Senior Account Manager

Our client is an extremely successful medical communications agency and part of a global healthcare communications group. They have an opportunity for a Senior Account Manager to join their team in West London

Purpose:

To oversee and provide senior account management and strategy working closely with the account team to ensure successful and timely planning, development, implementation and launch of project deliverables.

Responsibilities:
Project Management:
Manage the day-to-day running and coordination of accounts and projects

• Possess a thorough understanding of client''''s brand, key challenges, positioning, the market environment and marketing strategy
• Establish and reinforce relationships with key client personnel, primarily marketing, medical, regulatory and procurement teams
• Ensure implementation of all projects to the highest quality standards, meeting and managing all deadlines proactively
• Ensure regular client updates or programme/project progress and manage any changes to planned activities that may occur
• Responsible for regular client phone contact, and prompt and ensure delivery accurate contact/phone contact reports within 24 hours of meeting/discussion
• Ensure and recommend appropriate task allocation to external freelancers/suppliers when appropriate and manage these relationships to ensure quality outputs
• Undertake ''''market intelligence'''' to monitor issues/external environment to aid regular review of programme strategy or new opportunities
• Proactively alert Senior Management to client or programme issues and recommend strategies and solutions
• Demonstrate innovation and creativity beyond client ideas in brainstorm sessions/when developing programmes - ‘adherence champion''''
• Develop project timelines, in conjunction with Account Manager/Director and project team.
• Arrange internal project kickoff meeting, and ensure project team is briefed on project requirements
• Set up project-related client, KOL, and internal meetings; manage all aspects of attendee requirements

Financial Management:

• Input budgets/quotations and invoicing schedules on each project
• Adapt budgeting and bring to the client''''s attention the overservice or additional charges associated with changes in scopes of work
• Responsible for accurate estimating, quotation, billing, awareness of budgetary status at all times to ensure account budget not exceeded and ensure project profitability
• Liaise with finance department regarding current financial status of projects
• Tracking and amending where necessary, the estimated and actual workloads and costs on the account
• Manage and track all direct costs compared with estimated amounts
• Ensuring timely and accurate invoicing of project work to clients
• Assist with compilation of budgets and project reconciliations

Commercial Awareness and Business Development:

• Become familiar with client products, therapy areas, portfolio, commercial strategy
• Build a thorough understanding of all relevant codes of industry practice/legislation governing across UK and potentially EU for all relevant stakeholders - healthcare professionals, patients/public
• Perform research using the internet and other identified sources to keep the team up to date with issues/events/changes in the external environment that could impact new and existing business opportunities
• Identify and develop opportunities for organic growth within existing business within current client pool
• Participate in developing new business and securing new opportunities

Skills:

General and Financial:

• Able to manage accounts to high standards of service, on time, on strategy and within budget limits
• Able to develop, track and adhere to budgets
• Ability to ensure high quality of programme deliverables
• Bring an independent and objective perspective to problem solving
• Good understanding of invoicing process and able to review and approve invoices
• Able to communicate clearly to team members all time and budget guidelines

Technical:

• Understanding of local and international regulations relating to industry to enable high-quality, compliant management of projects
• Proficiency in writing and editing documents
• Good presentation and basic facilitation skills
• Ability to learn and apply business development skills
• Ensuring programme evaluation targets are set and implemented
• Ability to build relationships and liaise with opinion leaders
• Ability to input and review educational material in line with writing capability (editing, message inclusion, outlines, drafts)
• Ability to brief, manage and monitor freelance writers and freelance creative
• Competent in checking and referencing materials
• Research for clients and participate in new business pitches
• Able to facilitate running and participation in internal brainstorm sessions
• Ability to develop proposals for prospective and existing clients

Consulting:

• Ability to successfully manage the client-consultant relationship, presenting clear rationale and guidance
• Ability to learn quickly about the needs of clients and their service requirements
• Ability to establish client service objectives and create a plan to fulfill these objectives
• Ability to identify, communicate about and propose solutions for any client service problems that may arise
• Excellent understanding and commercial awareness of marketing and patient communication within the healthcare sector
• Ability to develop strategically sound recommendations to client briefs
• Ability to communicate effectively and present competently

Team Management:

• Knowledge of HR policy and procedures as it relates to line management
• Ability to develop, manage, motivate and coordinate staff and resources
• Ability to motivate, lead and direct others in task-driven areas
• Sympathetic and understanding to the needs of team-mates, line reports and co-workers
• Excellent diplomatic and interpersonal skills and the ability to deal confidently with people at all levels within the business and externally

Business Development:

• Intermediate skills in new business development; can work with team members to identify and capitalise on business opportunities
• Intuitive to a client''''s business needs, building on existing opportunities to recommend potential organic growth

Personal Attributes:

• Preferably with experience of working in a medical communications agency / pharmaceutical company environment
• Life Science / Communications Degree
• Strong organisational skills, including ability to prioritise and to balance multiple priorities and demands
• Possess a positive attitude, willing to problem solve and find solutions
• Team player; willing to share information and ideas
• Attention to detail and excellent quality-control skills
• Ability to work both independently and as a part of a team
• Adaptable to different client situations and cultures
• Proactive, self motivated and confident

Package:

In return you can expect an excellent salary and package of benefits. For more information call Jon Gawley on 01932 797996.