Account Director à Grande-Bretagne

It's not every day we have a chance to make the world a healthier place—but here, it’s our way of life. Idealistic? Maybe. Deeply pragmatic? Always. Real Chemistry is a global health innovation company that has carved out its space at the intersection between healthcare, marketing and communications, tech, and the people at the heart of it all. It’s with a great sense of purpose that we work together with brave health and wellness companies to create and inspire healthier, happier, and longer lives. It’s our passion. And if you’re still reading, we’re guessing it might be yours too. We are looking to add to our alchemic mix of more than 2,000 talented professionals. At Real Chemistry, we don’t just wish the world was healthier. We leverage tech, data and creativity to make it so. You in?

Job summary:

As an Associate Account Director, you will be responsible for excellence in delivery across projects within medium-to-large and often complex client accounts. As a client account lead or captain (depending on size of account) you will provide strategic counsel to clients, manage execution of parallel ongoing projects and oversee a cross-functional internal team alongside the account lead and/or sponsor.

Stepping up from the Senior Account Manager role will see you take more of a defined leadership role within your accounts, with an increasing focus on guiding the team as they drive deliverables, actively checking and maintaining client satisfaction, and proactively seeking opportunities to grow the account.

Responsibilities:

Client delivery

• Go-to for clients, managing relationships and setting their expectations of the agency
• Accountable for a portfolio of projects within at least two medium-to-large client accounts – with view across all projects and how they all work together within the master client strategy
• Ensure work is delivered to the highest standard and within agreed timeframes and budgets
• Troubleshoot and provide solutions to client challenges and last-minute requests, manage challenging client conversations as required
• Have the confidence to challenge clients as needed – ensuring only the best work is delivered
• Maintain knowledge of clients' business and external factors impacting it, providing counsel and shifting programme direction as needed
• Confidently formulate objectives and strategies for new client work, ensuring that programme strategy is pulled through
• Regular, proactive client contact and coaching others to build/maintain positive client relationships
• Facilitate client meetings/workshops and manage challenging client conversations when required

Business development

• Identify areas for organic growth within existing accounts (evolving existing programmes and/or additional tactics) and confidently sell new ideas to clients
• Identify new business opportunities outside of existing accounts and explore with the support of senior leadership
• Support the ongoing new business process, assisting in the production of credentials and participating in broader RFP responses when possible
• Lead development of content for the annual internal account planning process

Team management

• Develop your own authentic leadership style, instilling professional values and good working habits in your teams
• Inspire, motivate, and empower your team on a daily basis, leading by example and setting the standard for junior accounts team members
• Protect and promote our team culture, ensuring it is lived at every level through the Medical Communications team
• Facilitate and encourage cross-learning and sharing of best practices between team members
• Promote clear and free-flowing communication lines between accounts, MW, PM, creative, strategists and any other business functions active within your client accounts; support troubleshooting where issues arise, along with account Sponsors as required
• Provide coaching and mentoring to junior team members and manage their performance
• Support interviewing for new AAs – AMs
• Line manage at least one accounts team member AA – AM, providing day-to-day support and longer-term career development guidance

Financial management

• Take responsibility for financial management of your client business and participate actively in the monthly financial process
• Develop accurate budgets for more complex client programmes and track resource use against available budget throughout the month
• Coach others to develop accurate budgets for clients, reflecting back on previous projects and gathering cost quotes
• Accurately forecast and proactively alert senior leadership to any changes/potential slowing down of business
• Manage invoicing, track receipt of client POs, and attend month-end finance meetings
• Ensure the profitability of your accounts, addressing any problems such as over-service or scope creep

Agency environment

• Participate in internal initiatives which contribute to the culture or development of the Medical Communications team, or Real Chemistry more broadly (e.g., compliance/socials/inspiration)
• Keep abreast of award-winning work and insights from other industries, sharing as appropriate

Required skills and experience:

• Excellent business communication skills, including informal/formal presentation and writing skills
• Skilled in data communication and able to develop final documents and presentations
• Able to develop solutions to client needs and problems, with a strong work ethic and a track record of high-quality deliverables on schedule and on budget
• Previous line management experience (ideally have had at least one formal line)
• High energy, able to effectively operate in a fast-paced, growing and evolving environment

Working with Real HART: Since the pandemic, we have adapted to how our people told us they want to work. We have offices in cities with many employees and clients – New York, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Carmel (IN), Manchester (UK), Edinburgh (UK), and London (UK) – that serve as hubs where and when they need us. For employees who are within an hour of one of our offices, we expect attendance in the office two days per week, either at a Real Chemistry office or onsite with clients. We are not looking for attendance for the sake of attendance but believe that the opportunity to coordinate in-office team meetings, 1:1 meetings with managers, taking advantage of on-site learning, and connecting with client partners is critical to delivering on our purpose of making healthcare what it should be. Outside of these offices, we have regions, where people work remotely but come together quarterly for collaboration, culture and learning opportunities. We call this our Real Hybrid and Regional Teams (Real HART) approach. Real Chemistry believes we are best together – and our workplace strategy fosters connection and collaboration in person – but also supports flexibility for our people.

Real Chemistry offers a comprehensive benefit program and perks, including a primary office location near in Moorgate, 25 days holiday, private medical insurance, dental insurance, pension contributions and a five-week sabbatical program. Other perks include health and wellness reimbursements, happy hours, and free healthy snacks to keep you running all day long. Learn more about our great benefits and perks at: http://www.realchemistry.com/.

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