Position Summary:
A VP/SVP, Group Account Director (VPGAD or SVPGAD) is responsible for managing and growing a profitable multimillion-dollar book of business and for management of associated account team(s) and staff (multiple business accounts/teams). The VPGAD or SVPGAD sets team direction, ensures the team has necessary resources, works with appropriate management to address training issues, maintains and grows client relationships, and facilitates individual team members’ growth and development. VPGADs or SVPGADs become deeply involved in their books of business at a strategic level, providing support and direction, as well as establishing client relationships. They ensure new clients are effectively and smoothly transitioned in and that new team members are effectively onboarded, trained, and measured, working with appropriate managers as needed. In addition, they play key roles in department and company initiatives, lead and participate in new business opportunities and pitches, and support strategic planning within and outside of their books of business.
Essential Functions:
Strategic Consultation
- Provides solid insights to strategic development process with internal and external teams
- Has or develops deep familiarity with client’s market, including disease state, treating clinicians and influencers and their corresponding professional societies, competitive companies and technologies, and current and future state of treatment
- Consistently is a go-to person for business insights
- Understands product, category, and competition to easily jump into any strategic discussion
- Stays abreast of developments (eg, science, competitors, regulations) in clients’ industries
- Understands how bigger marketing mix integrates/impacts client’s business and applies that knowledge in client consultation and internal discussions
- Review and provide feedback and suggestions on team business plans
Client Relationship
- Develops working relationships with director-level+ client partners, as well as core client team members
- Touches base with senior-level clients regularly, to ferret out any opportunities or issues early
- Demonstrates ability to pick up the phone and talk to any level of client at any time regardless of daily interactions
- Develops and maintains senior-level relationships at agency-of-record account(s)
- Creates an environment for honest conversations, business growth and issues mitigation
- Ensures new clients are effectively and smoothly transitioned in (includes client interactions and team activities/training)
- Provides leadership in difficult and challenging circumstances and creates an environment for honest conversations, business growth and issues mitigation
- May be called upon to step in (on an ad hoc basis) to assist with certain situations on other account(s)
Agency Advocate
- Supports and represents the agency’s point of view at the highest levels of the client organization
- Leadership of, and/or involvement in, department initiatives (staff meetings, ETHOS U, training) and company initiatives (company meetings, special operations)
- Lead the development of departmental and company SOPs
- Enhance our collaboration, brainstorming, and best-practice sharing across teams
- Manage our client satisfaction process and survey
- Plays a key role in recruiting and retaining departmental talent (interviewing, new hire onboarding, regular career discussions)
Team Management
- Demonstrates mastery of all account responsibilities and can comfortably provide training, coverage, and/or oversight as needed
- Leads multiple account teams and provides guidance/mentorship to them and others in the office (irrespective of department)
- Motivates and mentors account team to remain positive and push the boundaries
- Communicates clear goals and provides timely feedback to account team members
- Evaluates performance and skill level of account personnel
- Identifies unmet training needs and training opportunities
- Monitors and balances scheduling and overall work load for the team
- Works cross-departmentally to ensure success of daily operations and manages interdepartmental issues
- Provides guidance/mentorship to others (irrespective of department)
- Ensures new team members are effectively onboarded, trained, and measured, working with appropriate managers, as needed
- Reviews and comments on department career/action plans (also ensures they are in place)
Financial Management and Growth
- Accountable for the forecasting, monthly and annual revenue recognition and profitability of assigned accounts
- Provides ongoing guidance to staff for pricing, revisions, and forecasting
- Maintains a pulse on all elements of managed books of business and alerts senior management to upsides/downsides related to revenue or forecasting, or other client/team issues
- Reports early and often on any changes to financial picture
- Leads agency understanding of financial implications regarding jobs/accounts
- Ensures that issues regarding clients/jobs are identified as early as possible and provides a rationale and guidance on next steps
Business Development
- Expands agency opportunities to other client departments or divisions
- Participates actively in business development initiatives representing the account management team
- Mentors junior staff and encourages participation
- Identifies in-line opportunities for sister companies
- Continues to hone and perfect presentation style and agency responses to typical questions
- Maintains contact and open dialogue with an ongoing list of senior-level executives in the industry to mine for new business
- Participates in networking events
Tactical Management
- Directs account teams to oversee tactics
- Provides guidance to high-profile and/or new strategy/deliverables
- Identifies opportunities across the agency to help close gaps
Desired Skills
We seek highly motivated people with outstanding professional credentials, business accomplishment, and leadership. In addition, we place high value on relevant personal qualities: resourcefulness, tenacity, independence, energy, and self-confidence.
VPGADs and SVPGADs have achieved the highest levels of proficiency and expertise with managing clients and the team, demonstrating consistent revenue growth, client relationships that travel with them, sound fiscal management, and successful project management. In addition, they have a consistent track record of achieving or surpassing revenue and profitability targets. GADs have demonstrated: expertise and excellence in team management and employee coaching/development/action planning, commitment and expertise to our PRECISIONscientia standards of excellence (demonstrates them himself/herself and drives team members to do the same), oversight of large volumes of business, and an ability to think and plan big picture for the business (revenue, staffing, growth).
Qualifications
Minimum required: Bachelor’s degree
Other Required: Work Experience: 10-13+ years of agency experience, preferably in medical communications (pharma/biotech marketing or medical affairs), with experience successfully managing and growing $5M+ pharma/healthcare accounts
Preferred Required: Advanced degree (PhD, MD, or PharmD) in life sciences, pharmacy, medicine, and/or advanced degree in management, marketing, or business desirable/preferred
Skills:
- Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); Internet
- PowerPoint design proficiency
Competencies:
- Thorough understanding of the objectives, as well as the strategic and tactical activities of pharmaceutical/biotech marketing, particularly in the area of medical communications
- Demonstrated proficiency in acting as a trusted strategic/business advisor to marketers and other managers
- Proficiency in leading and managing employees, growing client relationships, and managing expanding business opportunities
- Ability to thrive and succeed in a fast-paced environment
- Strong communication and presentation skills
- Strong time management skills to work effectively within demanding timelines
- Ability to interact in a professional manner with clients and thought leaders in a variety of therapeutic areas
- Ability to understand and interpret market dynamics, scientific information and clinical and preclinical data
- Ability to interpret and act on business metrics and financial information
Who We Are
PRECISIONscientia, a Precision Value & Health team, was founded with the simple belief that the scientific story is the foundation of every pharmaceutical brand. Our teams of inquisitive problem solvers and passionate creators dig deep to translate the science behind today’s cutting-edge therapies, then communicate the science clearly and credibly. Our proven track record of long-tenured relationships with major pharmaceutical companies and leading bio-tech firms, and our inclusive, open-minded team culture are industry leading. This passionate work environment, paired with growth opportunity, professional development, compensation, and benefits, are why PRECISIONscientia was recognized as a Best Place to Work by the Philadelphia Business Journal for the last three years.
Are you ready to join a team committed to providing the best in science and strategy?
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