Planning Director

Havas; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare advertising agency is looking for a Planning Director to lead strategic initiatives and mentor teams. This role is essential for driving impactful advertising within the pharmaceutical sector. The ideal candidate will possess extensive healthcare experience, excellent leadership skills, and a track record of successful client interactions. The position is hybrid, based in Manchester, and offers a competitive benefits package including generous holiday leave and life insurance.

Benefits

Hybrid working options

Starting holiday allowance of 28 days

Enhanced family leave pay

Wellbeing programme

Qualifications

• Previous agency experience in a similar role is required.
• Extensive healthcare experience is essential.
• Proven track record in leading creative teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic initiatives for the agency.
• Build strong relationships with clients.
• Mentor and develop team members.

Skills

Healthcare experience

Strategic leadership

Team development

Client relationship management

Generative AI tools

Job description

Agency

Havas Lynx

Job Description

Pharmaceutical experience is a need for this role unfortunately if you do not have this we cannot proceed with your application.

Are you passionate about creating advertising that not only informs but also transforms lives within the healthcare sector?

At Havas Lynx, a global advertising agency at the forefront of healthcare communications, we combine unmatched creativity, extensive expertise, and a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical and healthcare field. Our communications resonate deeply with audiences and adhere to the highest standards of healthcare advertising.

Committed to driving meaningful change, we build on a foundation of rich experience inspired by innovation and confirmed through our proven track record. We work closely with healthcare professionals, patients, carers, and leading pharmaceutical brands to navigate the complex challenges of today's healthcare landscape. Our approach blends strategic insights and deep scientific acumen with cutting‑edge creativity and digital innovation, crafting campaigns and solutions that significantly improve people's lives.

We are a team of over 400 people in Manchester and London with a history spanning more than 35 years. You can experience our #LYNXLife through our YouTube playlist, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Please note that this role is based in London or Manchester and our current hybrid working arrangement requires office attendance on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Our Role

As Planning Director you will play a fundamental role in the success of our agency. Leading the strategic offering, you will add outstanding value to every project you are involved in while guiding and inspiring excellence across the team. You will work closely with Client Services, Medical Strategy and Creative, providing strategic stewardship to all projects. You will build strong client relationships and proactively identify opportunities to drive new business activity.

You will mentor the strategists and planners within your team, helping them reach their potential while working closely with the community of strategy leads across the business to enhance the broader offering of the Havas Lynx Group.

What you can expect to be doing

• Demonstrate consistent brand building and business growth expertise
• Support Havas Lynx Group in driving best practice in strategy and thought leadership activities
• Maintain fluid knowledge and practice in business marketing, brand strategy, brand identity and architecture, campaign planning and innovation
• Prove a track record in producing effective brand activities and being recognized for these activities in effectiveness awards
• Help clients understand and implement the brand vision and purpose
• Ensure that your expertise and inputs are sought and valued across the client team
• Take ownership of developing your team, actively preparing them for roles of greater responsibility
• Champion and contribute to the goals of the Havas Lynx Group

What we’d like to see from you

• Previous experience in a similar role (agency experience is required)
• Extensive healthcare experience is a must. Pharmaceutical experience is essential; if you do not have this we cannot proceed with your application.
• Proven experience leading and developing a team of strategists delivering work of outstanding creativity and effectiveness
• Strong team‑leadership skills with the ability to develop talent, including talent mapping
• Positively influence the culture of your wider agency
• Build effective partnerships with clients
• Ideally you have experience working with generative AI tools and data, along with AI certifications from platforms such as Coursera, Section AI or LinkedIn Learning

What you can expect from us

A supportive and challenging environment where you will have the opportunity to learn, grow and make an impact that matters. We invest heavily in #LYNXLife and our #LXAcademy internal programmes—a unique initiative that rewards hard work, reduces pressures and ensures we can all enjoy our time at Lynx. Our strategy is to build capabilities internally and inspire the best talent so we can continue to deliver on our mission.

You can also expect a whole host of benefits including

• Hybrid working: 3 days in the office (flexible working options available for in‑office days)
• Starting holiday allowance of 28 days annual leave; Bank Holidays with an increasing allowance connected to length of service
• Option to buy, carry or sell holidays
• Early Friday finish throughout the year
• Seasonal working hours
• Enhanced family leave pay and return‑to‑work benefit scheme
• Extensive L&D support
• Sabbatical opportunities
• Season ticket interest‑free loans for travel
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme
• Life insurance (4x salary)
• Company pension scheme
• Fully compensated company events
• Volunteer days
• Wellbeing programme including sports clubs, discounted gym memberships, free onsite flu vaccinations, extended lunch breaks on Wellness Wednesdays and much more
• Medicash healthcare benefit
• 24/7 access to a free confidential and independent Employee Assistance Programme

Get in touch to find out how we can make an impact that matters together.

Contract Type: Permanent

Here at Havas across the group we pride ourselves on being committed to offering equal opportunities to all potential employees and have zero tolerance for discrimination. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants irrespective of age, sex, race, ethnicity, disability and other factors that have no bearing on an individual’s ability to perform their job.

Required Experience: Director

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