Account Director, Commercial, Healthcare Practice

In our dedicated Healthcare Practice, we help our healthcare clients bring products, services, and propositions to life, turning complex concepts into simple and compelling messages. As you’d expect, we’re strong on the science. But we also provide creative flare and strategic know-how, delivering programmes built on unique ideas and insights. We communicate science with passion. It’s a combination that leads to measurable and meaningful outcomes.

What sets our healthcare team apart is their enthusiasm, authenticity, and professional and personal approach. A team that you will enjoy working with.

The Role

Over the past three years, Madano’s Healthcare Practice has grown significantly to become one of the UK’s largest focused healthcare communications offerings. To support our continued growth, we’re looking for an Account Director, to work on our rapidly expanding commercial pharma business. Account Directors are integral to leading teams to deliver exceptional work for our clients, across a variety of therapy areas and projects. We are seeking a highly experienced and dynamic Account Director to join our team.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in commercial/marketing programmes, exceptional leadership skills and a proven track record of managing and growing client accounts. As an Account Director, you will be the day-to-day lead for multiple clients, responsible for leading client relationships, overseeing the strategic direction and execution of plans, and ensuring the successful execution and delivery of high-impact programmes that foster long-term client relationships.

Key Responsibilities:

• Client Relationship Management: Act as the primary point of contact between Madano and key clients, ensuring clear and effective communication and building strong and trusted relationships. Understand client needs and objectives to provide strategic guidance and tailored solutions. Lead client meetings, presentations and discussions to effectively shape and guide projects, share insights and provide recommendations. Develop a deep understanding of each client's business, products, and industry landscape. Proactively identify opportunities to enhance client satisfaction and address any concerns. Build trust and credibility with clients through consistent delivery of high-quality work.
• Strategic Planning and Execution: Develop and implement strategic communication plans and strategies that align with client objectives and industry trends and are tailored to client goals. Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of commercial projects. Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget. Be able to monitor project performance, identify potential risks and implement corrective actions as needed. Coordinate with internal teams where needed - including other Madano practices and AVENIR GLOBAL brands - to ensure alignment and understanding of project goals and to provide an integrated approach to project delivery. Monitor industry developments and incorporate relevant insights into strategic plans.
• Team Leadership and Development: Lead and mentor a team of account managers, account executives and medical writers. Foster a culture of collaboration, creativity, and accountability within the team. Provide regular feedback, guidance and support to team members to achieve their professional goals.
• Business Development: Identify opportunities for account growth and new business development. Contribute to the agency's growth by expanding existing accounts and securing new clients. Lead brainstorming sessions to generate innovative ideas and solutions. Develop and present compelling proposals and pitches to potential clients. Collaborate with the business development team to expand the agency's client base. Build and maintain a network of industry contacts and potential clients. Participate in industry events and conferences to promote the agency's expertise. Develop and oversee the management of account budgets, ensuring financial targets are met. Identify resourcing needs and support with capacity planning and financial forecasting. Track and report on account financial performance, including revenue and profitability. Negotiate favourable terms and agreements with clients and vendors. Ensure accurate and timely invoicing and payment collection. Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality.
• Quality Assurance: Establish and maintain quality standards for all client deliverables. Implement processes and checklists to ensure consistency and accuracy in project execution. Conduct regular reviews of project work to identify areas for improvement. Solicit client feedback to continuously enhance service quality. Address any quality issues promptly and implement corrective actions.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, communications, marketing, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a fast-paced communications environment (in-house or agency) focused specifically on commercial programmes, with proven experience in senior account management and client relationship building.
• Strong understanding of working on large-scale commercial programmes bringing to bear experience including brand positioning, launch planning, omnichannel and promotional material development.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and motivate a team.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively to solve complex problems.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in project management tools and software.

What the role can offer you:

• The opportunity to work with varied and dynamic clients across the healthcare space.
• The chance to work with a well-established, hard-working, and collaborative team.
• The ability to work alongside some of the most talented people in the industry, including specialists in our Insights & Analytics, Digital and Creative teams.
• First rate, dedicated training that will enable you to take control of your career, continue to develop as an expert in the field of healthcare communications, and become a trusted advisor to clients.
• An opportunity to progress your career in a fast-growing Consultancy.

Our recruitment process can consist of virtual interviews, in-person interviews, and written tasks. Please let us know if you have any accessibility requirements so that we can accommodate your needs during this process. We embrace the use of AI across our business and see it as a valuable tool in our work. However, as part of our recruitment process, we ask candidates not to use AI to generate application content or complete written tasks. Submissions may be reviewed using AI detection tools to ensure we can fairly assess each candidate’s own skills and experience. AI use is encouraged once in role.

Our Benefits:

• 25 days’ holiday plus Bank Holidays (rising to a maximum of 30 days alongside length of service)
• Enhanced employer pension contribution
• Private Medical insurance (for you and your family)
• Income Protection insurance
• Financial support and advice
• Travel insurance (for you and your family)
• An annual wellness benefit of £150
• Four-week sabbatical after every 5 years’ service.

Madano offers a range of first-rate, dedicated training that enables employees to take control of their careers to become experts in their field and trusted advisors to clients.

Madano is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and non-discrimination. At all times we aim to recruit, develop and promote the very best people, basing judgement solely on suitability for the job. We particularly encourage applications from those who are significantly underrepresented in our sector, such as disabled people, ethnic minorities and neurodiverse people.

We are committed to transparency about how we collect and use your data, including ensuring we comply with legal obligations relating to data protection.