FierceBiotech and FiercePharma Jobs
Account Director / Issues and Advocacy - DDB
Nov 10
Location: Washington DC, Categories: Business Development
Website: http://www.ddbseattle.com
Position Description
This position, based in DDB’s Washington DC office, will be responsible for
• Guiding the strategic vision and managing client relations for a client account in partnership with the Account Supervisor,
• Contributing to growing the agency’s advocacy relations offering and overall Issues & Advocacy practice, and
• Acting as a leader in the DC office and for the Issues & Advocacy group overall.
The client is a biotech with which DDB has worked for a number of years in the area of advocacy relations, coordinating strategic and sustainable relationships with advocates to identify and meet mutual goals and self interests. DDB prides itself on our approach: we understand who the advocates are, what matters most to them and their influence over relevant policy issues.
Account Work — The Account Director will spend approximately 75 percent of their time guiding the account’s strategic vision and managing client relations, both of which will be done in partnership with the Account Supervisor, who will manage the account on a day to day basis, including delegation of responsibilities to the account team to implement strategic communications and strategic public affairs projects. The Account Director will also work with the Account Supervisor to oversee the client budget and staffing plan and to identify and take advantage of opportunities for account growth, including opportunities to engage a broader set of agency resources and tools that will lead to high quality deliverables and outcomes for the client.
Business Development — The Account Director will work with the Senior Vice President, Issues & Advocacy (with additional support from the Account Supervisor and other more junior team members) to grow the agency’s advocacy relations offering: identifying opportunities for presentations and other thought leadership events, defining deliverables and identifying and pursuing new business prospects.
The Account Director will also work with the Senior Vice President, Issues & Advocacy, to increase visibility for the Issues & Advocacy group within the agency and with potential clients. This will include identifying opportunities for presentations and trainings — both internal and external — to develop and conduct as well as identifying and pursuing new business prospects.
Leadership — Finally, the Account Director will provide leadership and mentoring for more junior staff on the account team, within the DC office, and in the Issues & Advocacy group.
The position requires minimal domestic travel (10-25 percent).
Desired Skills, Knowledge, Abilities and Qualifications (listed in order of importance)
• Project management
• Relationships with/understanding of patient advocacy groups
• Understanding of effective partnership/coalitions (familiarity with non-profits a plus)
• Client relations or equivalent (stakeholder or funder relations)
• Business development
• Budget management
• Personnel management
• Presentation — both verbal and written
• 7+ years in communications field (not necessarily at agency)
• Four year college degree
• Experience with/knowledge of biotech and/or pharmaceutical industry
• Domestic heath policy
