Associate Client Services Director

At BOLDSCIENCE, an Associate Client Service Director (ACSD) plays a pivotal role within the Client Services leadership team. They have a wealth of experience working within the medical communications industry and can execute a variety of deliverables and drive a diverse portfolio of accounts. As well as excellent project and client management skills, an aCSD has a high level of scientific and strategic knowledge, enabling them to quickly become a trusted partner to clients. They are forward-thinking and always looking for new ideas and fresh approaches to push BOLD’s offering to the next level. An aCSD is egoless and leads by example. They are never one to shy away from getting stuck in and pride themselves on the development of their line reports and team. They take the time to build relationships with the wider BOLDSCIENCE team (such as Scientific, Creative, Finance, and People Operations) and ensure that collaborations are successful. An ACSD is beginning to expand their role outside of day-to-day account management and will start to increase their visibility across the wider Client Services & BOLDSCIENCE team.

DAY TO DAY RESPONSIBILITIES:

At BOLDSCIENCE, an ACSD can apply high levels of scientific and/or industry expertise to function as a strategic partner to clients. They are responsible for tactical planning, financial management, resourcing, and driving organic and new business opportunities. Some typical activities will include:

Client Management:

• Ability to build an open and honest partnership with clients and build the BOLD team around them. They have a sixth sense and can forward plan, knowing exactly when something needs to be changed/actioned
• Extensive experience working across a range of therapeutic areas, clients, and medical education tactics
• Provides onsite support where required
• Ability to apply a high level of scientific and commercial expertise gained through extensive knowledge and experience in the industry to act as a true client partner
• Provides strategic and operational direction to account teams
• Acts as a strategic and trusted partner as well as pushing and challenging our clients’ thinking
• Works in partnership with the Scientific Lead on accounts to develop and refine client strategy and tactics and ensure the BOLD plan for execution is feasible
• Provides support to the account team on client discussions where appropriate and flags any potential conflicts across the business
• Implements and maintains quality standards, cost efficiency, and best working practices alongside senior account team members

Project Management:

• Overall responsibility for a large or a diverse portfolio of accounts
• Effectively directs projects, overseeing and delegating tasks to the team as appropriate. Leads by example and is always happy to have a hands-on approach to support their team
• Portfolio lead for strategic discussions and routine client/agency reviews, driving strategic and tactical organic growth
• Drives alignment across client teams, ensuring the highest standards are met and providing internal leadership of accounts and teams
• Holds regular team meetings to ensure that everyone is up to date, clear on actions, and can ask any questions
• In collaboration with the scientific team leads, ensures the optimum level of resources to service account needs and pre-empt any resourcing challenges
• Is accountable in driving actions forward and is solution focused to achieving company goals
• Reviews content and provides sign-off on work, partnering with the scientific team leads

Financial Management:

• Overall responsibility for account financials and business unit KPIs
• Works closely with the VP, Client Services to set realistic revenue targets and ensure that BOLDs overall revenue target is achieved
• Responsible for account and business unit forecasting, working closely with the Scientific Lead to ensure all financials are accurate
• Consistently meets billability & recoverability targets and ensures the same from line reports and wider team members
• Completes timesheets accurately on time and ensures the same from line reports and wider team members
• Maintains strong relationships with senior clients and procurement teams and supports with MSA negotiations
• Supports team in financial conversations with the client, including overall yearly budgeting, timely out-of-scope recovery, and billings

Business Development:

• Identifies and drives new business opportunities across new and existing clients
• Identifies opportunities for business growth, actively driving new business opportunities and leading in pitches
• Responsible for keeping abreast with key events and innovations in the industry

People Management:

• Manages and inputs into the career development of direct reports and their teams, closely reviewing goals and objectives
• Line manages several team members of varying levels, providing constructive and actionable feedback to team members
• Coaches and mentors others across the agency with the ability to adapt to get the best out of the BOLD team
• Forms excellent senior-level relationships and is a trusted partner to the Business Unit founder

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Extensive experience working within the medical communications industry
• Proven ability to work across different therapy areas and project deliverables in a client-facing role. Leading and actioning projects within a fast-paced agency environment
• Excellent understanding of the pharma and competitor landscape
• Extensive experience and knowledge within the medical communications industry
• Experience collaborating with different departments such as Scientific Services, Creative, Digital, etc.
• Able to lead a team effectively, including line management responsibilities and mentoring
• Experienced financial management including budgets, forecasting, and recoverability
• Bachelor’s degree preferred in science, pharmacology, or medicine with the ability to apply high levels of scientific knowledge

Originally posted on Himalayas