Associate Creative Director, Art (Health)

VML; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Passionate people

Cultivated culture

Competitive benefits

Growth opportunities

Job summary

VML Health is seeking an Associate Creative Director, Art to lead and inspire the design team in creating visually stunning work for healthcare and pharmaceutical brands. You will translate complex information into accessible visuals and mentor junior team members in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Hybrid work model with in-office collaboration a few days per week, and a focus on strategic, award-worthy concepts that drive client business objectives.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of client or agency experience with 3-5 years in supervision.
• Portfolio demonstrating award-winning design, preferably in healthcare/pharma.
• Strong understanding of design principles, typography and visual communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead team to produce visual designs aligned to the creative brief and client needs.
• Collaborate with Strategy to approve briefs and guide the big idea.
• Mentor junior art directors and designers.
• Develop visuals for digital, print, video and social channels.
• Present work confidently to clients and manage multiple projects.

Skills

Leadership

Art direction

Strategic thinking

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Who We Are

VML is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, creating connected brandsto drive growth. VML is celebrated for its innovative and award-winning human-first work for clients including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy’s. In 2026, VML was named Campaign’s Global Network of the Year and ranked #2 Creative Network of the Year at Cannes Lions. VML’s global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore.

VML is part of WPP https://urldefense.com/v3/ http:/wpp.com/ ;!!IfJP2Nwhk5Z0yJ43lA!L_cfT4E3gsmmDY1lVQTB6ihlfPeBl9X4sMM2KI6iWZYexC2nCeZ9oxgP9qvgbrqxIBpx82rGb_mWqh5F0zKxq5_dP7Y$), the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel.

For more information, please visit www.vml.com and follow along on LinkedIn #WeAreVML.

About VML Health:

VML HEALTH is a global healthcare agency that partners with healthcare clients across a broad definition of health, from high science to wellness and everything in between. It operates fluidly within the VML agency, as a core group of health specialists (a ‘vertical’) that has the benefit of autonomy in management, but with support of non-health expertise.

At the heart of health is the story of life – all the highs and lows, ambitions, and possibilities. But facing a health challenge can suddenly pull people away from these stories, knocking them off course.

Our purpose is to bridge this gap, bringing people closer to life and all its meaning. We gain a deeper understanding of Healthcare Professionals’ and patients’ needs, behaviors and lived experiences through what we call ‘radical empathy’.

VML Health creates connected brands that get to the heart, bringing people closer to the lives they want to live. Get to the heart. Connect for life.

What We’re Looking For:

We’re seeking a highly talented and visionary Associate Creative Director, Art, to lead and inspire our design team. You’re a strategic thinker with a passion for creating visually stunning and impactful designs for the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. You possess a strong understanding of design principles, typography, and visual communication, and the ability to translate complex information into engaging and accessible visuals. You’re a natural leader, a skilled communicator, and a collaborative team player who thrives in a fast-paced environment.

What You’ll Do:

• Day-to-day leader of team(s) and actively guides team to produce visual designs that align to creative brief and solves client challenges in an original and innovative way.
• Contributes creative concepts and partners with Strategy teams to approve creative briefs as needed.
• Work closely with copy partner and guide team(s) to stay focused on the big idea.
• Contributes award-worthy concepts and recommendations to execute ideas.
• Leads production efforts and demonstrates ability to work within budget or can articulate justification to increase budget for projects.
• Foster strong relationships with clients and spot opportunities to enhance or build on a project (upsell).
• Able to present confidently to client and clearly communicate how creative work/design meets the strategic and business objective.
• Manage multiple projects, sometimes for various brands with different scopes and ensure all project of self and team deadlines are met.
• Develop visually compelling designs for a variety of channels, including digital, print, video, and social media.
• Ensure all designs are on-brand and aligned with marketing objectives.
• Mentor and develop junior art directors and designers.

Who You Are:

• A highly creative individual with the ability to generate innovative, award-worthy creative and strategic ideas that solve clients’ business challenges.
• A collaborative team player who is eager to partner with a copywriter and cross-functional teams including Account, Strategy, Social, UX and Medical teams.
• A confident and persuasive presenter who can respond well to challenging client situations.

What You’ll Need:

• Strong proficient knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite.
• A portfolio that demonstrates creative and conceptual thinking and award-winning design, preferably in the healthcare/pharma industry.
• Excellent understanding of design principles, typography, and visual communication.
• The ability to translate complex information into visually engaging designs.
• 5-7 years of relevant client or agency experience with 3-5 years of supervisory experience.

What we offer:

• Passionate, driven people |We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.
• Consciously cultivated culture |We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusivecommunity that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery.
• Competitive benefits | What we offer full time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness.
• Growth-minded opportunities | We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, growth-oriented mindset, and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.

#vmlhealthcareers

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package.

$75,000—$180,000 USD

We believe the best work happens when we’re together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That’s why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.