Business Director

Responsibilities

• Act as the day-to-day senior business lead across assigned Lilly brands and workstreams, building trusted relationships with mid-to-senior client stakeholders and proactively shaping the business agenda.
• Develop a strong understanding of brand priorities, patient experiences, barriers to engagement, and competitive dynamics to inform strategic counsel and creative development.
• Translate complex client needs and feedback into clear priorities and actionable direction, constructively challenging clients when needed to strengthen the work.
• Monitor relationship health and business performance, anticipating risks and partnering with the Executive Director to address issues before they affect the partnership.
• Partner with Strategy, Context, Creative, and Analytics to develop culturally relevant work grounded in business objectives, audience insights, and clear measures of success.
• Champion communication that reflects real patient experiences and makes complex health topics understandable, empathetic, and relevant to everyday life.
• Ensure work is strategically sound and client-ready, with compelling rationale and alignment to client-provided medical, legal, and regulatory guidance.
• Work with Lilly’s brand teams, internal creative team, and agency partners to clarify roles, align recommendations, and maintain continuity across the work.
• Partner with Production and Program Management to bring approved concepts to life within agreed scope, timing, and budget, advocating for additional investment when warranted.
• Guide cross-functional teams with clear priorities, expectations, and decisions, creating a collaborative environment with shared accountability for the work.

Requirements

• 7-10 years of experience in an agency or communications-related industry, with a well-rounded understanding of advertising, marketing, media, creative, production, and agency finance.
• Proven success managing integrated campaigns, partnering with mid-to-senior-level clients, and leading cross-functional teams.
• Hands-on production experience with large-scale, multi-channel initiatives.
• Experience coaching junior account team members and contributing to scope development, account financial management, and organic growth.

Preferred

• Experience supporting pharmaceutical, healthcare, or other regulated brands, including familiarity with medical, legal, and regulatory review processes. Direct pharma experience is a plus, not a requirement; curiosity about the category and an eagerness to learn are valued.
• Experience with consumer-facing health communications, patient storytelling, or brand launches.
• Experience partnering with in-house creative teams and working within a multi-agency environment.
• Experience developing culturally relevant campaigns, including talent partnerships, social content, or experiential work.
• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or a related field.