Overview
Account Director- Public Relations & Policy
101 Wood Lane, London, W12 7FW
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 & Policy, 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.
Job Description
In the Langland Public Relations & Policy (PRP) team, we thrive on plot twists, surprising points of view, and unconventional approaches. In an era of echo chambers, dumbing down and polarisation, we think further, to bring thought-provoking health stories to the world and to make evidence useful to everyone.
Powered by a sense of purpose & strong storytelling, we develop communications and campaigns that are grounded in deep scientific insight and brought to life with award-winning creativity. We partner with our clients across the whole product lifecycle from strategic communication planning to content development, internal and external outreach across traditional, digital and social channels. We are Langland’s collaboration epicentre, with over a third of our work being cross-discipline with our colleagues in Clinical Trial Experience, Medical Strategy & Education and Advertising. And the vast majority of our work is pan-European or global in nature.
We have three focus areas:
- Developing a compelling corporate story to build and protect reputation, and stand out from competitors
- Driving brand awareness by contextualising data and delivering the right messages to the right audiences at the right time
- Fostering trusted relationships with advocacy stakeholders to inform insight-led awareness activities to support patients
If you are ready to join our close-knit, ambitious team and play a role in the development and delivery of high quality, award-winning and life-changing public relations and integrated campaigns, whilst experiencing a myriad of personal and professional development opportunities and collaborating across our four health disciplines, we’d like to hear from you.
Who you are
If you’re ambitious, dedicated and ready to change how people see the world of healthcare – then we’d love to meet you. Ideally, you’ll have experience in a similar role within a creative agency. We’re looking for a solid background working with pharmaceutical clients and demonstrable skills of working on a large variety of global projects and multiple accounts. You'll also have experience managing direct reports and be able to build good relationships with senior management. We’re looking for exceptionally strong verbal and written communication skills – and someone who’ll be seen as a credible voice to both clients and internal stakeholders. There are tight deadlines, fast-moving projects and clients who only demand the best from us – but if you’re the sort of person who thrives in this kind of environment, you’re in the right place.
And if you like to Think Further, join the club. Here at Langland, we’re an open-minded bunch – always on the look out for new ideas; whether that’s in the work we produce or a way of working. So if you want to approach something in a different way, we’ll be all ears.
The role
Clients are our business. An Account Director will have primary responsibility for the strategic development and direction of a portfolio of accounts. Viewed as a senior member of the team, the role will also be starting to take on a leadership role within the wider Client Services department and may have responsibility for directing and developing a small team.
Account management: Responsible for defining and owning the strategy for the client. Responsible for managing the client within the SOW and running client health checks, service reviews and contributing to Quarterly Business Reviews (QBR’s). Partners with the project management team to ensure successful delivery of projects within time, budget and scope. Influences the client with regards to their marketing strategy and leads client meetings to drive client agenda. Accountable for client deliverables. Is a driver for creative excellence. Responsible for identifying opportunities to grow accounts through cross sell / up sell.
Finance management: Works with project team and client to agree budget, scope and timeline. Responsible for revenue forecasting and delivery. Ensures the project management team deliver timely financial reports. Will have oversight of purchase orders, ITI, PO, invoice approvals and SOWs reconciliation. Ensures that the team effectively manages the finance reporting /trackers both for fee and out of pocket costs. Ensures regular and timely timesheet submission and approval for billing.
Relationship management: Owns the overarching relationship with the client. Ensures stakeholder management at all levels. Proactively handles smaller issues and escalates as appropriate.
Process management: Leads continuous improvement initiatives as projects progress and conducts post project completion reviews to identify areas for continual improvement. Able to identify continuous improvement opportunities through evidence-based decisions.
Leadership: Is the leader of direct team (people management) and leads virtual team of those responsible for client deliverables outside of the immediate function.
Data & GDPR Management: Manages any GDPR project issues. Ensures data policies are internally ratified within SOW/ Contract.
Communication planning: Communicates internally / externally in a timely, clear and concise manner. Is comfortable having difficult conversations within internal teams. Facilitates open and transparent communication, supporting the team as needed.
Qualifications
- You will have knowledge [and experience] of healthcare & pharmaceutical market
- You will have extensive Account Management experience
- You will have the ability to create a vision / strategy for the brand
- You will have experience of delivering change management programs
- You will have excellent relationship management experience and ability to interact efficiently with various stakeholders across different geographies at all organisational levels
- You will be an effective people leader and line manager
- You will have experience of the full project life cycle
- You will possess strong commercial acumen & financial / budget management experience
- You will have the ability to identify opportunities for growth
- You will be knowledgeable about marketing principles and integrated communications
- You will have experience working within an agency environment
- You will possess great communication and stakeholder management skills
- You are able to identify continuous improvement opportunities through evidence backed decisions
- You will have the ability to build and maintain relationships across all levels of an organisation
- You will have Stakeholder/senior stakeholder management experience
- You will possess strong influencing skills; easily consults and negotiates with internal and external stakeholders regionally and globally
- Ideally you will have experience working with geographically disparate teams across global clients
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 employees being office-based on Mondays and two other 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.
