Group Business Director

UMT•Brooklyn, NY

5d•$175,000 - $210,000

About The Position

Translation is seeking a Group Business Director to lead and grow its Eli Lilly partnership. The role owns the health, growth, and performance of a portfolio of Eli Lilly brands and workstreams, serving as a senior strategic partner to VP- and SVP-level marketing stakeholders. The Group Business Director connects brand priorities, patient needs, and cultural opportunities into a clear business vision, makes portfolio-level decisions with minimal executive oversight, leads and develops Business Directors and Business Supervisors, and co-owns financial performance with Program Management. The role balances creative ambition with the requirements of a regulated category and escalates significant risks or investments for executive alignment. The position leads portfolio strategy and growth, builds senior client partnerships, champions strategic and creative excellence, owns commercial performance, develops teams, aligns delivery, and contributes to strengthening the agency. It partners with the Executive Director and department leaders, and supports new business pitches, recruiting, and agency capability development. Translation is part of UnitedMasters, Inc., which also operates a platform for independent creators. The company describes itself as an independent creative solutions company focused on helping brands use culture to address business challenges. The hiring range is $175,000–$210,000 for New York and California; compensation may vary by location and individual qualifications. The company notes additional compensation and benefits opportunities, including bonus, stock options, and a 401(k) match.

Requirements

At least 12 years of experience in an agency or communications-related industry, with a well-rounded understanding of marketing, media, creative, production, and agency finance.
Proven success leading a portfolio of businesses or a complex multi-brand client relationship, with responsibility for financial performance and organic growth.
Experience at a scale comparable to $6 million–$10 million or more in annual agency revenue.
Demonstrated ability to advise VP- and SVP-level marketing clients and make consequential business decisions with limited executive oversight.
Experience managing and developing senior account or Business Leadership talent.
Experience leading integrated, multi-channel campaigns and large-scale production.
Strong business judgment and strategic fluency, including the ability to turn complex client needs into clear priorities across multiple brands.
Executive presence and exceptional communication skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and navigate difficult conversations.
Commercial acumen across scopes, staffing, profitability, and forecasting, and the ability to collaborate with Program Management.
Ability to champion integrated creative work while respecting accuracy and medical, legal, and regulatory review requirements.
A decisive and curious leadership style that develops leaders and fosters accountability and collaboration.

Nice To Haves

Experience with pharmaceutical, healthcare, or other regulated brands and medical, legal, and regulatory review.
Direct pharmaceutical experience; it is a plus but is not required.
Curiosity about the pharmaceutical category and eagerness to learn.
Experience with consumer health communications, patient storytelling, brand launches, or culturally relevant campaigns, including talent partnerships, social content, or experiential work.
Experience partnering with in-house creative teams and working in a multi-agency environment.
Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Executive Director to drive portfolio performance, strengthen client relationships, set priorities across assigned brands and workstreams, and address partnership risks.
Develop growth plans that connect client needs with Translation’s capabilities and expand agency relationships and impact.
Build knowledge of Lilly’s business, patient audiences, and competitive dynamics; identify cross-brand opportunities and shape a broader business vision.
Build trusted relationships with senior marketing leaders, influence decisions through proactive counsel, and shape client agendas.
Navigate stakeholder needs, challenge assumptions constructively, and lead sensitive conversations about priorities, investment, and work.
Monitor client satisfaction, risks, and opportunities, aligning Lilly brand teams with internal creative teams and agency partners.
Ensure work addresses meaningful business problems and meets standards for strategic rigor, creative and cultural excellence, and client readiness.
Guide Strategy, Context, Creative, and Analytics toward ambitious ideas grounded in audience insight and business objectives, with clear measures of success.
Champion empathetic, accessible health communications that reflect patient experiences and align with client-provided medical, legal, and regulatory guidance.
Co-own portfolio financial performance with Program Management, including resource allocation, profitability, forecasting, and long-term growth.
Lead senior client conversations about scopes, fees, changing needs, and investment, ensuring commercial implications are addressed before commitments are made.
Coach Business Directors on commercial judgment and make portfolio investment recommendations that balance immediate needs with long-term opportunities.
Lead, mentor, and develop Business Directors and Business Supervisors through coaching, semi-annual performance reviews, and development opportunities.
Establish clear roles, accountability, and development pathways for teams.
Partner with Program Management to align staffing, scope, schedules, and review requirements with business goals.
Coordinate Strategy, Context, Creative, and Production; confirm feasibility before major commitments and resolve competing portfolio priorities.
Partner with department leaders to shape Business Leadership standards, improve ways of working, and strengthen agency capabilities.
Support new business pitches and represent Translation through relevant partnerships and industry participation.
Help recruit and develop a pipeline of future Business Leadership talent.