Account Director

Job Title:  Account Director, Spain

Location: Madrid, Hybrid

About Springer Nature Group            

Springer Nature opens the doors to discovery for researchers, educators, clinicians and other professionals. Every day, around the globe, our imprints, books, journals, platforms and technology solutions reach millions of people. For over 175 years our brands and imprints have been a trusted source of knowledge to these communities and today, more than ever, we see it as our responsibility to ensure that fundamental knowledge can be found, verified, understood and used by our communities – enabling them to improve outcomes, make progress, and benefit the generations that follow.

About Springer Health+

Springer Health+ is a leading global medical communications and education provider. Working in partnership with pharmaceutical companies and key opinion leaders, Springer Health+ develop bespoke content delivered via multichannel solutions, providing the essential tools to support healthcare professionals in achieving the best possible outcomes for patients.

About the role and the business unit

Springer Health+ Spain provides Medical Communications services to the local Spanish affiliates of global pharmaceutical companies, as well as to the head office of those Pharma companies who have their Global HQs in the country.

Our dedicated team of sales, operations and editorials staff oversee the production of a full range of deliverables, including scientific papers and manuscripts, medical education including videos, e-learning, podcasts and live meetings, advisory boards, clinical meeting reports and many other forms of medical writing and scientific content.

Reporting into the General Manager (GM), the Account Director is the one of the agency leaders for an assigned client portfolio, responsible for managing relationships, driving revenue, and ensuring satisfaction. They serve as the primary contact for brand strategy and planning. They may manage a team of 2-3 account managers and executives. The Account Director oversees both strategic and tactical initiatives. Their responsibilities include client service, financial oversight, team leadership, and fostering growth.

Client Management

• Role with Client

  • Serves as the client’s strategic advisor and main point of contact for brand matters.

  • Builds strong, trust-based relationships and actively contributes to strategic and tactical planning.

  • Leads or participates in client meetings and identifies opportunities for business growth within existing accounts.

• Client knowledge

  • Recognized by the client as a brand/therapeutical area expert and proactively seeks deeper insights into their strategy, plans, and market context.

  • Maintains strong relationships with key client contacts and ensures continuity through connections with client managers.

  • Stays informed on the client’s industry, competitors, and trends, integrating relevant insights into strategic recommendations.

  • Engages internal stakeholders as needed to address client business needs effectively.

• Managing Team interface

  • Acts as the team leader in the eyes of the client, supporting and guiding team members during meetings and calls.

  • Reviews team proposals to ensure strategic alignment and value.

  • Shares best practices with both clients and internal teams to enhance performance and collaboration.

• Account Planning

  • Conducts regular external reviews (annual and quarterly) to assess account performance, including revenue, profitability, and client goals.

  • Leads brainstorming sessions to evaluate client offerings and identify service improvement opportunities.

• Tactical Planning

  • Participates in tactical planning, identifying gaps and persuading clients to adopt innovative approaches.

  • Supports tactical execution while ensuring alignment with overall strategy.

• Client Revenue

  • Owns responsibility for meeting or exceeding client revenue targets, ensuring accurate forecasting and realistic budget planning.

  • Identifies and drives revenue growth opportunities through strategic proposals, pitches, and client engagement.

  • Leads or supports pitch preparation and delivery for both existing and new clients, in collaboration with senior leadership.

• Client Profitability

  • Secures and expands profitable business opportunities, including strategic and health-related services.

  • Addresses profitability challenges with clients and negotiates retainers or brand maintenance agreements.

  • Builds strong, proactive relationships with client procurement teams.

Project Management

• In collaboration with clients, AMs and AEs, reviews and refines client briefs, ensuring clarity and completeness before work begins and ensuring the respect of timelines, escalating whenever necessary to GM

• Keeps updated on compliance and regulatory issues well enough to guide clients on risks and opportunities and ensures nsures adherence to internal and external SOPs

Financial Responsibility

• Timesheets

  • Ensures own and line reports timesheets are completed daily

• Job Delivery Reports Management

  • Holds ultimate responsibility for client profitability, ensuring financial balance across projects and managing cost-related discussions professionally.

  • Closely monitors job finances and oversees monthly financial processes (e.g., revenue reports, SAP), collaborating with the General Manager and finance team.

  • Provides accurate sales and revenue forecasts, proactively managing shortfalls and submitting annual targets based on client insights.

• Invoicing and PO Management

  • Oversees the full client financial process, including approving client and supplier invoices, ensuring accurate coding, and guiding Account Managers on job, PO, and invoicing practices.

  • Ensures accurate budgeting, time, and cost tracking across projects.

  • Leads client financial negotiations, including terms, conditions, and contracts.

• Managing budget overruns

  • Takes full responsibility for managing and learning from client project overruns, ensuring issues are not repeated.

  • Leads client discussions to improve processes, monitors overruns across accounts, and supports remediation planning with Account Managers.

Springer Global Support

• Builds strong relationships with key colleagues across Springer offices to maximize business opportunities.

• Facilitate and ensure sharing of business opportunities with other teams/departments

Skills, Qualifications and Experience:

• Academic qualifications in life sciences, marketing, business or related field

• Strong understanding of medical communications, healthcare industry, and drug development processes.

• Broad therapeutic knowledge is a plus.

• Proven experience in senior account management, strategic planning, and managing large accounts.

• Deep understanding of sales, revenue, and EBITDA.

• Skilled in leading, mentoring, and developing teams in a supportive, non-hierarchical manner.

• Excellent communicator and team player, adaptable to various roles as needed.

• Strong time management, financial oversight, and project management capabilities.

• Willing to travel nationally and internationally a few times a year.

• English fluency (B2/C1 level), spoken and written

• Strong leadership, coaching, and team development skills.

• Excellent communicator and presenter with a client-focused approach.

• Skilled in strategic thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving.

• Proficient in project management, financial forecasting, and profitability analysis.

• Deep understanding of the pharmaceutical industry, therapy areas, brand strategies, and regulatory standards.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office and account planning.

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