Senior Strategy Director

Overview

The Senior Strategy Director, EU Client Strategy is responsible for leading the brand and creative strategy thinking on selected key agency accounts, major new business pitches and, on occasion, speculative new business outreach, reporting to the Head of Client Strategy, EU.

• Be accountable for ensuring that the strategy work delivered on allocated tasks is original, high quality, motivating and actionable, aligned with client needs and new business pitch requirements, and leverages internal resources across Advertising, Public/Professional Relations, Digital Communications, Medical Communications and Clinical Trial Recruitment offers.
• Contribute to strategy work spanning areas such as insight development, brand strategy, positioning, messaging, and concept testing based on project needs.
• Prepare with originality and facilitate with energy internal and external workshops in both new business and existing business contexts.
• Collaborate with and contribute to a productive team of Strategists based in London and Germany.
• Provide strategic support, as directed, to all EU regional in-market Syneos Health Communications offices and offers, and across the broader affiliate network (including US) to support larger global opportunities.
• Work in sync with the Creative Department to ensure all deliverables are on strategy before broader internal presentation, and contribute to concept generation and approval where appropriate.
• Ensure that, on allocated accounts, major agency deliverables are on brief prior to internal management, and then client presentation.
• Collaborate closely with Medical Strategy on allocated accounts to ensure brand strategy recommendations are based on sound science.
• Build strong and influential client relationships, negotiating as necessary regarding amendments to strategy in line with client wishes while explaining what is and is not possible.
• Consult, when appropriate, across the broad, integrated team to draw on wider expertise.
• Lead allocated strategy projects through to delivery in accordance with timelines outlined by Project Management.
• Be an advocate and thought leader on strategy, researching new ways of thinking and evaluating them for inclusion among agency deliverables.
• Collaborate with the Head of Insight to assist in the development of new research tools that might add value to the agency's overall strategy offering.
• Flex as needed to support evolving business and client needs.

• A proven track record as a strategist within an omnichannel environment including, but not limited to, Advertising, Public/Professional Relations, Digital, Medical Communications and Clinical Trial Recruitment, in a healthcare-focused environment.
• Specific experience to include:
  • Developing and completing launch strategy frameworks and activity plans.
  • Supporting clients in structuring and writing launch, or annual, brand plans.
  • Leading strategic thinking on significant global as well as regional launches.
  • Comfort and proficiency in planning, structuring and running both internal and external workshops.
  • A proactive and conscientious manner with an outstanding aptitude for clear and direct strategic thinking, and bringing a wealth of original and inspiring ideas.
  • Ability to create stories for others to work on, with keen awareness of current trends in healthcare communications and society at large.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, balancing a crystal-clear strategic vision with openness to others’ ideas.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills to persuade clients and explain strategies to creative and account teams.
  • Fluency with applying AI tools to support project productivity and output quality.
  • Strong time and self-management skills with ability to work across multiple projects.
  • People-oriented approach to building engaged, productive and happy teams within account groups and the Client Strategy team.
  • Willingness to constructively challenge colleagues, other agencies and clients alike.
  • Comfort in advising and collaborating with extended team members.
  • Ability and generosity to inspire, influence and share knowledge with less experienced colleagues in brand and…