additional details

JOB SPECIFICATION
Job Title:
Account Manager (Corporate Communications)
Reports to:
Account Director
Company:
Langland (www.langland.co.uk)
Salary package:
£negotiable + extensive benefits
THE OPPORTUNITY
An exciting opportunity exists for an Account Manager with previous healthcare communications experience and a real
desire to exceed expectations to join the world’s most creatively awarded healthcare advertising agency in a specialist,
corporate communications role.
THE POSITION
Corporate communications is a fast growing sector of our business and some of our most exciting, category-defining
work is currently being undertaken in this area. The Account Manager will have the opportunity to work across a number
of accounts in the areas of clinical research, managed access and eCOA (electronic Clinical Outcome Assessments)
solutions for the life sciences industry.
Working in a small team headed up by an Account Director and working closely with the Global Business Director, the
Account Manager will work on a diverse range of projects fulfilling both external & internal communication plans: from
global conference activities, media/PR strategy & implementation and the development of core marketing materials, to
advertising campaigns, business development support materials, HR activities and internal campaign launch materials.
The diversity of the communication objectives requires a wide range of media channels including press, websites, video
animation, e-newsletters, printed brochures and interactive presentations.
EXPERIENCE & SKILLS
The ideal candidate is probably already working as an Account Manager or Senior Account Executive in an advertising
or medical education agency, or may hold a communications role within the pharmaceutical industry, and is looking for
an opportunity to develop his / her skills and knowledge.
ATTRIBUTES & BEHAVIOURS
Understands the business context; sees the bigger picture; demonstrates a passion for our industry; understands there’s
lots to learn; diligent; great attention to detail; work requires minimal rework; has a point of view; communicates clearly;
adapts tone/approach to suit audience; confidently challenges; copes well under pressure; believes in what he or she’s
doing; takes responsibility & ownership; knows when to refer issues upwards; brings suggestions to the table; makes
connections.
THE COMPANY
Langland is the world’s most creatively awarded healthcare advertising agency. Ranked number 41 in the UK's Top 50
Advertising Agencies (Campaign December 2012), the agency was named as the New York Festival’s Global Healthcare
Agency of the Year in 2011 and 2012. The agency is very well established, with 75 permanent staff, an annual turnover
approaching £12 million and one of the most impressive client lists in the sector. Current clients include Abbott, Bayer,
Eli Lilly, Quintiles and Roche. Based in Windsor, Berkshire, the agency enjoys superb, architect-designed premises in a
prestigious office development overlooking Windsor Castle.
Langland handles a wide portfolio of leading healthcare brands, both in the UK and overseas, including products for
multiple sclerosis, arthritis, asthma and cancer. In addition to ethical medicine brands we also work on corporate
accounts, health awareness campaigns and direct-to-patient communication programmes for clinical trials.
Probably the agency’s most recognised and widely acclaimed piece of work is the campaign for Pfizer, which warns
people about the dangers of counterfeit medicines and features a hard-hitting television commercial in which a man pulls
a dead rat out of his mouth http://www.realdanger.co.uk/get-real-get-a-prescription/
THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Langland is based in the heart of Windsor, surrounded by the bars, restaurants and
shops of this lively, historic town. The agency’s premises, designed by awardwinning architects, Jump Studios, incorporate light, open plan offices, flexible work
and meeting spaces, a sumptuous lounge / library and meetings suite and a staff
recreation facility with kitchen / diner, TV, games console and massage chair.
Windsor is easily accessible by train from London. The journey from Paddington
takes approximately 30 minutes, with a change at Slough, and Windsor can also
be reached in under an hour from London Waterloo. Many of the existing team
join this train as it passes through stations such as Clapham Junction, Putney,
Barnes, Richmond and Twickenham. Windsor is also very conveniently situated
for people living in Reading and surrounding areas, Ascot, Bracknell and Guildford
to the South and towns such as High Wycombe, Chesham, Beaconsfield to the
North.
Further information about the agency and the people who work here can be found at www.langland.co.uk
BENEFITS PACKAGE
Langland is fully committed to the training and development of all staff. In addition, we aim to offer an extensive benefits
package and fantastic working environment. The standard package for all employees is:

Competitive basic salary

Holiday entitlement of 24 working days per annum (3 of these to be taken between Christmas and the New Year)
plus all statutory and bank holidays.

Extra holiday in recognition of time in service is awarded up to a maximum of five days per year.

Life Assurance

Income Protection Insurance

Interest-free season ticket loans

Childcare vouchers

Apple iPhone
And, after successful completion of the probationary period, you will also receive:

Group Personal Pension (Langland contributes a minimum of 5% of salary for all staff. The company will then
'match' the employee's contribution up to a further 5% of salary.)

Private Health Insurance

Quarterly Profit-Related Bonus Scheme

Annual Performance-Related Bonus Scheme
Best Companies Accreditation was established to acknowledge excellence in the workplace. Based
on staff feedback, it looks at employee engagement as an integral part of a company’s success and
growth. The accreditation scheme follows a Michelin star style system with companies awarded one
star for first class, two stars for outstanding and three stars for extraordinary performance. Langland
first entered for Best Companies Accreditation in 2010 and has been awarded One Star Status,
recognising it as First Class employer, for three years running.
Langland is an IPA member agency. The IPA denotes a high level of credibility and its
members are recognised as the proven leaders in their fields of expertise.
TIMING
This is an immediate vacancy but we understand that notice periods vary and are willing to wait for the right candidate to
become available.
Role:
Account Manager
Department:
Client Services
Level:
Team Member
Reports into:
Account Director / Senior Account Director / Group Account Director
Responsible for Managing:
n/a
WHY WE’RE HERE
To be famously creative, effective and profitable.
We make healthcare brands better. We achieve this by combining healthcare intelligence with creative engagement.
Langland is the most creatively awarded healthcare advertising agency in the world and we intend to stay that way.
We’re also highly effective. Our campaigns enhance our clients’ reputation and, ultimately, make a positive difference to
their bottom line. If there’s a healthcare story to be told, we want to be telling that story.
When it comes to our own financial performance, we’re a commercially focussed team. Whether that’s keeping a tight
rein on our overheads, maximising internal efficiency or being paid appropriately for the value we add. Ensuring that the
agency trades profitability and continues to grow is a responsibility we all share.
We also share common company values and are guided by these in everything we do: Be Yourself, Be Together, Be
Brave, Be Better. This simple philosophy helps us build creative, confident teams that have, in turn, enhanced our own
reputation as a place where people want to come and work. As an independent agency, you can expect a higher degree
of autonomy and greater entrepreneurial emphasis. This gives people the freedom they need to do what they do best
with rapid career progression and reward for high achievers.
WHY YOU’RE HERE
Clients are our business. You are a primary interface between Langland and our clients. You have shared responsibility
for building and sustaining successful relationships and for the on-going reputation of the agency. An Account Manager
has primary responsibility for the day-to-day management of a portfolio of assigned accounts
WHAT YOU’RE HERE TO DO
An Account Manager manages his or her accounts under the direction of the more senior members of the Client
Services team. He or she is starting to gain an understanding of the strategic direction of these accounts.
The Account Manager’s responsibilities are outlined in the key areas below:
Last updated: July 2012
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Business Development

Draft proposals / presentations / pitch work for discussion with senior team members

Ensure that clients are aware of all the services Langland can offer

Proactively look for new business opportunities and share them with your manager
Client Relationships

Foster good relationships at an appropriate level within client companies across the cross functional team
(marketing / sales / med-reg / HEOR)

Gather, share and act upon client feedback throughout the development of creative work

Support your manager in running and controlling client meetings

Be recognised by the client as the main point of contact for all tactical materials on your accounts and as a core
member of the agency team

Play a key role in all tactical meetings by presenting work and asking appropriate questions

Refer and share any issues going to your manager with some proposed solutions
Strategy

Plan and conduct desk and field market research

Develop an understanding of marketing strategies that are effective for your clients

Develop an understanding of why work has been agreed and the relevance to the core campaign objectives and
idea

Challenge the strategy when it does not fulfil the core campaign objectives and idea

Utilise your experience across accounts to help with new situations
Creative

Play an integral role in creation of Ideas briefs, feeding in research / account / marketing knowledge

Ensure that the creative output matches the client’s brief and Langland’s standards

Present and sell creative ideas and work to clients on accounts that you are managing on a day-to-day basis

Challenge client thinking when appropriate in line with campaign objectives and core creative idea / critique work in
a constructive manner in line with the brief
Delivery

Prepare weekly work in progress project list for Creative Services

Take client briefs for assigned projects and draft short briefs

Prepare for internal briefing meetings by gathering appropriate materials

Brief appropriate agency personnel on assigned projects

Work with Account Executives and Senior Account Executives (where relevant) to prepare Contact Reports in a
timely and efficient manner

Check Contact Reports written by Account Executives

Manage and update Progress Reports on a weekly basis

Produce production timetables, monitor progress of projects against timetables and effect timely delivery

Take responsibility for job bag management by following internal processes, liaising with Traffic / Digital Studio
Manager, marking up job bags with clear instructions, version control and ensuring that all work is signed off by the
appropriate stakeholders

Proof read work (and correct if necessary)

Create and maintain resource/reference files to assist agency team on assigned projects in conjunction with Account
Executives

Take client feedback throughout the development process and act as an intermediary between client and agency
throughout the sign-off process

Ensure that both internal and external stakeholders involved in projects are informed of all developments, including
time, budget and delivery issues, at every stage of the sign-off process
Finance

Take a key role within the team for profitability on your assigned accounts

Collate costing information for approval or use by a senior member of the team

Raise client estimates

For those client accounts within the team’s portfolio that you are managing on a day-to-day basis:

Review costs against budget on an ongoing basis and flag any issues to manager and client

Identify ‘Out of Scopes’, gain client agreement and raise paperwork

Liaise with the Financial Controller to ensure prompt payment of client invoices

Work closely with the Financial Controller, submitting WIP and client monies information when requested
People

Foster good relationships with all internal departments and cross-functional teams

Support the development of Account Executives and Senior Account Executives by sharing relevant experiences

Proactively support your manager, suggesting new ideas and questioning thinking where appropriate

Refer to senior team members for advice and support

Raise your internal profile through knowledge sharing and internal presentations
To undertake any other task, deemed to be appropriate to this role, as directed by your line manager or another
manager.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Account Manager is expected to have the following skills and knowledge:

A good understanding of clients' therapy areas and brands including key clinical references

An understanding of the clients overall business and where your brands fit in

A good understanding of advertising, marketing and strategy

A thorough knowledge of the internal workings of the agency and the processes of implementation

Client approval systems such as ZINC and EPASS

A good commercial understanding of how to run profitable accounts

Broad knowledge of the various media channels available to formulate the marcoms mix, including but not limited to
press advertising, direct marketing, radio, TV and digital

A good knowledge of the ABPI Code of Practice and other relevant advertising Codes and Standards

An up-to-date knowledge of the healthcare systems in the countries relevant to clients’ brands

A thorough understanding of Langland’s approach to brand planning and the tools used
As an IPA member agency, Langland encourages everyone to see learning as a platform for business success. You are
expected to undertake a minimum of 24 hours continuous professional development (CPD) per year (pro rated for those
working part-time). CPD can be anything (not just IPA activities) that you have done to develop yourself and others –
training courses, coaching, appraisals, inductions, mentoring, reading, studying, qualifications, job swaps or learning a
language. You are required to keep your IPA CPD diary updated with details of all your learning and development
activities and encouraged to share this with your manager on a regular basis.
At Account Manager level, you should be accessing courses at Foundation level, which are recommended for individuals
starting their career or with up to three years experience.
Progression to the next level is also dependent on experience gained and the application of skills and knowledge across
different clients, different therapy areas and different geographies.