Senior Account Director, Healthcare

FWD People • New York, NY

115d • $160,000 - $180,000

About The Position

FWD People is a full-service strategic marketing agency delivering meaningful and measurable results in the health and non-profit sectors. We take pride in being our clients' trusted strategic partner—staying ahead of the curve, and leveraging our expertise and foresight to help them navigate change and seize opportunities. We approach every challenge with a commitment to innovation, excellence, and empathy, and we seek the same qualities in our leaders. As a fast-growing, senior team, we're excited to welcome more forward-thinking individuals who will help us drive growth, foster positive change within our client's industries, and have fun along the way. As a Senior Account Director, Healthcare you will serve as both a strategic leader and senior-level client partner. You will be responsible for cultivating and strengthening relationships, delivering high-impact and strategically sound work, and driving business growth across a portfolio of accounts—primarily in oncology. You bring deep expertise in healthcare/pharmaceutical marketing fundamentals (positioning, segmentation, targeting, logo development, messaging, campaign development), and are confident applying scientific and competitive insights to marketing initiatives. Internally, you'll lead day-to-day brand planning, drive operational excellence, and mentor high-performing cross-functional teams.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in account and project management roles within small to mid-sized agencies.
• 4+ years of hands-on experience working with pharmaceutical/biotech/diagnostic clients; oncology or immunology experience a strong plus.
• Demonstrated strategic leadership in healthcare/pharma marketing fundamentals (positioning, segmentation, messaging, campaign development).
• Experience leading large accounts or portfolios with budgets exceeding $5M.
• Strong financial acumen: manages budgets, resourcing needs, and scopes with a business-owner mindset.
• High emotional intelligence and communication skills; comfortable presenting, facilitating, and influencing across all levels.
• Track record of growing client relationships, identifying new opportunities, and supporting new business development.
• Proven ability to mentor and lead teams with clarity, warmth, and accountability.
• Familiarity with FDA guidance and promotional review processes, especially in highly scientific categories.
• Strong writing, presentation, and direct communication skills across email, meetings, and strategic deliverables.
• Self-motivated, curious, and adaptable with a solutions-oriented mindset and strong attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for senior clients, leading projects across 1–2 key accounts totaling $2M+ annually, with the ability to scale up to manage $5M–$10M+ portfolios.
• Operate as both a strategic partner and project owner: oversee scopes of work, budget management, and staffing plans, identifying and mitigating resourcing or budget risks proactively.
• Lead day-to-day brand planning efforts across workstreams, integrating market insights, brand strategy, and creative excellence.
• Guide cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality, brand-aligned work, ensuring all client-facing materials meet strategic and creative standards.
• Develop and deepen relationships with multiple clients at the Director/Sr. Director level, quickly earning trust and influencing with authority.
• Review and interpret scientific and competitive literature to generate strategic insights and ensure all work is rooted in evidence-based thinking.
• Become a subject-matter expert in client regulatory processes and FDA promotional guidelines; ensure clean, strategic submissions through MLR.
• Own and lead the development of scopes of work in partnership with strategy, creative, and operations leads.
• Drive organic growth by identifying new opportunities within existing accounts and supporting agency new business efforts, including pitches and proposals.
• Model accountability, mentorship, and high standards—providing coaching and leadership presence across projects and teams.
• Codify and refine best practices in client service, account operations, and project delivery.

Benefits

• 25 days off per year + 16 paid holidays
• Matching 401(k)
• Medical, dental & vision insurance
• Paid maternity & paternity leave
• Home office setup
• Yearly team retreats
• Comprehensive professional development program including executive coaching and a yearly professional development stipend

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees