VP, Account Director (Pharma Agency, Learning and Development)

Avalere Health, established in 2001, is a purposefully built commercialization partner for the biopharmaceutical, medical technology, and wellness industries. Our 1,500+ experts combine knowledge across core disciplines—Consulting, Medical, Policy, Value, Evidence, and Access, Marketing, and Digital Experience Technology—to create connections that make better health happen.

About the role

We are seeking a VP, Account Director to lead key Learning and Development accounts at a global pharma agency by providing strategic leadership. This role involves establishing and maintaining effective senior-level client relationships, ensuring client success and satisfaction, brand planning, strategic and tactical deliverables, and profitability of assigned brands. The VP, Account Director will also play a significant role in new business activities and initiatives.

Our Learning & Development discipline partners with pharmaceutical and biotech clients to help teams build the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to successfully bring therapies to patients. We work across therapeutic areas including oncology, rare disease, immunology, neuroscience, cardiovascular, and others. Our approach combines learning science, instructional design, behavioral change principles, and deep scientific expertise to create learning experiences that improve performance.

Responsibilities

• Client Leadership & Strategic Partnership:
  • Serve as the senior relationship lead across key accounts, embedding as a true extension of the client team to bring transformative training solutions to life.
  • Drive annual account planning and long-term strategic roadmaps focused on modernizing learning.
  • Build trust with senior stakeholders across Training, Sales, Medical Affairs, Compliance, and HR.
  • Facilitate quarterly business reviews, visioning workshops, and innovation planning sessions.
• Growth & Innovation:
  • Identify whitespace opportunities and lead strategic upsells based on evolving client needs, industry trends, and future learning needs.
  • Oversee pitch and proposal development, pitch strategy, and contract negotiation for new and expanded work.
  • Collaborate with internal teams to co-create modern, tech-enabled solutions that set us apart.
  • Cultivate a “builder” mindset within the team, prototyping new services, piloting AI tools, and unlocking new revenue streams.
• Delivery Oversight:
  • Ensure flawless execution of complex programs across learning modalities, immersive workshops, digital platforms, virtual experiences, simulation, and field enablement.
  • Work cross-functionally with project managers, designers, and analytics teams to maintain quality and alignment with client goals.
  • Champion client satisfaction, retention, and measurable business outcomes.

Requirements

• Deep and thorough understanding of the pharma/healthcare advertising industry.
• Digital marketing acumen and demonstrated experience leading an integrated agency team in brand planning, budget development, execution, and measurement.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in managing multiple clients and account teams.
• Proven success developing valued relationships with senior-level client management.
• Experience as a strategic partner to clients, with digital and multi-channel expertise.
• Active participation in new business initiatives, including planning and pitch presentations.
• Proven success identifying opportunities and securing organic client growth.
• Superior presentation skills.
• 12+ years of Brand AOR account experience, with 5+ years in pharmaceutical advertising (preferably in unbranded, disease awareness, patient marketing, and education).
• 5+ years of leadership and supervisory experience.
• Experience developing, producing, and leading multi-channel marketing plans and initiatives.
• Hands-on proficiency in developing and delivering presentations in PowerPoint.
• Ability to travel based on client business needs (e.g., client meetings, market research).
• BA/BS degree required.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in client services, consulting, or account leadership, ideally within a pharma agency, medical communications, or learning and training-focused environment.
• Deep familiarity with the life sciences industry and regulated training environments.
• A track record of growing multimillion-dollar accounts and influencing senior client stakeholders.
• Strong training acumen, with the ability to translate business goals into learning strategy.
• Mindset:
  • Entrepreneurial & Forward-Thinking: Energized by ambiguity and innovation.
  • Strategic & Consultative: Elevates conversations and challenges the status quo.
  • Growth-Oriented: Looks for opportunities and tests new ideas.
  • Collaborative Leader: Mobilizes teams and solves adaptive challenges, inspiring shared vision.

Bonus Points

• Experience with AI-powered learning tools or omnichannel training strategies.
• Exposure to medical affairs, clinical development, or compliance training challenges.
• Experience managing hybrid or remote teams in scaling environments.

Benefits

• Generous company pension/retirement plan.
• Private medical insurance.
• Comprehensive employee wellbeing initiatives.
• Compelling time-off policy and other excellent employee benefits.
• City hubs across North America, Europe, and Asia for collaboration, training, and socializing, while supporting flexible working practices.
• Personalized learning approach to help you grow within the company and leverage our global scale and scope.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion, ensuring every individual feels valued and encouraged to contribute.
• Opportunities to participate in community engagement efforts supporting healthcare programs and wellbeing causes worldwide.

Our compensation and benefits package is benchmarked across the industry. We encourage all applicants to review our candidate privacy notice before applying.