Group Director, Strategic Planning (Pharma Agency Experience Required)

EVERSANA•Chicago, IL

About The Position

The Group Director, Strategic Planning is a leader and idea generator who inspires our internal teams and client teams toward ground-breaking marketing. The Group Director, Strategic Planning establishes trustworthy relationships and is seen by others as a collaborative role model and mentor. He or she is an expert in understanding patient journeys across multiple brands and how people live in our digital world, while bringing the heart of traditional planning. This position will frequently distil research and data analytics down into meaningful insights and strategic recommendations, clearly articulating the thinking behind our work, ideas and POVs. This person will be an advocate for the Intouch planning process to both internal and client teams, able to clearly align the planning department to help address our client’s business needs.

Requirements

10+ years of Account Planning experience.
Extensive experience within the Pharmaceutical or Healthcare industry required.
Subject matter expert for digital, media and technology marketing and advertising.
Motivated leader who takes ownership of multiple accounts, including each account's strategic goals and marketing landscape.
As the main client-facing Planner and strategic voice in client meetings, evaluates the quality of client-facing deliverables produced by his/her Planning team.
Is certain of his/her ability to get any job done and done right and remains unsatisfied until a topic is totally mastered.
Sets the standard for work and leads the team to brilliant data and insight driven strategies.
Provides innovative thought leadership and shapes the knowledge and expertise base within the Planning team.
Beyond screening our industry for new approaches and latest trends, creatively uses state-of-the-art strategic approaches to help in the problem-solving process.
Comes up with new strategic approaches when his/her team members are stuck and encourages them to think outside the box.
Writes and publishes POVs on new solutions and/or advances relative to existing solutions and platforms.
Applies powerful analytical skills to every stage of the problem-solving process.
Senses when others are on data overload and when they need more information (and knows where to find this info).
Is totally comfortable in front of a group, plus has clear, direct and concise communication skills.
Champions and nurtures individual Planning team members and guides through conflict while fostering strong relationships within Intouch leadership and client and other agency leads.
Serves as both a manager/mentor, but also accountable for producing deliverables.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership: Lead the development of data- and insight-driven strategies that align with client business objectives, inspiring both internal and client teams toward innovative marketing solutions.
Client Partnership: Serve as the primary strategic voice in client meetings, delivering impactful insights, recommendations, and strategic frameworks that drive brand success.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Foster a collaborative environment by building trust across internal teams, clients, and agency partners, acting as a role model and mentor.
Insight Generation: Translate complex research, data analytics, and patient journey insights into clear, actionable strategies that connect traditional planning with digital trends.
Thought Leadership: Identify and implement cutting-edge approaches to address challenges, while publishing POVs to showcase innovative solutions and industry advancements.
Team Development: Coach and mentor Planning team members, resolving conflicts, guiding career development, and ensuring alignment on strategic goals.
Deliverable Oversight: Ensure the quality and consistency of all client-facing deliverables, setting and maintaining high standards of excellence for the team.
Market Expertise: Stay at the forefront of pharmaceutical, healthcare, digital, and media trends to anticipate client needs and deliver impactful, forward-thinking strategies.
Analytical Problem Solving: Apply advanced analytical skills to synthesize data, prioritize key insights, and craft compelling narratives for decision-making and presentations.
Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.
All other duties as assigned