Senior Copywriter - HCP/DTC

McKinney; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

McKinney in New York is seeking a Copywriter to craft human, audience-first stories for healthcare, wellness, and pharmaceutical brands, including rare disease spaces. You’ll write across print and digital channels, navigate MLR/Legal reviews, and collaborate with art, strategy, account, and medical/legal teams to create work that stands out and stands up to scrutiny.

Hybrid in-office schedule in NYC. Role spans Junior through Senior levels with tailored responsibilities and ownership based on

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of pharmaceutical marketing standards and regulated creative development.
• Portfolio demonstrating concepting, writing craft, and integrated campaign experience.
• Experience in healthcare/pharma marketing preferred.
• Ability to move between big ideas and detailed execution.

Responsibilities

• Concept and write campaign copy across channels.
• Turn complex science, data, and disease education into human stories with accuracy.
• Write within pharma requirements (MLR/Legal/Reg review cycles) while pushing creative expression.
• Collaborate with art, strategy, UX, account, and production to build integrated ideas.
• Present work clearly, explain thinking, and apply feedback.
• Manage multiple projects and timelines with focus and follow-through.

Skills

Healthcare copywriting

Creative writing

Regulatory awareness

Collaboration

Tools

Regulatory review

Job description

At McKinney, we believe great brands earn unfair attention by telling human truths in unexpected ways. We’re looking for a Copywriter to help do exactly that for healthcare, wellness, and pharmaceutical brands, especially in the rare disease space (SPINRAZA / Spinal muscular atrophy).

This role spans a range of experience levels (Junior through Senior), with responsibilities and ownership tailored to your background. You’ll concept and craft clear, compelling, compliant copy across print and digital channels, partnering closely with art, strategy, account, and medical/legal teams to create work that stands out and stands up to scrutiny.

What You’ll Do

• Concept and write campaign copy across channels
• Turn complex science, data, and disease education into human, audience-first stories that earn attention without sacrificing accuracy.
• Write within pharma requirements (MLR/Legal/Reg review cycles, fair balance/safety, approved claims/indications) while pushing for the strongest possible creative expression.
• Collaborate closely with art, strategy, UX, account, and production to build integrated ideas, not just isolated assets.
• Present work clearly, explain your thinking, and apply feedback to sharpen the work.
• Manage multiple projects, timelines, and feedback cycles with focus and follow-through.

Healthcare & Regulated Category Craft

• Working knowledge of pharmaceutical marketing standards and regulated creative development.
• Ability to apply clinical references and brand strategy to shape clear, accurate, audience-appropriate messaging.
• Sensitivity to patient experience and health literacy. Writing with empathy, clarity, and respect.
• Curiosity to ask smart questions and deepen understanding of the category, audience, and business problem.

How You Work

• You believe creativity is a team sport and show up as a strong, generous collaborator.
• You embrace feedback as fuel, listening actively, adjusting quickly, and making the work better.
• You lean into challenges, adapt fast when things shift, and keep moving forward with optimism.
• You take ownership of your work and outcomes, even when things are messy or hard.
• You build trust through honesty, transparency, and respect—creating space for dialogue and differing perspectives.

AI & Emerging Technology

• Use AI tools to accelerate ideation, research synthesis, and workflow efficiency, while maintaining high standards for accuracy, voice, and craft.
• Stay current on emerging AI capabilities and advocate for smart, responsible use in the creative process.
• Apply sound judgment around sourcing, representation, and medical/pharma sensitivity when using AI-assisted copy.

What You Bring

• A portfolio demonstrating concepting, writing craft, and digital-first thinking.
• Experience in healthcare/pharma marketing preferred.
• Ability to move comfortably between big ideas and detailed execution.
• Strong communication skills and confidence presenting work in collaborative settings.
• Organization, resilience, and calm under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

Tools & Skills (Required)

• Proven experience writing preferably for healthcare/pharma
• Comfort working within collaborative creative, strategy, and review environments.

Healthcare & Regulated Category Leadership

• Strong working knowledge of pharmaceutical marketing standards and regulated creative development.
• Deep sensitivity to patient experience and health literacy, modeling clear, empathetic, trust-building copy.
• Confidence navigating ambiguity and helping teams move forward with clarity and momentum.
• Sound judgment balancing creative ambition with accuracy and compliance.

How You Show Up

• Serves as a trusted creative partner across disciplines—reliable, thoughtful, and solution-oriented.
• Builds trust through honesty, transparency, and follow-through.
• Welcomes differing opinions and fosters open, respectful conversations.
• Owns outcomes and helps teams learn and improve when things don’t go as planned.
• Leans into challenge, adapts quickly when things shift, and keeps the work (and people) moving forward.

Supporting the Team

• Provides clear, actionable feedback to writers and creative partners to elevate daily output.
• Models strong craft, professionalism, and creative resilience.
• Encourages high standards without micromanagement; helping others do their best work.
• Embraces feedback as fuel for growth and encourages a culture of learning and accountability.

AI & Emerging Technology

• Uses AI tools to support ideation, research synthesis, and workflow efficiency without losing accuracy, voice, or humanity.
• Acts as a point person for responsible AI use in copy development.
• Applies strong judgment around sourcing, representation, and medical/pharma sensitivity when overseeing AI-assisted copy.

What You Bring

• A portfolio demonstrating strong concept development, writing craft, and integrated campaign experience.
• Solid experience in healthcare/pharma marketing.
• Proven ability to lead copy day-to-day while staying hands-on in the work.
• Confidence presenting and defending work and rationale in internal and client settings.
• Organization, calm, and follow-through in fast-moving, highly collaborative environments.

Tools & Skills (Required)

• Proven experience, writing for healthcare/pharma.
• Comfort working closely with cross-functional teams and regulatory review processes.

Salary Range

Our estimated range for this role is $90k - $115k

Right To Work In The US

You must be authorized to work in the US for any employer. At this time, we are not sponsoring or providing assistance with obtaining work authorization.

McKinney is a place where everyone can grow. Studies have shown that marginalized communities such as women, LGBTQ+ and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. However you identify, and whatever background you bring with you, please apply if this is a role that would make you excited to come into work every day.
We are in the office Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday on a hybrid schedule. We look forward to meeting you!

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