Managing Director

Real Chemistry•Chicago, MA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

At Real Chemistry, making the world a healthier place isn’t just an aspiration—it’s our everyday reality. The company's drive to transform healthcare is informed by a blend of deep scientific expertise, human-centred creativity, and AI-driven insights, fostering a unique environment where innovation thrives and people are impact-obsessed. As a global agency, Real Chemistry provides a full suite of services across healthcare communications and marketing to clients, including top players in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The #LifeatRealChem culture is rooted in its people, committed to excellence for both clients and colleagues. The Managing Director will be a senior leader tasked to drive the agency strategy, positioning, and offerings for clients. They will support a distinctive employee experience for a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team. The majority of clients come from the healthcare sector with aspirations to expand into non-healthcare markets over time while continuing growth in healthcare. Current scopes are diverse and include multiple fields: PR, CTR, digital and social marketing, internal communications, branding, analytics and tech dev. Clients know Real Chemistry as an integrated consultancy they can trust. Managing Directors are agile, responsive, and have strong conceptual thinking capabilities. Given the significant growth, this person should be comfortable with ambiguity and the uncertainty that comes with rapid innovation and growth. The company is a senior-led team, and clients expect access and regular counsel from leadership. This person will also need to be comfortable being tactically involved in the day-to-day workings of client work. Additionally, strong internal communications are needed to help lead change within the organization, support controlled growth, and maintain strong retention rates. This is a hybrid role, based in any of Real Chemistry's US offices—including New York City, Boston, Chicago, Carmel, or San Francisco—or remotely within the US, depending on team and business needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is required.
15+ years in a professional environment within the public relations, communications, or advertising industry.
Management experience required; an approach to staff management that brings out the best in team members yielding operational excellence, pride, ownership, and a deep dedication to Real Chemistry.
A successful track record of winning new business and growing current business.
Outstanding communication skills to connect with a variety of audiences.
The experience, ability and inclination to be an effective, inspiring leader for Real Chemistry.
Exemplary interpersonal and listening skills; cultural sensitivity, particularly with respect to collaborating with global audiences via multiple media.
Exceptional client management skills.
A keen eye for operational efficiency and optimal use of resources; an aptitude for use of data and metrics in decision-making; the ability to plan, monitor, and tightly manage a budget.
An awareness, appreciation, and knowledge of analytics and multi-channel marketing.
A genuine passion for contributing to the transformation of a consultancy that is operating in a constantly evolving environment and a desire to work with a high-energy leadership team who sets the highest standards of performance.
Strong team-based orientation; a personality that thrives in matrixed environments and enjoys partnering with all levels of team members to achieve results.
Previous experience of working in an agency environment in a similar position.
Proven track record of growing complex and multi discipline and integrated clients.
Proven success in new business and business development.
An entrepreneurial and innovative approach to growing clients and revenue for the business.
Must demonstrate strong commercial and financial acumen; having led a profitable business or business vertical.

Nice To Haves

Our Company values – Best Together, Impact-Obsessed, Excellence Expected, Evolve Always and Accountability with an “I” – really speak to you.
You are adaptable, resilient, and OK with adjusting your scope, responsibilities, and focus as we grow. When things change, so do we. We’re always evolving.
You are proactive, driven, and resourceful with strong prioritization skills and a desire to dive into the data.
You are highly organized self-starter, able to work independently and under tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

Position yourself as an industry leader, networking to develop brand awareness.
Build on current Medical Communication and Marketing offering to establish an operationalized, multi-disciplinary team including analytics, digital and creative.
Develop programs targeted specifically at Medical Affairs and Clinical Trials teams to access a new target audience for our consultancy.
Grow the opportunities with clients into a broader portfolio of offerings including digital media, marketing, advertising, and social media.
Lead all aspects of current portfolio and growth through current client base, net new business, and manage to profitability.
Provide counsel across several existing accounts and lead multi-disciplinary team to deliver against client critical metrics.
Client lead on a number of accounts providing senior strategic counsel, building multi- disciplinary teams by working in collaboration with shared services (analytics and creative) teams, as well as SMEs.
Immerse quickly in Real Chemistry offerings and methodologies to take a coordinated approach to clients and new business.
Develop 30-60-90 day plan to outline key needs and contributions; set expectations internally.
Partner with current leadership team to drive and deliver a robust strategy for the consultancy.
Facilitate training and mentoring of team to support the growth of the business.
Infuse team with energy and passion through internal communication and respected partnership.
Identify new hires to accelerate business growth through broader network or new skill set.