Account Executive, Pharmaceutical Advertising

Who we are:

What our Clients' Service Executives do every day is quite influential and consequential. Great Agency work starts and ends with us. As the catalyst for creation, the way we influence teams will have the greatest impact on our collective success. As trusted partners, we are an extension of our Client and Agency teams who wants to make a positive difference every day.

We are the respected steward of our culture, emulating our principles, and radiating wecentricity, inside and outside our walls. As a dynamic mirror, we are reflective of our Agency standards and ethos, as well as our unique mix of authenticity, generosity, fearlessness, and joy. You and me, know this already, and it’s what brought us here and keeps us here. Let’s keep motivating, inspiring, and influencing greatness.

Who you are:

The Account Executive supports client services efforts in a critical way, connecting the activities of the agency to clients. The Account Executive is responsible for implementing projects to promote and support the success and profitability of client deliverables. In implementing projects, the Account Executive drives the daily tasks of by communicating with key internal service delivery personnel and leading client communications.

Essential functions of the job include but are not limited to:

Tactical Management

• Demonstrates sound judgement and operates with an appropriate sense of urgency

• Manages the workflow of all assigned accounts to ensure jobs are on track and completed accurately

• Develops and maintains account status reports and collaborates with project managers on creation and maintenance of project timelines

• Contributes to project briefs (background, job specs, dates)

• Updates client and team on activity schedules and next steps

• Owns deck for meetings (and associated technology)

• Reviews all materials for accuracy and completion prior to client delivery, presentation, or final production

• Submits requests for direct cost estimates; obtains client approval of all cost estimates

• Maintains organized job files of project materials

Client Management

• Applies understanding about client’s line of business (e.g., target customers, products) in discussions with client and internal team

• May serve as client’s day-to-day liaison, providing timely status and information on client’s projects

• Establishes and fosters relationships day-to-day with clients

• Works consultatively with team lead to balance agency and client needs and push back when/where appropriate

• Runs status calls and other select calls/meetings

• Keeps supervisor apprised of client activities and problems

Financial Management

• Assists in estimating agency fees for client proposals

• Assists in preparation of job budgets, obtaining internal budget approvals, and allocating hours to team members

• Maintains accurate records of client expenditures, time utilization, and billing information

• Assists with managing client’s budget tracker(s) and with preparation of realistic billing forecasts

• Helps move work effectively through the shop in order to meet agency profitability goals

• Identifies and brings management’s attention to bottlenecks or other issues that may jeopardize profitability by project

Product Knowledge

• Develops understanding of product category and competitors, as well as key data sets

• Strategy

• Remains focused on details, but takes initiative in building understanding of bigger picture of clients’ objectives and initiatives including target patient/professional audiences; key milestones (clinical trial initiation, completion of FDA panel review, NDA submission, launch, etc.); competitive landscape, clinical background, key client performance metrics (sales goals, scripts, etc.)

• Business Development

• Identifies opportunities to grow in-line client business and billings and enlists support of senior team/ management to follow up on these opportunities appropriately

• Leadership & Agency Advocacy

• Communicates agency’s point of view to clients with clarity regarding the value of process strategically (why the whole process is necessary) and tactically (why the agency needs/recommends particular activities or timing)

Qualifications:

Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree with a concentration in marketing, communications, or advertising

• At least one year of experience as an Assistant Account Executive or Account Executive within an advertising, marketing, communication or related industry

• Experience with direct client contact

• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite

Preferred:

• Hands-on experience with clients’ online submission systems for medical/regulatory and legal reviews (e.g., Zinc or Veeva)

• Medical communications or healthcare industry experience

• Experience in writing SOWs and project briefs