Associate Director, Strategic Account and Project Management

Lilly•Indianapolis, IN

1d•$132,000 - $193,600

About The Position

The Associate Director, Strategic Account and Project Management is part of Thread Collective, Lilly’s in-house creative agency, and helps turn brand strategies into actionable plans and deliver integrated marketing programs across a portfolio of brands and indications. The role ensures strategic alignment and seamless execution for initiatives ranging from campaign refreshes to large-scale launches, engaging healthcare professionals, direct-to-consumer audiences, and other stakeholders. The Associate Director owns senior brand relationships, budget and scope, campaign planning, forecasting, and delivery. Working with creative, operations, review, and subject matter expert partners, the role guides projects through Medical, Legal, and Regulatory review, supports compliant and effective execution, and provides creative feedback. The position also analyzes campaign performance, maintains brand intelligence, and promotes process improvements and modern planning tools to increase efficiency and measurable impact. The position is based in Indianapolis, with remote work options potentially available. Relocation assistance is provided, and travel up to 15% is expected.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, advertising, journalism, business administration, or a related field.
At least 8 years of account management and project leadership experience within a creative agency, in-house team, or multi-brand portfolio organization.
At least 5 years of experience managing account and/or project management teams delivering integrated marketing initiatives across multiple channels and audiences.
Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
Ability to receive and implement feedback from peers, partners, and stakeholders to align with shared goals and elevate outcomes.

Nice To Haves

MBA or equivalent advanced degree.
Expertise in Medical, Regulatory, and Legal workflows, with experience advising and guiding teams to align strategies and execution with compliance standards.
Experience leading brand or campaign planning and forecasting with senior stakeholders.
Proficiency in Workfront or a similar project management system.
Exceptional communication and influencing skills, including the ability to drive alignment and inspire action at all levels.
Experience in highly regulated or compliance-heavy environments such as healthcare, finance, government, or media, with an understanding of process rigor, documentation, and cross-functional review.
Demonstrated success managing or supporting teams delivering marketing initiatives for multiple brands, projects, or stakeholders across diverse channels.
Collaborative leadership style focused on results and a positive, team-oriented environment.
Proven ability to manage key accounts or complex, multi-channel creative projects.
Effective capacity management skills at individual and small-team levels.
Ability to identify and address process or technology challenges, implementing solutions through project planning and milestone management.
Solid understanding of creative development, digital marketing, brand strategy, and omnichannel execution.
Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), or equivalent certification.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Creative Account Manager on day-to-day execution, ensuring work remains on brand, on goal, and aligned with brand strategies and business objectives.
Own the brand relationship and serve as the senior point of contact for brand stakeholders; build relationships, anticipate needs, and proactively communicate opportunities and solutions.
Own budget and scope for the brand portfolio, keeping priorities, timelines, and deliverables within plan.
Schedule and lead strategic check-ins with creative, operations, and review partners involved in stakeholder initiatives.
Lead monthly and quarterly forecasting with brand partners and operations, assessing known work, capacity, and the path campaigns take through MLRO and into market.
Support the Senior Director in strategic planning, resource allocation, and continuous improvement, including documenting processes and pain points across stages of work.
Champion modern tools, including Workfront and AI-enabled planning and forecasting, and best practices to drive efficiency and scalability.
Translate brand strategy into campaign plans by leading campaign mapping, setting priorities, and finalizing tactics and claims across brands and audience types.
Champion client objectives while advocating for the agency’s vision and creative excellence to support alignment and mutual success.
Analyze brand performance and campaign KPIs, and provide insights and strategic recommendations for future planning and measurable business results.
Oversee work moving through MLRO; partner with review leads to anticipate risks, resolve escalations, and balance compliance with creativity.
Review work against campaign plans through a creative strategy lens and provide feedback that elevates the work.
Build and maintain each brand’s intelligence base, gathering customer insights, brand health data, and brand strategy to inform campaign planning.
Partner with subject matter experts in personalization, modular content, web, search, and social media to optimize messaging across paid and owned channels.

Benefits

Company bonus, depending in part on company and individual performance.
Eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k).
Pension.
Vacation benefits.
Eligibility for medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits.
Flexible benefits, including healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts.
Life insurance and death benefits.
Certain time-off and leave-of-absence benefits.
Well-being benefits, including an employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities.
Relocation package.