Project Manager

An independent medical communications agency has a requirement for a project manager to join either it's London or Cheshire based office.

Purpose:

• Ensuring that the company produces a high standard of project delivery which meet the client's communication objectives, to budget and on time
• Establishing and maintaining excellent relationships with clients and colleagues
• Establishing good communication between project team members
• Managing delivery of all projects to a high degree of excellence, keeping on budget and adhering to timelines
• Ensuring that the status of projects is communicated to the team
• Ensuring that all projects are delivered in accordance with standard operating procedures
• Building good relationships with clients, opinion leaders and external agencies
• Being proficient in commonly used computer applications
• Maintaining and updating knowledge and expertise in relevant subject areas

Responsibilities:
Client management:

• Ensuring the client's goals are met through creative communication programmes that achieve the client's strategic objectives
• Building new business opportunities with existing clients through intelligence gathering and proposal development

Project management:

• Coordinating projects proactively from initiation to completion in terms of financial management, tracking team coordination and client communication
• Directing completion of project initiation forms before a project is started, seeking sign-off of budget estimates from the AD/ATL and checking that project invoices are sent promptly to the client
• For larger projects, such as symposia, consensus meetings or publication plans, taking responsibility for ensuring that the project is delivered to budget and on time and that it meets the client's communication objectives
• Managing and directing freelance writers (when they are used) and quality assuring their work to ensure that it meets company standards and SOPs

Project administration and organization:

• Managing and updating project files, or where appropriate delegating to a colleague
• Attending and contributing to client meetings
• Creating schedules for projects and monitoring projects against schedule
• Assisting the AD/ATL in monitoring actual writing hours/costs against those budgeted and, where appropriate, implementing incremental billing
• Keeping the AD/ATL regularly informed about the status of  projects
• Calling, attending and contributing to internal project briefing/discussion meetings

Attendance at scientific meetings:

• Attending scientific meetings (e.g. conferences, roundtable meetings and workshops) to manage on-site requirements such as faculty management and slide reviews

Quality assurance:

• Implementing and updating SOPs to facilitate the delivery of high-quality projects on time and within budget
• Monitoring the use of SOPs among team members and taking the necessary steps to ensure a high level of adherence
• Managing the training and development needs of the account team through mentoring, in-house training and the provision of external training
• Contributing directly towards quality assurance through participation in the medical and marketing review of projects

Financial management:

• Managing accurate account forecasting to ensure an accurate company forecast
• Attending a weekly finance update meeting with the Financial Controller

Account growth and new business:

• Managing client potential to meet and exceed annual forecast working closely with the New Business team and company directors as required
• Working with account teams and New Business colleagues to identify new business opportunities
• Assisting with new business pitches as required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Life Science Degree
• Experience of working in an agency environment or equivalent
• Leadership qualities, including: being and appearing to be in control, working within company vision and culture
• Initiative, common sense and a high level of independence
• A high degree of financial understanding and management
• Proactive management of client business
• Establishing and maintaining professional and productive client relationships
• Clear communication to the team, across departments and to senior management
• Conduct themselves professionally at all times

Package:

An excellent package is offered including pension, bonus and 25 days holidays.