SVP, Experience Design & Innovation

GSW (Syneos Health); Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Flexible PTO and sick time

Job summary

GSW, a leading healthcare communications agency within Syneos Health, seeks a Senior VP, Experience Design to lead the Santa Monica office. You will shape the office's creative vision, elevate UX, digital design, AI, and emerging experiences, and mentor leaders across the network.

Partner with Brand Creative leadership, guide strategic pitches, and translate innovative concepts into scalable, compliant healthcare solutions.

Qualifications

• Proven success leading multidisciplinary creative organizations.
• Deep understanding of experience design and emerging technologies.
• Pharma, healthcare, or regulated-category experience.

Responsibilities

• Steer the office's creative vision with Brand Creative leadership.
• Drive UX, digital design, AI, and emerging experience disciplines.
• Build and mentor leaders across the network.
• Translate technologies into client opportunities.
• Lead pitches, strategic planning, and business development.

Skills

Experience design leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic storytelling

Digital transformation

AI and emerging tech

Executive presence

Healthcare/pharma domain

Tools

Veeva

MLR processes

iCVA

Enterprise content systems

Job description

GSW is a full-service healthcare communications agency and one of the world's ten most-awarded healthcare advertising agencies, operating as part of Syneos Health. Its Experience Design practice brings together UX strategists, designers, creative technologists, developers, AI specialists, and emerging-media experts to create connected experiences for healthcare clients. Syneos Health itself is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical solutions organization with more than 25,000 employees worldwide.

The role

This SVP position leads the Experience Design practice for a major office location (Santa Monica, CA) while also serving as part of the office's broader creative leadership team alongside Brand Creative leadership. The role is responsible for advancing the Experience Design discipline across the GSW network, driving agency growth, and helping shape the future direction of the agency's creative and technology capabilities.

What you would do

• Partner with Brand Creative leadership to jointly steer the office's creative vision, standards, culture, and reputation, championing integration of brand storytelling, experience design, content, and technology.
• Serve as the senior Experience Design leader for the office, driving excellence across UX, digital design, creative technology, AI, and emerging experience disciplines.
• Build and mentor high-performing leaders and teams, establishing craft standards, career pathways, and communities of practice across the network.
• Translate emerging technologies, AI capabilities, agentic workflows, and immersive experiences into meaningful opportunities for clients and teams.
• Partner with senior client leaders to identify opportunities, solve complex business challenges, and shape long‑term engagement strategies across omnichannel, digital health, and enterprise transformation programs.
• Lead through making: use prototypes, pilots, and working models to create alignment and inspire action, while empowering teams to own execution.
• Ensure breakthrough ideas translate into sustainable, scalable solutions within regulated healthcare environments, balancing innovation with operational rigor.
• Play a leadership role in pitches, strategic planning, and business development initiatives.

What they are looking for

• Proven success leading multidisciplinary creative organizations and developing future leaders.
• Deep understanding of experience design, customer experience, creative strategy, digital transformation, and emerging technologies including AI and agentic systems.
• Exceptional communication skills and executive presence, with a track record of influencing decisions and aligning teams.
• Credible understanding of design systems, digital product development, and emerging experience platforms.
• Pharma, healthcare, or regulated-category experience.
• Familiarity with Veeva, MLR processes, modular content, iCVA, or enterprise content systems.
• Background in experiential, immersive, VR/AR, spatial, or emerging-platform work.
• Experience partnering across Brand Creative, Strategy, Technology, Medical, and Account leadership to shape integrated work.

Working arrangements

The role is based on-site in Santa Monica, CA.

Pay and benefits

The annual base salary ranges from $170,000 to $190,000, with potential eligibility for commissions or bonus based on company and individual performance. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, a company-match 401(k), and flexible paid time off (PTO) and sick time.