Sr. Account Director

MERGE; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 121,000 - 148,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401K

Lifestyle Spending Account

Paid time off & holidays

Job summary

MERGE is seeking a Sr. Account Director to guide all account management activities and nurture relationships with clients.

You will lead the account team to deliver strategic, paid and earned campaigns, ensuring on-strategy execution and client satisfaction across Life Sciences channels.

This role requires deep industry knowledge, strong leadership, and the ability to mentor junior staff while translating client needs into impactful campaigns that maximize ROI.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 8–10 years of account management experience at an advertising agency or similar.
• Life Sciences (MedTech/Device/Pharma) experience and understanding of the MLR process.
• Strong background with strategic ideation, activation, and financial management.
• Understanding of media objectives, channels, KPIs, and cross collaboration with analytics.
• Superior professional communication and presentation skills.
• Willingness to lead a team in a highly collaborative environment.
• Advanced client management skills, especially expanding business with existing clients.
• Commitment to the client, attention to detail, and problem-solving ability.
• Managerial experience of at least 1 direct report.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and lead all account management processes; direct and motivate day-to-day interactions with clients.
• Nurture strong client relationships and deliver engaging ideas and work.
• Drive tactical projects through the agency and meet delivery requirements and deadlines.
• Collaborate with clients on strategy, ideas, trends, and thought leadership.
• Build relationships to deliver on client and agency needs.
• Sign off on internal materials for client reporting.
• Grow business by identifying additional needs and opportunities.
• Demonstrate financial acumen to maintain account health.
• Partner with internal teams to craft strategic creative solutions.
• Incorporate senior staff from other departments as needed.
• Manage and mentor the account team and develop talent.
• Maintain knowledge of MERGE’s solutions and opportunities.

Skills

Account management

Client relations

Strategic thinking

Financial management

Cross-channel marketing

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

At MERGE, we are Built Different. We are a marketing and technology agency purpose-built for the intersection of health and wellness—where human impact matters most. By weaving storytelling through technology, we move beyond traditional engagement to Whole Human Marketing. This approach recognizes that humans are multidimensional and complex, and uses AI to ensure every brand interaction feels natural, contextual, and relevant. This commitment to human-first innovation is what brings us together and propels us forward. We are united by our North Star: to unite people and brands to empower healthier, happier lives.

Emerge to the Top of Your Career

At MERGE, we strive to create a superior work experience where talented and ambitious people grow. An experience that encourages people to think higher and feel deeper. An experience where people engage their minds and hearts to do the best work of their careers.

As our Sr. Account Director, you will…

Oversee and lead all account management processes. You will monitor, direct, and motivate day-to-day interactions between the account team and clients, actively nurturing strong relationships with existing and possible clients. This role combines strategic and hands-on experience by delivering engaging, passionate outstanding ideas and work. You will work closely with the account team to drive tactical projects through the agency and meet delivery requirements/deadlines. You will also act as a senior solution-oriented manager who thrives on developing lasting relationships between the client and agency teams. This position involves consistent client contact and operates at a high level in all aspects of account management.

What You’ll Do

• Regular assimilation of business, customer, and marketplace insights into the development of strategies and marketing programs that span traditional and digital Life Sciences/Pharma channels, with extension to Media, Analytics, and MarTech
• Efficiently and effectively balance the dual expectations of the agency and our clients
• Maintain consistent and regular communication with client teams to share progress, creative campaigns, and deliverables to ensure we are on strategy, on time, and on budget
• Act as a strategic partner by collaborating with clients on strategy, ideas, trends, and thought leadership
• Create and build relationships with clients to deliver on the overall needs of the client and agency
• Sign off on internal agency materials for reporting to the client
• Grow business by utilizing experience to identify additional business needs and opportunities, and implement solutions
• Demonstrate strong financial acumen and stewardship for account health
• Leverage experience and capabilities to partner with internal team and craft strategic creative solutions for clients
• Incorporate senior staff from other departments as project objectives or issues warrant
• Manage and grow a team as a mentor and trusted advisor to the account team.
• Maintains working knowledge of MERGE’s solutions and resources and recognizes/acts upon opportunities.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• 8-10 years of account management experience at an advertising agency or similar, with traditional and digital channels
• Life Sciences (MedTech/Device/Pharma) experience and understanding of the MLR process, HCP experience required, DTC experience a plus
• Strong background with strategic ideation, tactical activation, and financial management
• Understanding of media objectives, experience with various media channels including targeting and audiences, KPIs and measurement, plus cross collaboration with media and analytics teams
• Superior professional communication and presentation skills, and thrives in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness to roll up your sleeves to be a constant leader to a team in a highly collaborative environment and to develop and execute client service strategies
• Advanced client management skills, especially as it relates to expanding business within existing clients
• Commitment to the client, attention to detail, and strong problem-solving ability
• Managerial experience of at least 1 direct report

At MERGE, we’re committed to fostering an environment where our team members can thrive in both their careers and personal lives, ensuring they feel supported and empowered to succeed.

MERGE believes in transparency and equity. In accordance with state regulations, we’re proud to include salary ranges in our job postings to ensure fair compensation practices.

The salary range for this role is $120,700 - $147,550, based on the individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, location, and other relevant factors. The salary pay range is subject to change and may be modified at any time.

MERGE is proud to invest in benefits that includemeaningful Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401K, Lifestyle Spending Account, Employer Paid Life & Disability Insurance, Flexible Time off & Holidays plus many other benefits and rewards.

Applicants for employment in the US must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States.

And here’s how we live our values at MERGE

• Ability. Mastering our craft
• Agility. Delivering with a growth mindset
• Humility. Collaborating for shared success

MERGE is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

MERGE welcomes and celebrates diversity regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status or people with abilities. We believe that the more diverse we are, the more creative our work will be!