Associate Strategy Director (Clinical Trials)

Publicis Groupe UK; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health communications agency in London is seeking an Associate Strategy Director to shape strategic direction in Clinical Trial Experience. This role involves leading impactful strategies for key accounts and business opportunities while mentoring team members. Strong expertise in strategy development and client relationship management is required. The position offers a hybrid working model and excellent employee benefits.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

Full pay for family milestones

Mental health support helpline

Local discounts and perks

Qualifications

• Proven experience working as a Strategist to a senior level within healthcare/medcomms agency.
• Ability to interpret and communicate complex science quickly.
• Experience in developing and leading strategies for new business pitches.

Responsibilities

• Leads the development of strategy for key accounts and new business proposals.
• Synthesizes strategic insights into actionable recommendations.
• Builds influential client and external stakeholder relationships.

Skills

Strategic insights translation

Client relationship management

Mentoring

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

Degree in Life Sciences

Job description

BRAND: Langland
Job Function: Strategy
Location: London, United Kingdom
Experience Level: Specialist
Workplace Type: Hybrid

Company description

Who we are

Langland, a Publicis Health company, is the only health communications agency that thinks further across Clinical Trial Experience, Medical Strategy & Education, Public Relations & Engagement, and Advertising, to create unique value with visionary clients.

What we believe

Health brings us together. In the diseases we suffer, the medicines we create, and the causes we champion, health shows us our collective humanity. When we break the barriers that divide us, when we think further, we can create healthier futures, together.

A passion for craft

Having expert thinking is only part of our story. To ensure excellence in everything we make, we have centred our disciplines around three essential crafts: science, strategy and creativity.

Overview

As an Associate Strategy Director working within Langland's Clinical Trial Experience team, you will play a central role in shaping strategic direction across a diverse portfolio of projects, collaborating closely with clients and internal teams. Drawing on your expertise, you will lead the development of impactful strategies across key accounts and new business opportunities, ensuring our solutions are insight‑driven and tailored to the unique needs of each clinical trial. Your ability to synthesise complex information and translate it into actionable recommendations will be crucial in supporting our clients with recruitment and retention of their clinical trials.

You will act as a visible strategic partner to client leads, providing proactive guidance, mentoring team members on the value of robust Clinical Trial Experience strategy, and championing integrated approaches across disciplines. With a deep awareness of industry trends and a passion for breaking down barriers in health, you will identify and pursue opportunities for organic growth and innovation. Above all, you will embody Langland's commitment to excellence.

Please note: this role is a 12-month fixed-term contract.

Responsibilities

• Leads the development of strategy for both key accounts (at a study, programme or client level) and new business proposals with minimal senior support
• Able to synthesize and translate complex strategic insights into actionable recommendations for range of different types of clinical trials (different phases, complexity)
• Able to identify and proactively pursue opportunities for organic growth with existing clients and identifies new opportunities for integrated approaches/other disciplines or services
• Acts as visible strategic partner to client leads, providing strategic solutions for projects
• Mentors the wider team on the value of CTE strategy in providing robust solutions
• Proactively identifies opportunities for active involvement by the CTE strategy team in CTE and other LL disciplines
• Develops and maintains awareness of trends within pharma and biotech, specifically with relevance to the patient recruitment space, and what capabilities clients are looking for from vendors
• Builds influential client and external stakeholder relationships that can be leveraged for insights and/or business opportunities
• Leads and inspires the CTE strategy team

Qualifications

• You should hold a degree in Life Sciences (BSc minimum)
• Proven experience working as a Strategist to a senior level within a healthcare/medcomms agency, with strong new business experience
• Proven expertise in upskilling on new therapy areas, interpreting and communicating complex science in short timeframes
• Significant experience in developing and leading scientific, brand and creative strategy for new business pitches and ongoing client work based on insights and multiple perspectives
• Willing to work across all types of projects and tasks and thrive in a pressured environment where pinpoint execution is key
• Exceptional communication skills and be a logical, confident 'voice'
• Relationship management experience and ability to interact efficiently with various stakeholders at all organisational levels
• Strong attention to detail and an ability to influence and listen
• Be willing to learn and ask questions to aid yours and the agencies development
• Inquisitive, proactive, and motivated to deliver solutions

Additional information

Langland has fantastic benefits on offer to all of our employees. In addition to the classics, Pension, Life Assurance, Private Medical and Income Protection Plans we also offer;

• WORK YOUR WORLD opportunity to work anywhere in the world, where there is a Publicis office, for up to 6 weeks a year.
• "YOU" DAYS - flexibility to take a day off for your well‑being and self‑care without prior notice and additional paid leave for volunteering and charity work of your choice.
• HELP@HAND BENEFITS 24/7 helpline to support you on a personal and professional level. Access to remote GPs, mental health support and CBT. Wellbeing content and lifestyle coaching.
• FAMILY FRIENDLY POLICIES We provide 26 weeks of full pay for the following family milestones: Maternity. Adoption, Surrogacy and Shared Parental Leave.
• FLEXIBLE WORKING & BANK HOLIDAY SWAP You can switch a religious Bank Holiday (either Good Friday or Easter Monday) for another day to celebrate a religious, spiritual, faith or belief‑based day of your choosing.
• GREAT LOCAL DISCOUNTS This includes membership discounts with Soho Friends, local restaurants and retailers in Westfield White City and Television Centre.

Full details of our benefits will be shared when you join us!

Publicis Groupe operates a hybrid working pattern with full time employees being office‑based three days during the working week.

We are supportive of all candidates and are committed to providing a fair assessment process. If you have any circumstances (such as neurodiversity, physical or mental impairments or a medical condition) that may affect your assessment, please inform your Talent Acquisition Partner. We will discuss possible adjustments to ensure fairness. Rest assured, disclosing this information will not impact your treatment in our process.

Please make sure you check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAG's (Employee Action Groups).