Account Director (Boots UK) in London

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR, BOOTS

FOR THE PHARM (PART OF VML, WPP)

We are The Pharm: an integrated, multi-specialty service and consulting model within WPP where we work with our client Walgreens Boots Alliance in partnership towards one shared mission: to help people across the world lead healthier and happier lives.

The 150+ experts assembled at The Pharm (across Essence Mediacom, Ogilvy PR and VML) have a unique opportunity to dedicate ourselves to one client in pursuit of their ambitious mission, while collaborating with experts from across several agencies (and areas of expertise) within WPP. This role sits within the Boots Pharm team who deliver campaign work and is powered by the creative expertise of VML.

We’re here to help grow a brand (arguably one of the best British brands on the high street) at a particularly exciting junction in their journey. We foster a feeling of camaraderie with our clients, who share a fearless approach to our mutual goals. We also hope to grow as people, and practitioners with an understanding gained from the diversity of our ranks and our wholehearted commitment to our culture of belonging.

We’re part of a unique collective bent on gathering the best talent and lavishing them with intellectual freedom, so their ideas can collide in a million fun ways. Here, opinions are welcome, dissenting or otherwise. Identities celebrated and respected. Contributions cheered and rewarded. Free time guarded like a precious gem. Because here, we cultivate things—like creativity, niceness, inclusiveness, career-life balance, and ultimately, work we want to brag about to our friends.

We are flexible on remote vs office working, but typically most Pharm team members come to the office 2 or 3 days a week.

ROLE

We’re looking for a superstar through-the-line Account Director, to join our Brand Experience (BX) team. You will help lead large, complex projects, armed with your experience and proven ability to think and do. You will be able to problem solve and create highly effective and fruitful working relationships with clients and colleagues, collaborating with other members of the Boots team. You will have a solid understanding of strategy and always ensure that you and the team are working towards strategic objectives. You will be a role model to your line reports, who seek you out as a source of advice and guidance.

You will be viewed by clients and peers as an integral part of the business, who is able to offer equally valuable input on strategy, delivery and creative.

You will help to create momentum within the team to deliver high quality work, and drive growth. You will think beyond the short term, identifying potential opportunities, risks and solutions for how the team can fulfil or overcome them.

Supporting a Business Director, and working closely with the wider team, you will be viewed by clients and peers as their go to person, helping deliver a best in class and truly integrated campaigns, across (but not limited to) TV, social, DM, experiential, digital display, and ensuring integration across instore, .COM, PR, media and content/publishing teams.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Building strong and trusting relationships with clients who recognise your expertise, as well as your passion and commitment to doing the right thing for Boots. This relationship of trust enables you to have open and honest dialogue with your clients, challenging where needed, and finding mutually agreeable solutions.

You will be a key driver of the creative process – thinking in a non-lateral fashion and creating the conditions for outstanding creativity. You work hand in hand with strategy, media, and creatives to define the task as well as fulfil it.

There will be core projects where you will be responsible for the total output, incl. results, commercials, and the client relationship on these projects. When there are issues you will step forward to lead the team in finding solutions. You will help improve ways of working across all teams and build our combined Boots/WPP relationship. You will have a good understanding of how to run an efficient and profitable project and contribute towards the team’s combined commercial targets.

You will respond to requests to collaborate across the WPP network, and with clients, based on Boots strategic business objectives. This will enable you to grow the business, your experience, and to find even better creative solutions, strengthening the client relationship.

You’ll support the team in identifying ways to continually improve in the day to day and month to month delivery of projects. You’ll work with clients to create the best solutions to their challenges and opportunities, and you will be empowered to make decisions relating to the leadership of your projects on a daily basis.

REQUIREMENTS

• Experience as an Account Director, delivering TTL campaigns. ATL experience is a must.
• can-do attitude, be comfortable with the pace of a retail account, a safe pair of hands under pressure, embrace change, and be a proponent of it.
• Working on a fast moving Client account is beneficial – for example supermarkets or telecommunications. Boots does not operate at the same pace as these in terms of output, but as a retailer things do change in the business landscape which we need to adapt to
• You're a team player, and collaborative nature.
• Strong attention to detail.

COMPETENCIES

• Strong Strategic approach

• Presentation development skills.

• Comfortable working in and leading integrated agency relationships.

• Ability to lead integration efforts across multi-channel engagements.

• Detail-oriented with strong communication and presentation skills.

• Actively contributes to team and department culture.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

Aside from a generous annual leave allowance and pension allowances, you will have access to a whole host of other benefits and activities such as:

• Life Assurance
• Permanent Health Insurance
• BUPA
• Flexible hybrid-working schedule
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Well-being Programme
• Employee Assistance Support
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Eye Care and Glasses Vouchers
• Season Ticket Loans
• WPP Discount

THE INTERVIEW PROCESS

• Phone screening by internal Talent Acquisition Manager
• stage Interview via Microsoft Teams - 30 minutes. This is a more introductory and exploratory call for us to understand your experience and for you to find out more about the position and ask any specific questions.
• and final Interview ideally in person – 45 minutes. This interview will be a deeper dive into your skillset (e.g. problem solving, client management, wider knowledge of the industry and attitude).

EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING

As a company committed to fostering a diverse and equitable workplace, Boots & The Pharm recognise the significance of representation in our campaigns, ensuring they reflect all walks of life in society. We understand the importance of having employees who embody this diversity, bringing unique perspectives to our creative endeavours. We are seeking individuals passionate about challenging norms, dismantling systemic barriers, and amplifying underrepresented voices in advertising. We know we aren't quite there yet, but we're on a journey to a future where every voice is heard, every story is valued, and every individual feels a profound sense of belonging in the world of advertising. If you require any adjustments during the application or interview process, please let us know via

The Pharm is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, colour, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.