VP, Account Director (Pharma Agency, Market Access)
Avalere Health · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $150,000 / year
- United States
Job highlights
- Lead key client accounts in pharma.
- Develop senior-level client relationships.
- Drive brand planning and strategy.
- Manage team and profitability.
- Contribute to new business growth.
About the role
About Avalere Health
Established in 2001, Avalere Health is a purposefully built commercialization partner for the biopharmaceutical, medical technology, and wellness industries.
Our 1,500+ experts combine their knowledge and expertise across our core disciplines — Consulting; Medical; Policy; Value, Evidence, and Access; Marketing; and Digital Experience Technology — to create the connections that make better health happen.
Avalere Health partners with its clients to navigate the complex and rapidly changing healthcare ecosystem. Together, our experts help clients connect patients with life-changing therapies, realizing the potential of strategies and solutions to accelerate innovation that improves lives.
We live and breathe our five values in everything we do: We are authentic. We act with integrity. We value difference. We play for the team. We enjoy the journey. At Avalere Health, we imagine a healthier world and create the connections to make it happen.
We take pride in being part of the Disability Confident Scheme. This helps make sure you can be interviewed fairly if you have a disability, long term health condition, or are neurodiverse. If you'd like to apply and need adjustments made, you can let us know in your application.
About The Role
We are seeking a VP, Account Director to successfully lead key client account(s) at a global pharma agency by providing sound, innovative, and strategic leadership. This individual will be required to establish and maintain effective senior-level client relationships. The VP, Account Director is responsible for client success and satisfaction, brand planning, strategic and tactical deliverables, and profitability of all assigned brands. The VP, Account Director will also play a significant role in new business activities and initiatives.
What You’ll Do
- Own and lead the client’s business within the agency.
- Lead the agency team with a thorough knowledge of marketing strategy, competitive landscape, challenges and opportunities that will influence the brand, market research techniques, brand planning, promotional venues, scientific background, and medical/legal requirements
- Develop and maintain senior-level client relationships, providing value as a strategic thinker, problem solver, and team leader
- Lead agency teams in annual brand planning
- Build and support a strong and strategically focused client/agency team
- Direct and motivate Account Supervisors and Senior Account Executives to effectively deliver value to our clients
- Guide team members’ career paths and skills development; conduct and coach direct reports and team members through regular feedback sessions
- Manage and monitor account financial performance, including group productivity and profitability
- Collaborate with creative team to initiate, develop, and produce the best possible creative product
- Ensure proper management of issues regarding timelines and cost efficiencies
- Propose and supervise client relationship-building activities
- Develop, monitor and/or advance internal operating procedures with Project Management Department to ensure efficiencies
- Identify and participate in the development of new business opportunities with existing or prospective clients
About You
- Must possess a deep and thorough understanding of the pharma/healthcare advertising industry
- Digital marketing acumen and demonstrated experience in leading an integrated agency team in brand planning, budget development, execution, and measurement
- Demonstrated effectiveness in managing multiple clients and account teams
- Demonstrated success at developing valued relationships with senior-level client management
- Demonstrated success as strategic partner to clients
- Digital and multi-channel experience
- Must have participated actively in new business initiatives including planning and pitch presentations
- Must have proven success at identifying opportunities and securing organic client growth
- Superior presentation skills
- 12+ years of Brand AOR account experience, 5+ years of pharmaceutical advertising agency experience preferably in unbranded, disease awareness, patient marketing and education.
- 5+ years of leadership and supervisory experience
- Experience developing, producing, and leading multi-channel marketing plans and initiatives required
- Candidates must demonstrate hands-on proficiency in developing and delivering presentations in PowerPoint
- Must be able to travel based on client business needs (client meetings, market research, etc.)
- BA/BS degree required
What we can offer
Avalere Health aims to empower every employee to develop and thrive. We empower our team with the tools, skills, and support needed to think differently and to solve healthcare’s most complex challenges.
At the center of our people-led culture is our Career Experience team, whose mission is to provide every employee with a purpose-driven career. We also pride ourselves on our personalized learning approach to ensure you receive the training you need to help you grow within the company and take advantage of our global scale and scope.
We are committed to embedding diversity and inclusion in every aspect of our organization. We encourage diversity of thought, inclusive behavior, and break down barriers to ensure every individual feels valued and encouraged to contribute their unique abilities and potential. As part of our commitment to building a healthier world, every employee is also encouraged to participate in our community engagement efforts, which support a wide range of healthcare programs and wellbeing causes worldwide.
We have city hubs across North America, Europe, and Asia, geared toward collaborating, training, socializing, and coming together as a global organization while maintaining and fully supporting flexible working practices. Our compensation and benefits package is benchmarked across the industry. We offer a generous company pension/retirement plan, private medical insurance, comprehensive employee wellbeing initiatives, compelling time-off policy, plus many other excellent employee benefits.
We encourage all applicants to read our candidate privacy notice before applying to Avalere Health.
We may use AI tools to support elements of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing CV/resumes, assessing responses, or transcribing interviews. These tools assist our Talent team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please review our candidate privacy policy.
Key skills/competency
- Account Management
- Pharmaceutical Marketing
- Market Access
- Client Relationship Management
- Strategic Planning
- Team Leadership
- New Business Development
- Digital Marketing
- Presentation Skills
- Financial Management
Skills & topics
- VP Account Director
- Pharma Agency
- Market Access
- Account Management
- Pharmaceutical Marketing
- Healthcare Advertising
- Client Relationship Management
- Strategic Planning
- Team Leadership
- New Business Development
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight 12+ years of Brand AOR experience and 5+ years in pharmaceutical advertising. Emphasize leadership and digital marketing acumen.
- Showcase strategic impact: Detail your success in brand planning, budget management, execution, and measurement for pharma clients.
- Quantify achievements: Provide data on organic client growth, new business wins, and team profitability managed.
- Prepare for interviews: Be ready to discuss your strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and experience managing integrated agency teams.
- Demonstrate presentation prowess: Prepare to showcase superior presentation skills, including PowerPoint proficiency.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What are the key responsibilities of a VP, Account Director at Avalere Health?
- As a VP, Account Director at Avalere Health, you will be responsible for leading key client accounts within a global pharma agency. This includes developing and maintaining senior-level client relationships, overseeing brand planning and strategy, managing team performance and profitability, and contributing to new business development initiatives.
- What experience is required for the VP, Account Director role at Avalere Health?
- The ideal candidate will have at least 12 years of Brand AOR account experience and 5 years of pharmaceutical advertising agency experience, with a strong understanding of the pharma/healthcare advertising industry. Experience in digital marketing, leading integrated teams, and new business development is also crucial. A BA/BS degree is required.
- What kind of client relationships will I be managing as VP, Account Director at Avalere Health?
- You will be responsible for establishing and maintaining effective senior-level client relationships. This involves acting as a strategic thinker and problem solver, providing value and building trust with key stakeholders within client organizations.
- Does Avalere Health support career development for its employees?
- Yes, Avalere Health is committed to empowering employees to develop and thrive. They offer a purpose-driven career through their Career Experience team, personalized learning approaches, and opportunities for growth within their global organization.
- How does Avalere Health approach diversity and inclusion in its hiring process?
- Avalere Health is committed to embedding diversity and inclusion. They encourage diversity of thought and inclusive behavior, and participate in the Disability Confident Scheme to ensure fair interviewing for candidates with disabilities or long-term health conditions. They also accommodate necessary adjustments for applicants.
- What is the company culture like at Avalere Health?
- Avalere Health fosters a culture based on five core values: authenticity, integrity, valuing difference, playing for the team, and enjoying the journey. They aim to create a collaborative environment where experts connect to improve health outcomes.
- Are there opportunities for travel in this VP, Account Director role?
- Yes, candidates must be able to travel based on client business needs, which may include client meetings and market research activities.