At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead dynamic projects, align teams, and ensure client satisfaction in a creative agency.
- Company: Havas Life London, a pioneering health and wellness agency reimagining industry standards.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, vibrant culture, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with a focus on collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Join a fearless team driving innovation and creativity in global health communications.
- Qualifications: Experience in project management, strong leadership, and excellent communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Havas Life London is not just evolving; we’re reimagining what a health and wellness agency can be. We’re building a destination for the brightest minds, the boldest ideas, and the kind of creativity that reshapes industries. We’re a collective of curious thinkers, courageous makers, and kind collaborators. The culture we’re building is fast, fearless, and future-facing, driven by a belief that creativity is the most powerful force for growth.
We are vibrant collaborators, smart decision-makers, and believers in a win-or-learn mindset. Our emerging creative culture is built on curiosity, courage, and kindness. We expect more from ourselves and those who join our high-performance team. As part of the Havas Health network, we’re pushing boundaries, embracing AI and emerging tech, and reimagining how strategic creativity can unlock new value for clients across the globe. We’re here to make London the beating heart of global health communications.
The role involves partnering with Client Relations and cross-functional talent. The Account Director has dynamic problem-solving skills, strong commercial insight, and the ability to understand and align client expectations with internal capabilities. Through deep client relationships and harnessing processes, talent, and technology, project management at Havas Life London will enable ideas to be transformed into impactful outcomes, consistently upholding the highest standards of quality and client satisfaction.
The Account Director is responsible for ensuring the delivery of successful complex projects, aligning talent through a shared vision and clear expectations based on client need, and managing project scope, budgets, and milestones. Managing client discussions on all project aspects and driving excellence across all project phases, from inception to execution and continuous improvement, the Account Director will partner across functions to ensure project performance, alignment to client requirements, and meeting the agency’s highest standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Partner with cross-functional leads to strategically align talent-to-task across complex projects, incorporating governance and talent planning to support delivery excellence, cost-effective delivery and operational efficiency.
- Ensure alignment of project vision and define accountability for an insights-led brief as a foundation for success and potential to deliver award-winning work.
- Actively participate in and influence conversations around project outputs, ensuring creativity and innovation are protected during the project and aligned to the client’s brief.
- Nurture trusted cross-functional internal relationships, managing diverse stakeholders and fostering seamless collaboration.
- Lead the planning, initiation, and execution of projects, ensuring alignment with client expectations and agency standards.
- Lead effective project kick-offs and briefings internally and with the client to ensure alignment on the shared project vision, expectations and success metrics.
- Develop project foundations and maintain project management tools (job codes, timelines, defined deliverables, budget, trackers).
- Manage project workflow to drive momentum for delivery, monitoring project quality and project health at all phases.
- Lead project wrap-ups internally and with the client to review overall project health, wins and learns, and client satisfaction.
- Proactively drive continuous improvement, identifying opportunities to refine processes and enhance team performance.
- Oversee talent allocation and talent planning across projects, resolving conflicts and ensuring optimal delivery capacity through weekly talent reviews.
- Champion talent development, identifying skill gaps and opportunities for growth to support evolving project needs and agency ambitions.
- Serve as a senior point of contact for clients, providing strategic guidance and assurance across all aspects of project delivery.
- Lead the client discussion on all project aspects, providing clarity and assurance, ensuring appropriate engagement of cross-functional specialists.
- Partner with the Client Relations Lead, building and maintaining strong, trust-based relationships through clear communication and structured Project Management, and identifying and nurturing organic growth opportunities.
- Develop and manage project budgets, monitor financial performance, project recoverability and on-budget delivery through monthly reconciliations.
- Effectively manage scope and scope changes, keeping the client informed of impact, together with Client Relationship Leads, and reflect changes in project management tools.
- Champion use of approved network AI tools to drive operational efficiencies, consistency and task automation.
- Provide regular updates to Client Relations Lead and cross-functional team, Project Management peers and agency leadership on project risks, issues, and performance metrics.
- Establish and track KPIs to measure project success, team performance, and client satisfaction, using insights to inform future planning and decision-making.
- Effective management of direct line reports, including timely completion of annual reviews.
- Mentor Project Management juniors and peers to support personal growth and identify training needs and opportunities.
About you
- Proven experience in project management within a creative, digital, or agency environment with a bias towards medical communications.
- Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills, including client-facing and relationship skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects, budgets, and resources effectively.
- Excellent communication abilities, including active listening and clear articulation of plans, updates, and issues.
- Strategic and analytical thinking to support problem solving and decision making.
Account Director employer: Havas Life London
Havas Life London is an exceptional employer, fostering a vibrant and collaborative culture that thrives on creativity and innovation. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer opportunities for professional development and mentorship within a fast-paced environment that champions a 'patient-first' mentality. Located in the heart of London, our agency not only pushes the boundaries of health communications but also embraces emerging technologies, making it an exciting place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Account Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy to reach out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your personality! When you get the chance to meet potential employers, whether it’s in an interview or casual chat, let your unique self shine through. They’re looking for someone who fits into their vibrant culture, so be authentic and engaging.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky questions! Research common interview questions for Account Directors and think about how your experience aligns with what they’re looking for. Practise your answers, but keep it natural – you want to sound confident, not rehearsed.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After an interview, shoot a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity. It shows you’re keen and keeps you fresh in their minds. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate why you’d be a perfect fit for their team!
We think you need these skills to ace Account Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Creative Side:When you're writing your application, let your creativity shine through! We want to see how you can think outside the box and bring fresh ideas to the table. Use engaging language and examples that reflect your unique approach to problem-solving.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application for the Account Director role. Highlight your relevant experience in project management and client relations, and connect it back to what we’re doing at Havas Life London. Show us why you’re the perfect fit for our vibrant team!
Be Clear and Concise:While we love creativity, clarity is key! Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where necessary to make it easy for us to see your skills and achievements at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our innovative team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Havas Life London
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Havas Life London's mission and values. Understand their approach to health and wellness communications, and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their vision of creativity and collaboration.
✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills
Prepare specific examples of complex projects you've managed. Highlight your ability to align talent with tasks, manage budgets, and ensure client satisfaction. Use metrics to demonstrate your success in previous roles.
✨Be a Problem Solver
During the interview, expect to discuss challenges you've faced in project management. Frame your answers around how you approached these issues with strategic thinking and creativity, showcasing your dynamic problem-solving skills.
✨Build Relationships
Emphasise your experience in nurturing cross-functional relationships. Talk about how you've collaborated with diverse stakeholders and maintained trust-based client relationships, as this is crucial for the Account Director role.