Account Executive, Medical Communications/Medical Education

Job Role (Main Duties)

Project Manage Designated Accounts and Projects

• For simple projects, liaise with clients to obtain detailed briefs for projects with support from more senior team members where necessary
• Write up the brief for any assigned projects, verify details with lead account personnel and client (s)
• For complex projects, take part in brainstorming and project costing meetings under the direction of lead account personnel
• Develop project timelines for approval by lead account personnel
• For assigned projects, communicate the brief and timelines to the rest of the internal team (including team members from other departments) at a kick-off meeting, together with all other relevant information
• Liaise appropriately with all relevant departments, providing information that may assist them in their day-to-day work
• Drive the day-to-day project management of all assigned projects within an account and be the primary point of contact for the client
• Be the principal point of contact with specified external suppliers and define their roles. Inform them of, and enforce adherence to, the administration processes involved in working with SH+ (e.g. additional costs outside budget to be advised in writing prior to them being incurred, completion of timesheets, etc.)
• Comply with agreed standard operating procedures (SOPs) so that the team works in an effective manner
• Maintain status sheets in the preferred format and frequency for the client and lead internal and client status updates, where appropriate
• Keep complete project files that are easy for all parties to navigate
• Work closely with the rest of the team to set up new systems/processes, as required, to optimally manage the account(s)
• Under the direction of lead account personnel manage project risks and take corrective action e.g. arrange and/or attend commencement and closure meetings
• Participate in closure meetings so that lessons learnt during the implementation of the project are understood by the account team and corrective action by individuals is carried through
• Ensure, in conjunction with other account personnel, that information about team successes and advice on best practice is shared with other SH+ teams
• Follow up on any assigned actions from client meetings

Financial Management

• Work with lead account personnel to meet or exceed sales, revenue and profitability expectations within the assigned account(s)
• Project manage all assigned projects to agreed financial ratios and in line with project specifications
• Confirm/amend all sales on internal systems by the deadline dates
• Develop accurate budget proposals for assigned projects and be accountable for monitoring time and costs throughout project delivery and the reconciliation process, including milestone updates on a regular basis
• Accurately code supplier invoices for authorisation by lead account personnel
• Professionally manage any client concerns regarding costs for assigned projects with the support of lead account personnel
• Take corrective action if invoices are not paid with guidance from lead account personnel
• With direction from lead account personnel, accurately complete sales, project staging, revenue forecasts, financial spread sheets (confirmed and unconfirmed) and invoicing by the agreed monthly deadlines for assigned projects
• Ensure timely and accurate completion of timesheets

Organic Growth and Client Relationships

• Provide day-to-day management of projects delivering organic business growth within the designated account(s):
• Gain an understanding of the principles and processes underlying the various components of a strategic communications programme and how these fit into a product life cycle
• Drive the development of small accounts or individual assigned projects by recommending commercially relevant communication solutions and/or vehicles
• Where possible, make recommendations to clients for new ideas and develop appropriate proposals for products and services that meet identified client needs
• Proactively liaise with the client to negotiate and close proposals, either alone for simple projects and/or with the support of lead account personnel for more complex initiatives
• Develop effective working relationships with individual clients:
• Develop a rudimentary understanding of the client’s market, product profile, therapeutic area, competitors and trends and then apply this understanding when interacting with clients and developing proposals
• Where appropriate, attend client meetings with lead account personnel and proactively lead agreed elements of meetings
• Proactively follow-up any assigned actions from the client meetings
• Proactively flag any issues to lead account personnel outlining business risk and making recommendations for action
• Share best practice with client and internal teams

Skills, Experience, Qualifications:

Essential

• 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) – including Maths and English
• Account/project management experience within Medical Communications and/or Medical Education
• Meetings management experience, supporting the team
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills
• Fluent English (written and verbal)
• Good communicator including experience of direct Client contact, organised and proactive – a ‘client service provider’
• Efficient time keeping and project management skills and goo with people/internal and external clients
• Willing to work hard and learn new skills in this exciting industry
• Domestic and international travel as required

Desired

• Meetings management experience with on-site attendance
• Knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry
• Understanding of the drug development and communication process
• Understanding of sales, revenue and EBITDA
• A commercial qualification
• Educated to degree level (life sciences, business or marketing preferred)