Director, Pharma Media

MERGE; North Carolina; Hybrid; USD 101,000 - 148,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401K

Lifestyle Spending Account

Paid time off

Disability insurance

Job summary

MERGE seeks a Director, Pharma Media to lead day-to-day media strategy for pharmaceutical accounts. You will own HCP and DTC audience plans and partner with cross-functional teams to deliver integrated media solutions that align with client goals.

You will guide optimization, stay ahead of pharma marketing shifts, and mentor junior team members while leveraging data and AI insights in decision-making. Location: United States, hybrid options available.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of media experience with pharma marketing and HCP strategy.
• Experience across integrated HCP and DTC programs is highly desired.
• Ability to translate client objectives into audience strategies and channel recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day pharma media strategy and client relationships.
• Build audience and channel plans for HCP and DTC segments.
• Collaborate with analytics, programmatic, social, and discovery teams to deliver integrated media solutions.
• Guide campaign performance and optimize based on data insights.
• Identify growth opportunities and support new business pitches.

Skills

Pharma media

HCP strategy

Strategic leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-informed planning

Communication

Programmatic media

Job description

At MERGE, we are Built Different. We are a marketing and technology agency purpose-built for the intersection of health and wellness—where human impact matters most. By weaving storytelling through technology, we move beyond traditional engagement to Whole Human Marketing. This approach recognizes that humans are multidimensional and complex, and uses AI to ensure every brand interaction feels natural, contextual, and relevant.

This commitment to human-first innovation is what brings us together and propels us forward. We are united by our North Star: to unite people and brands to empower healthier, happier lives.

Emerge to the Top of Your Career

At MERGE, we strive to create a superior work experience where talented and ambitious people grow. An experience that encourages people to think higher and feel deeper. An experience where people engage their minds and hearts to do the best work of their careers.

As our Director, Pharma Media, you will…

Help lead media strategy and delivery across one of our fastest-growing areas of pharmaceutical work. In this hands‑on leadership role, you’ll own day-to-day media strategy for assigned accounts, build connected HCP and DTC audience plans, and serve as a trusted partner to both clients and internal practice leads. You’ll bring the agility to adapt quickly in a changing industry, the sharp ability to connect media execution to real client goals, and the humility to collaborate seamlessly across cross‑functional teams.

What You’ll Do

• Lead Strategy & Accounts: Own day-to-day media strategy development and client relationships for pharmaceutical accounts, focusing heavily on HCP audiences and integrated HCP/DTC programs.
• Build Audience & Channel Plans: Translate client business objectives into clear audience strategies, channel recommendations, activation priorities, and optimization plans across HCP and DTC segments.
• Partner Cross-Functionally: Collaborate closely with MERGE’s Applied Intelligence, Discoverability, Programmatic, and Social teams to deliver seamless, fully integrated media solutions and bring data insights directly into planning.
• Guide Campaign Performance: Monitor active program performance, guide teams in translating data into actionable optimizations, and keep campaigns aligned with client objectives.
• Drive Business Growth: Help identify organic growth opportunities by introducing clients to MERGE’s differentiated offerings—such as HCP + DTC Performance Link, HCP/DTC Maestro, and Decision-Back consulting—while supporting new business pitches.
• Develop Talent & Stay Ahead: Guide and mentor junior team members while staying continuously current on pharma marketing shifts, HCP behaviors, AI, privacy, and emerging channels.

What Success Looks Like

You’ll elevate the strategic quality, rigor, and effectiveness of our pharma media work. Recognized as a sharp strategist and collaborative partner, you'll successfully connect audience, channel, performance, and data insights into impactful media programs that drive real results.

Who You Are

• Experienced Pharma Strategist: You bring 7+ years of media experience, including meaningful depth in pharma marketing and HCP strategy. Oncology experience—especially across integrated HCP and DTC programs is highly desired.
• Agile & Adaptable: You navigate multiple workstreams with ease and stay naturally curious about new channels, changing search landscapes, AI, and industry developments.
• Data-Comfortable: You have a practical understanding of how patient-level data, MMM, attribution, and experimentation inform smarter media planning. You don't need to build data models yourself, but you easily understand findings and apply them to strategic decisions.
• Collaborative & Humble: You are a dependable team player who loves working alongside analytics, measurement, and channel specialists to deliver unified, best‑in‑class work without letting ego get in the way.
• Strong Communicator: You excel at turning complex media and measurement concepts into simple, actionable recommendations for clients and internal partners alike.
• Bonus Background: Earlier hands‑on execution experience in programmatic, paid search, SEO/GEO, or paid social is a great plus, but not required.

Location: This role may be based in any MERGE office location or performed remotely within the United States.

Hybrid Philosophy

For this role, we prioritize hybrid candidates in Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Denver, CO; Kansas City, MO; Raleigh, NC; and St. Louis, MO. If fully remote is listed as an option, we are also open to U.S.-based candidates who would work remotely.

Hybrid work is our default approach. We value time together for collaboration, relationship building, and key moments. Managers and team leaders determine in‑person expectations based on what best supports their team, clients, and business needs. Some teams and roles require more regular in‑person presence than others.

MERGE has hubs in Chicago, New York City, Boston, Kansas City, Raleigh, Denver, Atlanta, and St. Louis. Regardless of work arrangement, team members may be required to travel to a MERGE hub for meetings, team gatherings, events, or other business needs.

Total Rewards

At MERGE, we’re committed to fostering an environment where our team members can thrive in both their careers and personal lives, ensuring they feel supported and empowered to succeed.

MERGE believes in transparency and equity. In accordance with state regulations, we’re proud to include salary ranges in our job postings to ensure fair compensation practices.

The salary range for this role is $100,600 - $147,550, based on the individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, location, and other relevant factors. The salary pay range is subject to change and may be modified at any time.

MERGE is proud to invest in benefits that include meaningful Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401K, Lifestyle Spending Account, Employer Paid Life & Disability Insurance, Flexible Time off & Holidays plus many other benefits and rewards.

Applicants for employment in the US must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States.

And here’s how we live our values at MERGE

• Ability. Mastering our craft
• Agility. Delivering with a growth mindset
• Humility. Collaborating for shared success

MERGE is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

MERGE welcomes and celebrates diversity regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status or people with abilities. We believe that the more diverse we are, the more creative our work will be!