Associate Creative Director, Copy

Syneos Health; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Syneos Health, through its agency GSW Santa Monica, is looking for an Associate Creative Director, Copy to lead creative content across healthcare campaigns. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to generate innovative messaging that resonates with both healthcare professionals and patients.

This role requires a Bachelor's degree and 8-10 years of experience in an agency, with a focus on pharmaceutical copy. The annual salary ranges from $140,000 to $160,000, plus potential bonuses based on performance.

Qualifications

• 8–10 years of experience in an agency setting.
• At least 6 years in pharmaceutical copy leadership.
• Strong understanding of social platforms and cultural trends.

Responsibilities

• Lead and own copy across assigned brands and campaigns.
• Manage development of content ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Provide strategic leadership in client meetings.

Skills

Copywriting

Storytelling

Leadership

Communications

Conceptual thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, communications, English, or journalism

Job description

Updated: June 4, 2026
Location: Santa Monica, CA, United States
Job ID:11652

GSW is a full-service healthcare communications agency that goes beyond advertising to create personalized brand experiences that involve, inspire, educate and activate people through ongoing brand journeys.

At GSW Santa Monica, we foster a culture of collaboration, creativity, and continuous learning. We believe in empowering our team members to bring their unique perspectives and ideas to the table. Our supportive environment encourages growth, innovation, and excellence, making GSW Santa Monica not just a workplace, but a community where your creativity can thrive.

Role Overview

You inspire and reach people with just a few words. As an Associate Creative Director, Copy, you’ll be a strategic and creative leader, shaping the voice and messaging across campaigns. You’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams—including art, account and strategy—to deliver compelling, brand-aligned content that resonates with healthcare professionals and patients alike. This role combines creative vision, content strategy, and leadership to drive innovation and excellence in healthcare advertising.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the creative lead and “owner” of copy across assigned brands and campaigns.
• Partner with art directors on brand and concept development, ensuring cohesive visual and verbal storytelling.
• Lead the development of long-form and short-form content, maintaining brand tone, consistency, and regulatory compliance (MLR).
• Collaborate with UX, Tech, and CX teams to align content with user experience and platform requirements.
• Provide strategic input and creative leadership in client meetings and presentations.
• Participate in market research and message testing to refine promotional content.
• Mentor and manage copywriters, fostering a culture of creativity and collaboration.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, communications, English, journalism, or a related field.
• 8–10 years of experience in an agency setting, with at least 6 years in pharmaceutical copy leadership.
• Exceptional copywriting, storytelling, and communication skills.
• Proven ability to manage cross-functional teams and mentor creative talent.
• Strong conceptual thinking and ability to connect abstract ideas into compelling narratives.
• Deep understanding of social platforms (e.g., X/Twitter, Instagram, YouTube) and emerging cultural trends.
• Experience navigating regulatory processes and medical/legal review (MLR).
• Ability to quickly grasp complex medical and technical content and translate it into clear, engaging messaging.

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $140,000 to $160,000. The base salary range represents the anticipated low and high of the Syneos Health range for this position. Actual salary will vary based on various factors such as the candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role. In addition, some positions may include eligibility to earn commissions/bonus based on company and / or individual performance.

At GSW, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace. If your past experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway. At times, we will consider transferable skills from previous roles. We also encourage you to join our Talent Network to stay connected to additional career opportunities.

Syneos Health companies are affirmative action/equal opportunity employers (Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled)

Syneos Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, marital status, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status and will not be discriminated against. If you are an individual with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to complete any part of our application process, including the use of this website, please contact us at: Email: [emailprotected] One of our staff members will work with you to provide alternate means to submit your application.