Account Director | Healthcare Policy, Advocacy & Public Affairs | London

About Hanover

Hanover is an award‑winning communications consultancy that advises enterprises, institutions, and individuals on building recognition and enhancing reputation. From our offices across Europe and the Middle East, we adopt an integrated approach that connects the dots across channels, audiences and issues. Our collective of smart, curious people think differently and live by a shared mission, purpose, vision, and values. These shape how we work, not just with our colleagues, but with clients and partners too. Our mission is to ‘rewire communications for impact’ and harness its transformative power to advocate, trailblaze and make a difference. We do this by igniting and empowering the potential of every individual within our company, recognising that each person is a unique spark, capable of creating extraordinary impact. We believe that by nurturing and harnessing the collective brilliance of our people, we can drive innovation, foster an uncommon work culture, and make a positive difference to society. Embracing the complete range of skills and services across the communications spectrum without constraint, we create the best outcomes for our clients and deliver world‑class work.

Position Overview

Hanover is actively seeking a highly experienced and dynamic Account Director to become an integral part of our Healthcare Policy, Advocacy & Public Affairs team. This is an exceptional opportunity for someone to leverage professional expertise in the healthcare sector and make a significant impact on our client services. As an Account Director, you will lead client relationships, provide senior strategic counsel and ensure delivery of high‑quality, commercially successful account programmes. You will guide clients through the complex landscape of healthcare policy, advocacy, and public affairs while leading account teams and overseeing programme delivery and budgets. The role will be based in London and offers the opportunity to work across clients we share with our offices in Brussels, Dublin and the Middle East, as well as integrated accounts with our Healthcare Communications and Digital teams. The team works across a range of services including government relations, public affairs, market access, policy, advocacy and corporate communications across health and business. With over half of the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical companies, as well as NHS providers, health technology businesses and charities among our clients, we offer a diverse and compelling range of issues and opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Lead client accounts, ensuring high‑quality delivery, strong client satisfaction and commercial performance.
• Build and lead high‑impact political and NHS campaigns to deliver tangible policy change for our clients.
• Lead high‑profile events and stakeholder engagement programmes involving politicians, policymakers, NHS stakeholders and patient groups.
• Deliver high‑quality strategic intelligence and insights to our clients by utilising the Hanover network and building your own network and expertise across policy areas.
• Maintain an uncompromising commitment to detail, rigorously reviewing all communications, reports and client deliverables to ensure accuracy and professionalism.
• Identify opportunities to grow existing client relationships and broaden Hanover’s offer across accounts.
• Develop and implement innovative strategies for growth, staying ahead of industry trends and positioning Hanover as a leader in the field.
• Take a lead on new business pitches, being a core part of the team in building creative strategies and tactics and pitching to clients.
• Deliver marketing activity to support Hanover Health’s business growth.
• Support the management of expert steering groups to drive thought‑leadership for our clients.
• Personal management of junior members of the team providing guidance on professional development.
• Active participant in championing the mission, vision, purpose, values and behaviours of Hanover.
• Recognise and value the diverse backgrounds, skills, and perspectives of all individuals at Hanover.

Requirements

• Relevant experience from a public affairs consultancy, in‑house public affairs department, patient group/NGO, Parliament, or other relevant organisation.
• Excellent knowledge of health policy and ability to analyse developments within the NHS and commercial environment.
• A proven track record of success in account management within the healthcare policy, advocacy, or public affairs sector.
• Eye for detail and ability to think critically about your own work and that of others.
• Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to inspire and guide teams towards achieving shared goals.
• Strong business acumen with experience in managing budgets and driving business growth.
• Strong strategic judgement and ability to provide credible counsel to senior clients in complex and fast‑moving policy environments.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of building rapport with clients, team members, and stakeholders at all levels.
• A commitment to professional development, both for self‑improvement and for the mentorship of junior colleagues.

Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, your core benefits package will include:

• An annual performance‑related bonus plus additional bonus potential linked to recruitment, new business and long service.
• 25 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays).
• Private healthcare and dental insurance.
• Travel insurance.
• A company pension plan, including 5% employer contribution.

You’ll also have access to a wide range of opportunities and initiatives, including:

• Flexible working policies, plus eligibility to apply for a sabbatical after 2 years’ service.
• Summer Fridays finish (3pm) – early Friday finish the rest of the year (4pm).
• The Hanover Academy, which incorporates training, coaching, mentoring and reverse‑mentoring opportunities to support personal development and career progression across all levels, with a generous training budget.
• International secondments as well as the opportunity to collaborate with all offices across the AVENIR GLOBAL’s network.
• A wellbeing programme, featuring (but not limited to) pre‑ and post‑maternity leave coaching, a working parents’ group, subsidised gym membership.
• Our Culture Club, with a robust social calendar all year round and CSR activity.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Hanover Communications is an equal opportunities employer, committed to creating and ensuring a fair, inclusive, and diverse work environment where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We believe that equality and diversity are essential to high performance and a thriving culture. We maintain a strict no‑tolerance stance against any form of discrimination and harassment, ensuring all individuals are treated equitably, irrespective of their race, ethnicity, religion, beliefs, age, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, marital or pregnancy status, genetic background, or any other attribute safeguarded under our company policies or federal, state or local laws and legislation.

We want to ensure that our hiring process is accessible. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please send an email to recruitment@hanovercomms.com with the nature of your request. We are committed to transparency about how we collect and use your data, including ensuring we comply with legal obligations relating to data protection.

Hanover is part of AVENIR GLOBAL’s powerhouse of specialist communications consultancies across EMEA and North America. Collectively we rank among the top 15 largest communication firms in the world. Find out more about Hanover and working for us.