Account Director

Kainos; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare communications agency in Birmingham is seeking an experienced Account Director to manage client projects and communications. You will work with internal teams to ensure that client needs are met effectively while maintaining strong relationships and financial oversight. Candidates should have a degree in life sciences, preferably a PhD, and substantial experience in account management within a healthcare or pharmaceutical environment. Strong leadership, project management, and communication skills are essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• Experience as a Senior Account Manager in a medcomms, healthcare agency, or pharma environment.
• Thorough understanding of the client's therapeutic area and ability to provide strategic input.
• Significant experience in a healthcare agency or pharmaceutical company role.

Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of the communications program for each client.
• Ensure optimal financial management of each account.
• Build and maintain professional relationships with opinion leaders.
• Support development and training of Account Executives and Managers.

Skills

Leadership skills

Project management

Analytical skills

Financial acumen

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Attention to detail

Education

Graduate in life sciences

PhD preferred

Tools

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Working as an Account Director as part of an Account Management team, alongside Medical Writers and a Creative team, to manage our client's requirements and deliver their projects.

Responsibilities

• Taking full ownership of the communications program for each client, ranging from strategic input to day‑to‑day management of tactics.
• Ensuring optimal financial management of each account and demonstrating a clear understanding of all financial processes.
• Monitoring forecast and plans in conjunction with Senior Account Managers, Account Managers and Account Executives to ensure business objectives are met, on time and within budget.
• Keeping the finance team up‑to‑date with all relevant information and managing financial issues in a timely manner.
• Maintaining a thorough understanding of the clients' business objectives, product strategy and relevant therapeutic area, and clearly communicating this to all internal team members.
• Understanding the relevant NHS organisations, policies and processes that impact the business.
• Building and maintaining professional relationships with opinion leaders (industry and NHS).
• Managing and influencing senior‑level client contacts and maintaining positive working relationships, immediately identifying issues and leading remedial action.
• Promoting OPEN Health Medical Communications services to all clients, identifying new business opportunities.
• Highlighting key issues to the GAD or Partner regarding key accounts and the account team.
• Ensuring understanding and implementation of all OPEN Health Medical Communications procedures and quality standards across all account team members.
• Ensuring all account team members take ownership of their business and appropriate levels of responsibility.
• Supporting the GAD/Partner as a senior member of the team.
• Keeping the GAD/Partner up‑to‑date on client activities.
• Contributing to discussions regarding overall company strategy.
• Coordinating effectively and efficiently with appropriate members of the team.
• Ensuring effective cross‑company working on integrated accounts where appropriate.
• Supporting the development and training of Account Executives, Account Managers and Senior Account Managers.
• Line managing AMs, SAEs, AEs where appropriate.

Qualifications

• Graduate in life sciences (ideally biomedical), higher degree (PhD) preferred.
• Experience as a Senior Account Manager in a medcomms, healthcare agency or pharma environment.
• Thorough understanding of the client's therapeutic area and the ability to provide strategic input.
• Strong understanding of science and medicine, the healthcare environment and the Medical Education/Comms industry.
• Manager, trainer, delegator.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Approachability.
• Significant experience in a healthcare agency or pharmaceutical company role.
• Excellent project management and analytical skills.
• Financial acumen.
• Ability to multitask and prioritise; excellent time‑management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Competent in using Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook.
• Sound understanding of the ABPI code of practice.