Account Director — Marketing & Communications

Responsibilities

• Own senior relationships across a portfolio of marketing and communications clients, acting as the primary strategic counsel and point of escalation
• Lead the strategic direction of client accounts, ensuring brand and market positioning work translates into measurable commercial outcomes for clients
• Own P&L responsibility for a portfolio of accounts, including forecasting, profitability and resource planning
• Lead, manage and develop the team, setting the standard for quality and client service across the team reflecting industry best practice
• Lead new business generation for strategy and marketing clients, including identifying prospects, shaping pitches and proposals, and presenting ZPB's credentials and positioning to senior prospects
• Contribute to ZPB's wider business strategy and planning, working closely with the senior leadership team
• Represent ZPB externally as a senior voice in healthcare marketing and communications, through thought leadership, speaking and industry relationships
• Identify and lead growth opportunities within existing accounts, ensuring long-term client retention and expanding scope of work
• Set and uphold ZPB's quality standards across marketing and communications output, including brand strategy, content and campaign work
• Oversee the responsible and effective use of AI across account teams, ensuring quality, confidentiality and judgement are maintained at scale

Requirements

• Substantial experience in a marketing, communications or brand strategy role, with significant experience at Senior Account Manager or Account Director level, ideally within healthcare.
• Proven track record of managing P&L and driving profitable growth across a portfolio of accounts
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing multi-level teams
• Strong new business track record, including leading pitches and proposals
• Excellent strategic counsel skills, with the ability to advise senior and board-level clients with authority and confidence
• The right to work in the UK

Preferred

• Deep understanding of the UK healthcare/NHS landscape, PMI dynamics, and the private and independent healthcare sector
• An established external profile or thought leadership presence in healthcare marketing and communications
• Experience contributing to agency-level strategy or business planning
• Understanding of how AI is reshaping agency service delivery and pricing models
• A relevant degree (marketing, communications, business or a related subject) — not essential if you can demonstrate the skills above

Benefits

• 25 days holiday and on top the office is closed between Christmas and New Year
• Private health insurance
• Employee assistance programme including free legal advice, therapy and health checks
• Paid four-week sabbatical after four years
• And Summer Friday's – office closes early!