Who We Are
We are an award-winning independent creative solutions company that aspires to be the most culturally-influential company in the world. We help ambitious brands harness the power of culture to solve their biggest challenges. As a unique mix of experts in culture, technology, and storytelling, we are united by a passion to grow brands in ways that advertising alone can never do.
We are an entrepreneurial business, not a traditional “ad agency.” That means we value resourcefulness and tenacity just as much as we value creativity and intelligence. We’re unapologetically ambitious!
We are looking for a Group Business Director to help lead our growing Eli Lilly partnership, shaping culturally relevant creative work for brands that impact people’s health.
Position Summary
As a Group Business Director, you will own the health, growth, and performance of a portfolio of Eli Lilly brands and workstreams. You will serve as a senior strategic partner to VP- and SVP-level marketing stakeholders, connecting brand priorities, patient needs, and cultural opportunities into a clear vision for the business.
You will make portfolio-level decisions with minimal executive oversight, lead and develop Business Directors and Business Supervisors, and co-own financial performance with Program Management. You will balance creative ambition with the rigor of a regulated category, bringing clear judgment to complex decisions and engaging executive leadership when significant risks or investments require alignment.
What You Will Do
Lead Portfolio Strategy and Growth
Partner with the Executive Director to drive portfolio performance and strengthen client relationships, setting priorities across assigned brands and workstreams and proactively addressing risks to the partnership.
Develop and drive growth plans that connect unmet client needs with Translation’s capabilities, expanding relationships and agency impact.
Build a deep understanding of Lilly’s business, patient audiences, and competitive dynamics; identify opportunities across brands and connect them into a broader business vision.
Build Senior Client Partnerships
Build trusted relationships with senior marketing leaders, shaping client agendas and influencing decisions through clear, proactive counsel.
Navigate complex stakeholder needs, constructively challenge assumptions, and lead sensitive conversations about priorities, investment, and the work.
Maintain a consistent pulse on client satisfaction, risks, and opportunities, aligning Lilly’s brand teams, internal creative team, and agency partners.
Champion Strategic and Creative Excellence
Ensure work solves meaningful business problems and meets Translation’s standards for strategic rigor, creative and cultural excellence, and client readiness.
Guide Strategy, Context, Creative, and Analytics toward ambitious ideas grounded in audience insight, business objectives, and clear measures of success.
Champion empathetic, accessible health communications that reflect real patient experiences, with alignment to client-provided medical, legal, and regulatory guidance.
Own Commercial Performance
Co-own portfolio financial performance with Program Management, including resource allocation, profitability, forecasting, and long-term growth.
Lead senior client conversations on scopes, fees, changing needs, and investment; ensure commercial implications are addressed before commitments are made.
Coach Business Directors on commercial judgment and make investment recommendations across the portfolio, balancing immediate needs with long-term opportunity.
Develop Teams and Align Delivery
Lead, mentor, and develop Business Directors and Business Supervisors through regular coaching, semi-annual performance reviews, and meaningful development opportunities.
Establish clear roles, accountability, and development pathways, building teams that exercise sound judgment and collaborate effectively.
Partner with Program Management, which leads operational…