Account Director | Healthcare Communications | London

We are seeking a driven professional to serve as Account Director in our Healthcare Communications team. You will play a pivotal role in delivering strategic guidance to our esteemed public relations clientele, overseeing account management, team leadership, and budgeting. The role involves spearheading new business initiatives, from identifying prospects to leading pitches, and nurturing the professional growth of junior team members up to the Consultant level. Our client roster includes prominent names such as Lilly, AstraZeneca and Merck. Joining our team means bringing your expertise to a diverse array of projects, spanning product PR, patient advocacy, corporate communications, and media relations, within stimulating therapeutic fields including neuroscience, immunology, and cardiometabolic health.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide timely and relevant strategic advice to clients informed by broad intelligence-gathering on client, sector and competitors and policy environment.
• Project manage and supervise the delivery of all client services across multiple accounts.
• Exhibit a willingness to challenge the status quo, innovate, and embrace new ideas to drive the business forward.
• Lead regular client meetings and internal account management meetings, reviewing progress and allocating tasks.
• Manage account teams, providing direction and support to ensure high-quality client service.
• Manage client budgets and adhere to company budget setting and management processes.
• Ensure timely and accurate billing to ensure client needs are met within budget.
• Project manage activities focused on new business development, including marketing and new business pipeline management.
• Demonstrate an active and ever-expanding new business network that can provide significant opportunities for Hanover.
• Identify opportunities to cross-sell services between Hanover teams and/or offices.
• Provide personal management and mentoring of junior members of the team, up to Consultant level, providing guidance to improve quality of work, overall efficiency and foster a culture of excellence.
• Conduct performance reviews and support career progression for team members.
• Champion diversity and inclusion within the team and in client work, ensuring a range of perspectives are considered and valued.

Skills & Experience

• Proven track record of experience working in a healthcare / pharmaceutical PR role, ideally within a consultancy or in-house team.
• Proven media relations expertise with network of UK or international media connections.
• Proficient in both healthcare product and corporate communications.
• A willingness to challenge the status quo, innovate, and embrace new ideas to drive the business forward.
• Ability to lead teams and drive client accounts.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Effective time, project and financial management.
• Client focused with close attention to detail.
• Familiarity with relevant media (print, broadcast and digital) and digital communication channels.
• Proactive and experienced in developing new business.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with 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.
• Company pension plan, including 5% employer contribution.
• Flexible working policies, with eligibility to apply for a sabbatical after 2 years’ service.
• Summer Fridays finish (3 pm) – early Friday finish the rest of the year (4 pm).
• Access to the Hanover Academy, incorporating training, coaching, mentoring and reverse‑mentoring opportunities with a generous training budget.
• International secondments and opportunity to collaborate with all offices across the AVENIR GLOBAL network.
• Wellbeing programme featuring pre‑ and post‑maternity leave coaching, a working parents’ group and subsidised gym membership.
• Culture Club with a robust social calendar and CSR activity.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement

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 discrimination and harassment, ensuring all individuals are treated equitably, irrespective of 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.

Data Privacy

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