Account Director, Clinical Studies (12-month contract)

Are you a healthcare communications professional who enjoys building client relationships, developing teams and turning complex challenges into clear, practical strategies?

AXON is looking for an Account Director to join our Clinical Studies team. In this role, you’ll lead client accounts and communications programs that help patients, caregivers, investigators and site teams navigate the clinical study journey.

You’ll bring strategic thinking, strong commercial judgment and a collaborative leadership style. You’ll be comfortable advising clients, guiding delivery and helping colleagues grow.

As an Account Director you will:

• Serve as a senior, trusted advisor to clients, developing a strong understanding of their studies, business priorities and communications needs.
• Translate those needs into thoughtful programs, oversee delivery and identify opportunities to deepen relationships and grow accounts.
• Inspire, mentor, and develop team members while fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture.
• Partner closely with multidisciplinary teams across AXON and the AVENIR GLOBAL network to deliver integrated, high-quality solutions.

Your work may include patient recruitment and retention programs, study branding and materials, investigator meetings, site training, and ongoing engagement initiatives. Working with medical, creative, digital and project teams, you’ll help ensure communications are accurate, accessible and relevant to their audiences.

Responsibilities

Lead client relationships and strategy

• Build strong client partnerships, providing proactive counsel and clear recommendations.
• Lead account planning and strategic discussions, translating client objectives into actionable communications programs.
• Understand the challenges facing study participants and site teams, and help shape approaches that address their needs.
• Anticipate issues, manage expectations and guide clients through changing priorities.

Oversee delivery and financial performance

• Lead multiple projects and workstreams, ensuring high-quality delivery within agreed timelines and budgets.
• Develop scopes of work, budgets and resource plans, with clear ownership across the team.
• Oversee forecasting, invoicing and account profitability, addressing changes in scope early.
• Coordinate internal specialists, external partners and colleagues across AXON and the AVENIR GLOBAL network.
• Guide quality review and ensure deliverables follow agreed client review and approval processes.

Develop people and strengthen the team

• Manage and mentor direct reports, providing regular feedback and supporting their development.
• Set clear expectations and build a collaborative, inclusive team environment.
• Balance workloads and help colleagues navigate competing demands.
• Share knowledge, support recruitment and contribute to improvements in how the team works.

Support business growth

• Identify opportunities to expand existing relationships and introduce services that meet client needs.
• Contribute to proposals, pitches and new business presentations.
• Partner with senior colleagues to develop recommendations, project approaches and budgets.
• Stay curious about developments in healthcare, clinical research and communications.

Candidate

The ideal candidate will have:

• Substantial experience supporting clinical studies, patient engagement, recruitment and retention, or investigator and site communications.
• Experience in a related clinical trial or client service environment, with responsibility for leading accounts and teams.
• Strong consultancy skills, including the ability to understand a complex brief, challenge constructively and recommend a clear path forward.
• A track record of managing budgets, timelines, resources and changing project scopes.
• Confidence leading client discussions, presenting recommendations and contributing to business development.
• Experience coaching colleagues and managing direct reports.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with attention to quality and detail.
• A collaborative mindset, sound judgment and a willingness to keep learning.
• Capability to work 3 days a week in-office.
• Ability to travel as required.

Experience delivering international programs or coordinating work across markets would be an asset. We also welcome candidates with strong transferable healthcare communications experience who can demonstrate an understanding of clinical research audiences and challenges.

AI Culture & Expectations

At AXON, we harness AI not to replace what makes us exceptional, but to elevate it. AI expands our reach, sharpens our insights, and accelerates discovery; but it is our people – curious, responsible, authentic, forward-looking and transparent – who turn that potential into meaningful impact.

We are looking for candidates who are curious, adaptable and enthusiastic about embracing AI and emerging technologies as part of their everyday working practices.

Successful candidates will demonstrate a growth mindset around AI and emerging technologies, shown through an openness to learning new tools, experimenting with innovative ways of working, and using AI responsibly and transparently.

Whether your background is technical or non-technical, we value individuals who demonstrate digital confidence and a willingness to evolve alongside rapidly changing technologies.

Benefits

As well as the basic salary, great social events, and a culture of continual learning, our competitive benefits package includes:

• Competitive annual vacation allowance.
• Private medical insurance (for you and your family).
• Life insurance.
• Emergency Travel insurance (for you and your family).
• An annual “wellness” benefit

How to Apply

Submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your interest and fit for the role. If you’re up for a new challenge we’d love to hear from you.

AXON is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Should you require any accommodation during the selection process, please inform us.

A vacancy currently exists for this position. Please note that only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. We use artificial intelligence tools to assist in screening, assessing, and selecting applicants for this role. Thank you for considering a career with us.

AXON

AXON is a global healthcare communications agency that ignites change in healthcare. Through the power of life-changing communications, we contribute to medical advances that improve lives. At the core of every scientific innovation and advancement, there is a simple and compelling story to be told. We know how to tell that story, how to use the right tools to reach the right audiences at the right time, to provoke meaningful change.

We specialize in advising clients on medical affairs, clinical studies, real-world evidence, marketing, advocacy, and communications, all underpinned by insights and creative strategy. AXON has an international reach, with offices in Copenhagen, London, New York, and Toronto, and a worldwide affiliate network. Established in 2002, we have a deep heritage and expertise in healthcare strategy and communication, and we continue to learn and grow in the fast-changing healthcare sphere. AXON is proudly an AVENIR GLOBAL company.

Equal Opportunities

AXON is a diverse organization, committed to a policy of equal opportunities. At all times, we aim to recruit, develop, and promote the very best people, basing judgment solely on suitability for the job.

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