📌 Core Information
- 🔹 Job Title: Account Director
- 🔹 Company: Havas Group
- 🔹 Location: Surrey - FerryWorks, Surrey, United Kingdom
- 🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
- 🔹 Category: Advertising Services
- 🔹 Date Posted: April 22, 2025
- 🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
- 🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
- Lead and support client or project-related meetings, empowering colleagues to work collaboratively.
- Establish and reinforce relationships with key client stakeholders, primarily marketing and medical teams.
- Proactively advise clients on new issues and the external environment.
- Take responsibility for developing, budgeting, managing, and finalising client activity programmes.
- Lead the successful delivery of projects through effective management of resources within your team.
- Motivate account teams to fulfil their potential and support them to take ownership and responsibility for projects.
- Proactively sell agency services that are innovative, visible, and profitable, as well as create and develop opportunities for growing business within existing accounts.
📋 Key Responsibilities
- ✅ Provide clear project leadership to all team members, ensuring all assigned client projects are delivered according to time and budgetary requirements, and all are inline with agency quality standards.
- ✅ Lead client relationships; guide and direct the wider team and provide key strategic input.
- ✅ Lead by example, demonstrating high-quality account handling skills in all areas, including championing the use of all agency, and client processes and procedures.
- ✅ Oversee the financial management of accounts and support senior management to optimise efficient working within the business unit.
- ✅ As an ambassador for the team and company, exemplify sound communication and business skills; both externally, by building lasting client relationships and driving organic growth and internally by motivating account teams to uphold the agency values and deliver work to a consistently high standard.
🎯 Required Qualifications
- Education: Relevant degree or equivalent experience.
- Experience: Strong medical communications experience with a focus on supporting medical affairs and medical education projects for pharmaceutical companies.
- Required Skills:
- Proven track record in account management or a similar role.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent project management skills.
- Ability to build and maintain strong client relationships.
- Proficiency in budget management and financial planning.
- Experience in business development and organic growth.
- Knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry and relevant therapy areas.
- Ability to work collaboratively and lead teams.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
- Salary Range: £60,000 - £80,000 per annum (AI-estimated, based on experience level and industry standards)
- Benefits: Competitive benefits package, including pension, private healthcare, and life assurance (AI-estimated, based on company size and industry standards)
- Working Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with flexibility for project demands.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
- Industry: Advertising Services
- Company Size: 10,001+ employees
- Founded: 1835
- Company Description: Havas is a global communications network with over 23,000 people in over 100 markets, sharing a single mission to make a meaningful difference to brands, businesses, and people. They offer integrated communications solutions, powered by data, tech, and AI, but driven by humans.
- Company Specialties: Advertising, Marketing, Public Relations, Digital Marketing, Branding
📊 Role Analysis
- Career Level: Mid to Senior level
- Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Business Unit Director
- Work Arrangement: On-site, with potential for occasional remote work
- Growth Opportunities: Potential to grow into a Business Unit Director role or take on additional responsibilities as the agency expands
🌍 Location & Work Environment
- Office Type: Modern, collaborative office space
- Office Location: Surrey - FerryWorks, Surrey, United Kingdom
- Geographic Context: Surrey is a county in South East England, known for its beautiful countryside, historic towns, and proximity to London.
- Work Schedule: Standard office hours with flexibility for project demands
💼 Interview & Application Insights
- Typical Process: Online application, phone/ video screen, in-person interviews, and final panel interview
- Key Assessment Areas: Problem-solving, communication skills, industry knowledge, and cultural fit
- Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills.
- Research the company and the role to demonstrate your understanding and enthusiasm.
- Prepare examples of your account management and project leadership skills.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Microsoft Project)
- CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Industry-specific software and platforms (e.g., Veeva, Medscape)
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
- Company Values: Creativity, Collaboration, Curiosity, Courage, and Client-centricity
- Work Style: Fast-paced, collaborative, and innovative, with a focus on delivering high-quality work and driving results
- Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you approach building and maintaining strong client relationships?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you had to manage a project with tight deadlines and budget constraints?
- How do you stay up-to-date with industry trends and developments?
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Challenge 1: Balancing multiple projects and client demands while maintaining high-quality work.
- Challenge 2: Adapting to a fast-paced, dynamic work environment.
- Challenge 3: Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and internal teams.
- Challenge 4: Managing a team and supporting their professional development.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Comparison Point 1: Account Manager vs. Account Director - While both roles involve account management, the Account Director role requires more strategic input, team leadership, and business development responsibilities.
- Comparison Point 2: Industry-specific context - The role requires a strong understanding of the pharmaceutical industry, medical affairs, and medical education.
- Comparison Point 3: Career path comparison - The Account Director role is a stepping stone to more senior roles, such as Business Unit Director or Client Services Director.
📝 Sample Projects
- Project Example 1: Developing and implementing a medical education strategy for a pharmaceutical client launching a new drug in a competitive therapy area.
- Project Example 2: Managing a team to deliver a large-scale medical congress, including logistics, content development, and on-site management.
- Project Example 3: Collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop and launch a digital platform for healthcare professionals, supporting medical education and engagement.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Question 1: Can you describe the team structure and how this role fits within it?
- Question 2: What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
- Question 3: How does the agency support the professional development and growth of its employees?
- Question 4: What are the biggest challenges facing the agency and this role in the coming year?
- Question 5: How does the agency approach work-life balance, particularly for roles with project-based demands?
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
- To apply for this position, submit your application through [this link](https://wd3.myworkdaysite.com/recruiting/havas/GroupExternalCareerSite/job/Surrey-UK/Account-Director_JR0082867).
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills.
- Prepare examples of your account management and project leadership skills.
- Research the company and the role to demonstrate your understanding and enthusiasm.
- Follow up with the hiring manager after your interview to express your interest in the role.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
