SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Salary: USD 115,000 - 135,000 / annual
UnitedMasters (Translation division) is seeking a Business Director to lead strategic client partnerships and drive growth on the Eli Lilly account. Translation is an award-winning creative solutions company that helps ambitious brands harness culture to solve business challenges, combining expertise in culture, technology, and storytelling.
In this role, you will serve as the day-to-day senior business lead across assigned Eli Lilly brands and workstreams, building trusted relationships with mid-to-senior client stakeholders and shaping the business agenda. You will develop deep understanding of the client's business, patient audiences, and category dynamics, translating insights into clear strategic direction and creative opportunities.
Key responsibilities include:
**Strategic Leadership & Client Partnership**: Act as the primary business lead, building relationships with senior Lilly stakeholders. Develop strong understanding of brand priorities, patient experiences, competitive dynamics, and category barriers. Translate complex client needs into clear priorities and actionable direction, constructively challenging clients when appropriate. Monitor relationship health and business performance, anticipating risks.
**Creative Solutions with Business Impact**: Partner with Strategy, Context, Creative, and Analytics teams to develop culturally relevant work grounded in business objectives and audience insights. Champion communication that reflects real patient experiences and makes complex health topics understandable and relevant. Ensure work is strategically sound and client-ready with compelling rationale aligned to medical, legal, and regulatory guidance. Coordinate with Lilly's brand teams, internal creative, and agency partners. Partner with Production and Program Management to bring approved concepts to life within scope, timing, and budget.
**Team Leadership & Development**: Guide cross-functional teams with clear priorities, expectations, and decisions. Lead, coach, and develop Business Supervisors and other Business Leadership team members through regular feedback and meaningful development opportunities. Partner with Program Management on operational planning and delivery alignment. Navigate competing stakeholder needs and resolve day-to-day challenges independently, escalating significant risks appropriately.
**Growth & Financial Health**: Develop and action growth plans for assigned brands and workstreams. Co-own account financial health with Program Management, contributing to scope development, staffing recommendations, forecasting, and profitability management. Identify scope changes and investment needs early, leading clear client conversations about fees, priorities, and trade-offs. Contribute to new business, recruiting, and departmental improvements.
**Requirements**
Minimum Qualifications:
- 7-10 years of experience in an agency or communications-related industry, with well-rounded understanding of advertising, marketing, media, creative, production, and agency finance
- Proven success managing integrated campaigns, partnering with mid-to-senior-level clients, and leading cross-functional teams
- Hands-on production experience with large-scale, multi-channel initiatives
- Experience coaching junior account team members and contributing to scope development, account financial management, and organic growth
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience supporting pharmaceutical, healthcare, or other regulated brands, including familiarity with medical, legal, and regulatory review processes (direct pharma experience is a plus, not a requirement; curiosity and eagerness to learn are valued)
- Experience with consumer-facing health communications, patient storytelling, or brand launches
- Experience partnering with in-house creative teams and working within a multi-agency environment
- Experience developing culturally relevant campaigns, including talent partnerships, social content, or experiential work
- Bachelor's degree in marketing, business, or a related field
Key Skills & Abilities:
- Strong business judgment and strategic fluency; ability to learn complex categories and turn ambiguity into clear direction
- Exceptional relationship-building and communication skills; confidence to advise clients, explain creative rationale, and navigate sensitive conversations
- Ability to balance creative ambition with accuracy and client review requirements; effective partnership with medical, legal, and regulatory stakeholders
- Experience leading integrated campaigns across channels with strong understanding of creative development and production
- Commercial acumen across scopes, staffing, budgets, and account performance; collaborative approach to Program Management
- Proactive, hands-on leadership style with sound prioritization, attention to detail, and ability to develop others in fast-moving environment
