Account Director (Healthcare public affairs)

About our client

Our client is an award-winning communications consultancy that advises enterprises, institutions, and individuals on building recognition and enhancing reputation.

From offices across Europe and the Middle East, the consultancy adopts an integrated approach that connects the dots across channels, audiences and issues.

Their collective of smart, curious people think differently and live by a shared mission, purpose, vision, and values. These shape how they work, not just with colleagues, but with clients and partners too.

They believe that by nurturing and harnessing the collective brilliance of their people, they can drive innovation, foster an uncommon work culture, and make a positive difference to society. Embracing the complete range of skills and services across the communications spectrum without constraint, they create the best outcomes for clients and deliver world-class work.

The consultancy is actively seeking a highly experienced and dynamic Account Director to become an integral part of its Healthcare Policy, Advocacy & Public Affairs team. This is an exceptional opportunity for someone to leverage their expertise in the healthcare sector and make a significant impact on client services.

As an Account Director, you will lead client relationships, providing senior strategic counsel and ensuring delivery of high-quality, commercially successful account programmes. You will guide clients through the complex landscape of healthcare policy, advocacy, and public affairs, while leading account teams and overseeing programme delivery and budgets.

You will play a leading role in new business activity, including acquisition, development and pitching, alongside managing and mentoring junior team members.

The role will be based in London and offers the opportunity to work across clients shared with the consultancy's European and international offices, as well as integrated accounts with the Healthcare Communications and Digital teams.

The team works across a range of services including government relations, public affairs, market access, policy, advocacy and corporate communications across health and business. With over half of the world's top 20 pharmaceutical companies, as well as NHS providers, health technology businesses and charities amongst its clients, the consultancy offers a diverse and compelling range of issues and opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Lead client accounts, ensuring high-quality delivery, strong client satisfaction and commercial performance.
• Build and lead high-impact political and NHS campaigns to deliver tangible policy change for clients.
• Lead high-profile events and stakeholder engagement programmes involving politicians, policymakers, NHS stakeholders and patient groups.
• Deliver high-quality strategic intelligence and insights to clients by utilising the consultancy's network and building your own network and expertise across policy areas.
• Maintain an uncompromising commitment to detail, rigorously reviewing all communications, reports and client deliverables to ensure accuracy and professionalism.
• Identify opportunities to grow existing client relationships and broaden the consultancy's offer across accounts.
• Develop and implement innovative strategies for growth, staying ahead of industry trends and positioning the consultancy as a leader in the field.
• Take a lead on new business pitches, being a core part of the team in building creative strategies and tactics and pitching to clients.
• Deliver marketing activity to support the health practice's business growth.
• Support the management of expert steering groups to drive thought-leadership for clients.
• Personal management of junior members of the team, providing guidance on professional development.
• Active participant in championing the mission, vision, purpose, values and behaviours of the business.
• Recognise and value the diverse backgrounds, skills, and perspectives of all individuals within the business.

Requirements

• Relevant experience from a public affairs consultancy, in-house public affairs department, patient group/NGO, Parliament, or other relevant organisation.
• Excellent knowledge of health policy and ability to analyse developments within the NHS and commercial environment.
• A proven track record of success in account management within the healthcare policy, advocacy, or public affairs sector.
• Eye for detail and ability to think critically about your own work and that of others.
• Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to inspire and guide teams towards achieving shared goals.
• Strong business acumen with experience in managing budgets and driving business growth.
• Strong strategic judgement and ability to provide credible counsel to senior clients in complex and fast-moving policy environments.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of building rapport with clients, team members, and stakeholders at all levels.
• A commitment to professional development, both for self-improvement and for the mentorship of junior colleagues.