Senior Account Director - Pharmaceutical Communications

***hybrid role; must be able to work onsite 3 days/week in the Chicago office***

We believe in Extraordinary. 

What we do isn’t easy. Nothing extraordinary ever is. 

At Jack Morton we create head-turning, stomach-dropping, mind-boggling, smile-inducing brand experiences. We exist to reimagine what experience can be, and we do that by pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. 

We take care of each other, as much as we take care of business. We forget titles, check egos at the door, roll up our sleeves and make extraordinary happen. This is a place where you can be you, all of you, and bring your true and honest self to work, every day in every way.

What we create is unique, just like those who work here and together we are united behind a powerful vision - we inspire the world to experience better. To show, not tell how things should be.  More innovative. More inclusive. More sustainable.  

So if you feel work, and the people you work with, can be extraordinary, let’s chat.

That brings us to you.

This Senior Account Director role will lead the team on one of the largest healthcare accounts in the agency, delivering on objectives for client business, strategy, and goals across multiple programs. This position will work extensively with clients, operations, and strategy to oversee business development, ROI, selling of agency’s services, and overall fiscal health of account.

Responsibilities:

Client Focus/Relationship Management

• Demonstrates a high degree of value and credibility from the client’s viewpoint
• Routinely advises, guides and counsels clients on solutions to their needs; consistently works with agency partners to find cooperative solutions
• Clearly demonstrates a strong understanding of the client’s goals and objectives, and can lead the team to deliver upon these
• Assumes personal responsibility for creating opportunities that positively impact the business: essentially the owner of their piece of business and team
• Starts to look for opportunities to position out-of-scope work as incremental projects

Team Operations

• Oversees client ROI, profitability and contract negotiations
• SME for account team structure, anticipating alternative and flexible methods of efficiently managing scope and hours
• Continues to act as subject matter expert on best practices, bringing to bear significant experience and insight daily
• Manage and develop direct reports on account team
• Partner with practice and market leadership teams to inform quarterly planning cycles

Client Strategy/Thought Leadership

• Consistently develops and articulates highly effective and innovative strategies (challenging existing norms and conventional thinking) to achieve predetermined client strategy goals and objectives
• Consistently and effectively drives for an advantage over client competitors

Growth

• Responsible for managing to growth targets on existing and new accounts
• Lead pitch teams on assigned accounts
• Connector for agency practices

Competencies:

Be Brave and Outcome Oriented: Demonstrates drive

• Tenaciously sets and pursues stretch objectives (i.e., goals that are ambitious but not impossible). Perseveres despite uncertainty or difficulty over long periods. Uses alternative and well-thought-out strategies to achieve goals. Creates an environment where employees thrive on setting high standards and taking accountability for Removes barriers and obstacles for others.
  • Demonstrates that Jack is a highly valued strategic partner to the client
  • Consistently develops and articulates highly effective and innovative strategies (challenging existing norms and conventional thinking) to achieve predetermined client strategy goals
  • and objectives
  • Consistently and effectively drives for an advantage over client competitors

Be Focused on Delivering Business Impact: Demonstrates agility

• Adapts with agility to changing situations, is willing to take risks and short-term action for the long-term benefit of the client or company (i.e., proactively identifying a new process, sharing proactive ideas, embracing OneJack, etc.). Creates future opportunities by pursuing situations that can foster new and expanded partnerships. Coaches and mentors others on change management and agility.
  • Demonstrates a deep understanding of the business – brands, markets, competitors, strategies, consumers and customers of the client and Jack Morton
  • Conversant in client’s business strategy (may start to help frame elements of it) and maintains focus on that strategy and client goals and objectives
  • Thinks through challenges and changing situations with agility and manages client and team expectations
  • Starts to look for opportunities to position out of scope work as incremental projects to be purchased
  • Acts as a company advocate, whether through thought leadership, showcasing our work, social media presence, advocacy etc.

Be Curious and Committed to Learning and Personal Growth: Demonstrates passion and initiative

• Gives behaviorally specific, constructive, and balanced feedback to foster the development of Takes advantage of opportunities to exhibit best practices on the job and in a hybrid environment, provides specific suggestions to help employees succeed. Champions and models inclusive behaviors.
  • Proactively provides honest evaluations to employees on their performance and potential to ensure sufficient depth and future succession of staff
  • Takes responsibility for ensuring team members are working toward specific goals and development Takes actions necessary to get appropriate resources for development
  • Consistently takes advantage of opportunities to exhibit best practices on the job or provides specific suggestions to help employees succeed
  • Can assess and judge talent of candidates to effectively fill openings
  • Able to effectively manage high potential staff and low performing team members to ensure a high performing team

Be Mission Led, Inclusive and Collaborative: Demonstrates respect

• Prepares systems and processes to foster an optimal team environment, allowing voices to be heard and generating inclusive work and Ensures clients understand lines of communication and inclusion practices and takes personal responsibility for maintaining a collaborative and inclusive team environment. Able to manage group dynamics, conflict and microaggressions. Steers the group towards optimal decision-making and win-win situations.
  • Proactively shares ideas and information and best practices outside of immediate team
  • Facilitates team members or groups when they present conflicting viewpoints
  • Uses interpersonal and organizational know how to bring teams together
  • Reinforces and communicates change in ways that help team members understand the scale and scope of change, as well as how their role fits into the change

Requirements:

• Minimum of 8 years working in experiential, communications, or advertising industry with a strong focus on pharma, healthcare, and health tech
• An active connector and networker with strong knowledge and relationships within the pharmaceutical / healthcare industry
• Familiarity with the commercial sales /product launch process for pharmaceuticals strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience growing large, complex accounts with multiple stakeholders and business units
• Willing to travel up to 50%

Location:

• Chicago, IL preferred
• Central / Midwest US considered if able to travel frequently 

Last, but not least, we believe in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. 

Jack Morton and Genuine are equal opportunity employers; we strongly value diversity at our companies. We do not discriminate on race, religion, color, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

In Colorado, Connecticut, Nevada and New York City the standard base pay range for this role is $140,000.00 – $170,000.00 annually, depending on relevant factors including experience, internal equity and market considerations. This base pay range is specific to Colorado, Connecticut, Nevada, and New York City and may not be applicable to other locations. 

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