Senior Account Director

Location : Remote, New Jersey (In office 1x month or 1x quarter)

Job Type : Full Time

About our client
Our client is a boutique healthcare public relations agency with a strong purpose at its core, partnering with some of the most prominent names in the life sciences industry. Their work focuses on bringing innovative therapies to market, increasing awareness around important disease areas, and shaping compelling stories that highlight advancements in healthcare.

Overview
As a Senior Account Director, you will be a senior leader within the agency, responsible for overseeing a portfolio of key healthcare and life sciences clients while driving strategic growth, operational excellence, and long‑term client success. Acting as a trusted advisor to executive client stakeholders, you will shape high‑impact communications strategies, lead complex, integrated programs, and ensure exceptional client service across your portfolio.

In addition to leading client relationships, you will play a pivotal role in agency leadership, contributing to business development, mentoring senior team members, and helping shape the agency's strategic direction. This role is ideal for a proven healthcare communications leader who thrives in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment and is passionate about delivering meaningful impact for clients.

You will become part of a collaborative, close‑knit team that combines strategic expertise with a genuine passion for making a meaningful impact in health.

Key Responsibilities

Serve as the executive strategic partner for a portfolio of high‑value healthcare and life sciences clients, building long‑term relationships with senior and C‑suite stakeholders.

Provide expert strategic counsel across corporate communications, brand strategy, product launches, disease awareness, thought leadership, executive visibility, and reputation management.

Lead annual strategic planning, business reviews, and long‑term communications roadmaps aligned with clients' commercial objectives.

Drive client satisfaction, retention, and account expansion through proactive leadership and innovative strategic recommendations.

Act as the senior escalation point for complex client challenges, ensuring issues are resolved effectively while maintaining strong client partnerships.

Agency Leadership & Business Growth

Lead the growth and profitability of a portfolio of client accounts, ensuring revenue targets, margins, and business objectives are achieved.

Identify and drive organic growth opportunities across existing accounts while cultivating long‑term strategic partnerships.

Play a leadership role in new business development by leading pitches, developing strategic proposals, and contributing to agency growth initiatives.

Collaborate with executive leadership to shape agency strategy, identify market opportunities, and strengthen the agency's position within the healthcare communications industry.

Represent the agency externally through industry events, networking, and thought leadership opportunities.

Strategic Program Oversight

Provide executive oversight across complex, integrated communications programs, ensuring strategic excellence and flawless execution.

Guide multidisciplinary teams across public relations, digital, creative, medical, social, advocacy, and corporate communications initiatives.

Ensure all client work aligns with strategic objectives, agency quality standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.

Champion innovation by identifying new approaches, emerging trends, and opportunities to enhance client programs.

Leadership & Talent Development

Lead, mentor, and develop Account Directors, Senior Account Supervisors, Account Supervisors, and broader account teams.

Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, inclusion, and continuous professional development.

Support succession planning by identifying and developing future agency leaders.

Oversee resource planning and staffing across client portfolios to maximize team performance and operational efficiency.

Partner with agency leadership on recruitment, performance management, and talent retention initiatives.

Financial & Operational Leadership

Maintain executive ownership of portfolio financial performance, including forecasting, profitability, budgeting, resource allocation, and revenue growth.

Ensure accurate scope management, contract negotiations, and financial reporting across all accounts.

Drive operational excellence by implementing best practices, improving workflows, and optimizing client delivery processes.

Partner with agency leadership to achieve financial objectives while ensuring sustainable growth and exceptional client outcomes.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.

10+ years of agency experience, preferably within healthcare, pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences communications.

Extensive experience leading large, complex client portfolios and providing executive-level strategic communications counsel.

Proven success managing senior client relationships, driving organic business growth, and leading successful new business pitches.

Demonstrated experience managing portfolio financial performance, forecasting, profitability, and operational planning.

Strong leadership experience managing and mentoring senior account leaders and cross‑functional teams.

Exceptional strategic thinking, executive presence, negotiation, presentation, and relationship‑building skills.

Strong commercial acumen with the ability to balance client success, agency growth, and operational excellence in a dynamic agency environment.

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