SVP, Account Director (Medical Education)

Who We Are:

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

As a Senior Vice President, Account Director you will join our leadership team and champion major accounts. You will have overall accountability for all aspects of the finished products and must understand the strategy for the brand(s) and projects and ensure the pieces are consistent with the strategic direction. As the senior member, you must ensure your teams deliver quality projects that are on-time and within budget. You will help us further innovate our offerings, mentor our talent, and grow our business—both organically and new. You will work collaboratively with other senior leaders within the division and your business unit.

What you’ll do:

• Senior account leadership, motivation, and supervision of team members for multiple accounts
• Engage in forward thinking and planning for accounts and mine for opportunities for additional growth
• Act as mentor to the individuals in the account group and identify opportunities for individual growth and experiences by setting goals and coaching, when appropriate
• Celebrate brand achievements with the team
• Identify and help resolve people/departmental conflicts with practical solutions
• Keep management informed of client activity/issues/opportunities
• Understand client forecast/budget issues
• Ensure team is adhering to internal processes (ie, server filing, client communication documents, time sheet submission and signoff)
• Assist in recruitment of new team members when necessary
• Be a steward of company culture and environment
• Be a team player and help fellow senior managers when necessary
• Structure, plan, resource, and lead new business team through the pitch process
• Network and work in partnership across VML Health and WPP, when appropriate
• Foster and maintain a wide network of valuable relationships in the medical education communications and pharma business sectors (ie, follow clients to new company, keep relationships ongoing with key opinion leaders [KOLs])
• Be the brand champion by ensuring all agency efforts and projects are in the best interest of the brand and meet the overall strategic imperatives, positioning, and long-term vision
• Possess an intimate knowledge of the therapeutic markets to which the brands belong and stay abreast of market trends and new product entries
• Actively participate in strategic development and ensure that communication plans have alignment between issues, strategies and programming and challenge those that do not
• Provide clients with strategic insights, using current market research data, publications, internal discussions, etc
• Establish good working relationships with KOLs
• Provide senior-level guidance and strategic direction to client
• Develop and maintain harmonious relationships with all levels of client teams
• Take responsibility for client satisfaction and identify new ways/solutions to strengthen relationships
• Identify and resolves client conflicts quickly and efficiently
• Provide proactive written recommendations to client on a regular basis
• Demonstrate a knowledge of the therapeutic market and share timely information about changes in the market
• Identify and lead new business opportunities and organically grow current business by developing and executing account growth plans
• Participate in the development of breakthrough creative and innovative programs
• Ensure high-quality agency output, reflective of consistently superior creative and innovative product and constructively reject materials that do not meet this standard
• Understand the agency-branding process and foster/contribute to brand building among account groups
• Develop, with finance team, realistic forecasts for client businesses
• Proactively own business unit forecast, revenue, overages, profitability, and growth of accounts
• Routinely monitor the financial performance of accounts to maximize income generation and trouble shoot when a healthy financial outlook for account is in jeopardy
• Understand client compensation structure, labor-based or project fee based, and any discounts we are required to give

What you'll need:

• Leadership skills
• Passionate about the medical education/communication business
• Strong industry knowledge and medical communications acumen
• Effective written and oral communications skills
• Excellent supervisory skills
• Excellent interpersonal and listening skills
• Exercises sound judgment
• Manages time effectively and good multi-tasker
• Strong professional work ethic
• Active role in agency recruitment
• Bachelor’s degree (biology or biochemistry major is preferred but not necessary). Advanced degrees in business administration and/or science are welcome
• 10+ years previous experience as a senior account manager
• Demonstrated history of leadership and business development. This experience must be in the medical area with at least 7-8 years in medical education.
• Experience managing multiple teams and client accounts
• Multiple, successful new business pitches

What we offer:

• Passionate, driven people | We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.
• Consciously cultivated culture | We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusive community that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery.
• Competitive benefits | What we offer full time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness.
• Growth-minded opportunities | We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, growth-oriented mindset, and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.

#vmlhealthcareers

VML is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or other protected group status. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion and strives to recruit a diverse slate of candidates to help us achieve that goal.

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details.

_$125,000—$295,000 USD

At VML, we are committed to fostering an all-inclusive work environment that is both rewarding and career-forward. Our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives, alongside the VML Foundation, reflect our dedication to giving back and making a positive impact in our communities and beyond. Our people are the heartbeat of our organization—creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers—who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction.

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

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