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Senior Strategist – up to £75k

London, England, United Kingdom

Virgo Health is a specialist health communications agency, part of the GOLIN group and the wider IPG network of companies with more than 200 offices around the world as well as hubs in London, New York and Chicago.

We are passionate about helping people to make better decisions around health and wellbeing. Whether it’s clinicians selecting the best treatment, patients understanding their disease better or empowering consumers to self treat, we always make sure that the human aspect is at the heart of what we do. We work with pharmaceutical, diagnostic and consumer health companies, industry bodies, public and private health providers as well as patient organisations. We support clients across the communications spectrum.

When we choose to work in healthcare, we choose to work in an industry with people at its heart; we celebrate our differences and how we complement each other. But at Virgo,’Being Human’ is what unites us, and it’s fundamental to our culture. We show empathy and support for each other to grow our skills. embracing inclusive and flexible ways of working and rejecting outdated workplace culture. We have a brilliant team that works well together to deliver effective content and to celebrate our successes.

What is the role?

As a senior strategist, you will be providing strategy and guidance, translating that to programming, content development and measurement approaches. You will be the client point of contact for strategic planning, providing solid direction to the team (and of course, to clients) as well as prospects. In this role, you will have support from a head of strategy, as well as media and digital strategy experts. Together, you will ensure we deliver high standards of work to deadline, embedding strategy and insight throughout, with an understanding of the broader environment and implications for Virgo Health.

What will you be doing?

• Provide strategic oversight on assigned accounts, ensuring informed programming and creative that maps back to key insights and strategic parameters
• Conduct ‘MOT’ reviews with account teams to spot opportunities for organic growth and new thinking
• Lead new business proposals and medium-sized pitches; support head of strategy on large pitches
• Work in partnership with the creative team as allies in delivering exceptional work
• Use strategic/data/analytical resources to inform rationale for strategy proposals
• Implement measurement KPIs on work and help drive an effectiveness mentality
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients through appropriate and proactive strategic counsel; recognise and seek out opportunities to build relationships with the wider client team and generate organic growth opportunities
• Attend client events and meetings, and lead discussions and planning; create and facilitate workshops
• Contribute to agency training and development as it relates to strategic planning, insights, data and analytics
• Write case studies and contributing to awards papers
• Use strategic nous and data and analytics to help shape Virgo’s presence, e.g. networking events, HCA and through editorial and thought leadership
• Apply strategic rigor to targeted prospecting

What are we looking for?

• Several years’ (4-7) experience in the healthcare industry or relevant with an understanding of strategic planning
• Good experience working in an agency and with global accounts
• Able to gain client trust and confidence as a key strategic counsellor
• Able to quickly grasp scientific data and its implications for the brand lifecycle or a larger corporate narrative
• Good financial oversight to build and manage client budgets, owning the financial management of an account
• Strong presentation skills to sell strategy and creative 
• Excellent written and visual storyteller; can distil complex information into a clear narrative and direction or visuals that that allow clients to better understand strategy and interplay within agency recommendations
• Curiosity: explore new ways into a brief such as behavioural economics, human-centred design, ethnography, etc.; follow key industry news (The Drum, Campaign, PRWeek) and trend reports (Competitive Intelligence, The Future Laboratory, NextAtlas, LS:N)
• Good knowledge of the pharma industry and its regulations
• Can assist in the development of high-performing teams to deliver excellence
• Experience in building and growing businesses as a management team member
• Experience delivering new business pitches

What do we offer?

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible working
• 6 weeks annual leave
• 2 volunteering days
• Monthly well-being allowance
• A fantastic office space in Shoreditch with a dog friendly policy
• Clear career progression and leading training programmes developed by our L&D Director

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At IPG we are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.