioning, compelling narratives, and effective, compliant campaigns. They act as a trusted senior partner to clients, bridge creative and scientific disciplines, and play a central role in driving organic growth and new business through strong strategic thinking.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategy leadership
- Own and lead strategic thinking across multiple clients, brands, and therapy areas.
- Develop clear brand strategies, positioning, value propositions, and singleâminded propositions.
- Create and own commercial and scientific narratives, message architectures, and strategic frameworks.
- Build deep understanding of clinician, patient, payer, and commercial team behaviour and motivation.
- Lead insight generation through research, HCP interviews, workshops, client immersion, field visits, desk research, and social listening.
- Apply persuasive frameworks appropriately (e.g. Challenger, AIDA, SPIN) to shape strategy and messaging.
- Write exceptional creative springboard briefs that inspire strong, effective work.
- Maintain strategic integrity throughout creative, writing, and scientific development.
- Provide strategic direction and quality control across outputs.
- Act as a senior strategic partner to clients, offering clarity, challenge, and confidence.
- Influence and engage senior stakeholders with authority and credibility.
- Independently lead and facilitate client workshops (strategy, positioning, messaging, brand planning).
- Present and sell strategic thinking through clear, compelling storytelling.
- Work effectively with both regional and global client teams.
- Demonstrate strong understanding of medical regulations and compliance requirements across EMEA.
- Partner closely with Account Handling, Creative, and Medical Writing teams.
- Ensure effective collaboration across disciplines with clear expectations, inputs, and timings.
- Act as a senior strategic voice within the agency, providing guidance and challenge.
- Lead or significantly shape the strategic direction of pitches and new business opportunities.
- Proactively identify opportunities to grow existing accounts through strategic value.
- Support Account Directors in scoping and pricing strategic work appropriately.
- Contribute to new business development through strong strategic leadership.
- Demonstrate commercial acumen and understanding of how strategy drives client and agency success.
- Generate new business opportunities through personal network and outreach.
- Contribute to the evolution of the agency's strategic tools and processes.
- Embed strategic best practice across the business.
- Maintain strong awareness of market dynamics, competitor activity, and emerging trends.
- Build close networks across the other AVENIR GLOBAL brands.
- Lead by example, modelling strong strategic behaviours and standards.
- Informally coach and mentor junior strategists and crossâfunctional team members.
- Be influential and persuasive while remaining collaborative and constructive.
- Actively listen for strong ideas and incorporate them into strategic thinking.
Experience
- Approximately 10+ years' experience in medical communications and/or creative agencies.
- Strong background in strategy, planning, or account handling.
- Proven experience independently developing positioning, narratives, and campaign strategies.
- Demonstrated experience leading client workshops and pitches.
- Experience working with regional and global pharmaceutical clients.
- Strong understanding of medical regulations and compliance across EMEA.
Skills And Attributes
- Outstanding strategic, analytical, and problemâsolving skills.
- Strong ability to uncover, interpret, and articulate powerful insights.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Confident facilitator and presenter, comfortable leading senior stakeholders.
- Able to balance creativity with scientific and regulatory rigour.
- Structured, logical thinker comfortable managing complex challenges.
- Highly selfâmotivated, organised, and effective working autonomously.
- Collaborative, commercially minded, and outcomeâfocused.
About Cherry
We're not just another healthcare agency. At Cherry, we're a vibrant collective of thinkers, creators, and innovators who believe the best work happens when we combine intimate knowledge of our clients' needs and external expertise. Our culture is dynamic, supportive, and adventurous and we've been recognised as a Great Place to Work for six years running, including awards for Best Workplace, Best Workplace for Women, Best Workplace for Wellbeing, and Best Workplace in Consulting & Professional Services. At Cherry we work collaboratively in a hybrid model, with a minimum of 3x days per week in our office near London Bridge.
What We Offer
- 25 days holiday per year (which increases with tenure)
- Work From Anywhere Policy (for 20 days per year you can work from anywhere abroad)
- Annual Wellbeing Allowance, to spend on whatever that makes you happy
- 2 x volunteer days per year - to support a cause close to you!
- Christmas Office Closure
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Private health/free travel insurance for you and your family
- Enhanced family friendly & women's health policies
- Enhanced employer pension contribution
- Mobility program - being part of a wider group enables employees the opportunity to work from one of our global offices (US, Canada, Europe, UAE) for short/mid/long term secondments
Senior Strategy Consultant in London employer: Cherry
Contact Detail:
Cherry Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice đ¤Ť
We think this is how you could land Senior Strategy Consultant in London
â¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks on LinkedIn or at events. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Senior Strategy Consultant gig.
â¨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Prepare a portfolio or case studies that highlight your strategic thinking and successful campaigns. When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, let your work do the talking.
â¨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills. When you're in interviews, be ready to share compelling narratives about your past experiences. Make sure to connect your stories to the role and how you can drive growth for their clients.
â¨Tip Number 4
Donât forget to apply through our website! Itâs the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows youâre genuinely interested in joining our vibrant team at Cherry.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Strategy Consultant in London
Some tips for your application đŤĄ
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Strategy Consultant role. Highlight your experience in medical communications and strategy, and show how your skills align with what weâre looking for at Cherry.
Showcase Your Strategic Thinking: In your application, demonstrate your ability to think strategically. Use examples from your past work where youâve developed brand strategies or led client workshops. We want to see how you can translate complex challenges into clear narratives.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to convey your ideas. Remember, we appreciate strong written communication skills, so make every word count!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. Itâs the best way for us to receive your application and ensures youâre considered for the role. Plus, it shows youâre keen on joining our vibrant team at Cherry!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cherry
â¨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the medical communications landscape and the specific challenges faced by clients in this field. Brush up on key regulations and compliance requirements across EMEA, as this knowledge will be crucial in demonstrating your expertise during the interview.
â¨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Prepare to discuss your previous experiences where you've led strategic initiatives. Be ready to share examples of how you've developed brand strategies, positioning, and compelling narratives. Use frameworks like AIDA or SPIN to illustrate your thought process and how you apply them in real-world scenarios.
â¨Engage with Storytelling
Since storytelling is a big part of the role, practice presenting your ideas in a clear and compelling way. Think about how you can weave your experiences into a narrative that showcases your ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders effectively.
â¨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Highlight your experience working with cross-functional teams. Be prepared to discuss how you've partnered with creative, account handling, and medical writing teams to achieve strategic goals. Show that you can lead workshops and facilitate discussions while remaining collaborative and constructive.