Vice President, Integrated Strategy

GSW, powered by Syneos Health; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 150,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

GSW, powered by Syneos Health, seeks a VP of Integrated Strategy to lead brand and NB strategies across portfolios. Translate data, culture, and behavioral science into stories that win clients and drive growth.

You will bring 12+ years in brand/ CX strategy within healthcare advertising, 8+ years of leadership, and command strategic tools. You’ll mentor senior strategists and shape cross‑office initiatives to elevate the practice.

Qualifications

• Experience: 12+ years in brand, communications, or CXStrategy, with at least 5 years within a healthcare advertising agency.
• Healthcare acumen across therapeutic categories; US market launch experience; DTC and HCP familiarity.
• Leadership: 8+ years of direct management experience.
• Mastery of strategic tools and frameworks (e.g., journey mapping, workshop design, qualitative/quantitative research, competitive analysis, persona development).

Responsibilities

• Act as strategic authority across assigned brands, providing clear compelling direction internally and externally.
• Architect and oversee the development of brand, creative, communications, and omnichannel strategies.
• Identify opportunities for application of SH proprietary data and predictive platform on inline brands/NB.
• Lead in new business pitches, articulating a clear strategic vision that shines in the work.
• Manage, mentor, and develop the careers of direct reports (VPs, Directors, Senior Strategists).
• Establish best practices for the strategy department and ensure excellence in deliverables.
• Collaborate cross-office to ensure adoption within the team and align with medical leadership.

Skills

Brand strategy

Healthcare advertising

Leadership

Strategic craft

Presentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA/MS a plus

Job description

VP, Integrated Strategy

A seasoned strategist who sees the big picture. You’re fluent in the language of healthcare, but passionate about the language of humanity. You don’t just find insights; you build inspiring stories that leverage culture, data, and behavioral science that are so compelling, they’re impossible to ignore. Most importantly, you’re a builder. You’re excited by the challenge of not just doing great work but also building internal appreciation for how great strategic work gets done and why it matters.

Description

VP, Integrated Strategy

A seasoned strategist who sees the big picture. You’re fluent in the language of healthcare, but passionate about the language of humanity. You don’t just find insights; you build inspiring stories that leverage culture, data, and behavioral science that are so compelling, they’re impossible to ignore. Most importantly, you’re a builder. You’re excited by the challenge of not just doing great work but also building internal appreciation for how great strategic work gets done and why it matters.

You believe strategy is more than a department; it’s a mindset.

BRAND & NEW BUSINESS STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

• Act as strategic authority across assigned brands, providing clear compelling direction internally and externally
• Architect and oversee the development of brand, creative, communications, and omnichannel strategies
• Identify opportunities for application of SH proprietary data, predictive platform, and other new offerings on inline brands/NB
• Key leader in new business pitches, commanding the room and articulating a clear, winning strategic vision that shines through in the work

DEPARTMENT & TEAM LEADERSHIP

• Manage, mentor, and cultivate the careers of direct reports (VPs, Directors, Senior Strategists), fostering a supportive environment of growth and intellectual curiosity
• Establish and enforce best practices for the strategy department, ensuring consistency and excellence in all strategic deliverables.
• Support Integrated Strategy cross-office initiatives and work in concert with SVP Medical lead to ensure adoption within the team
• Work with Ops leadership to identify staffing gaps, manage office-level staffing needs, and maintain business targets (utilization)

CROSS-FUNCTIONALALIGNMENT & COLLABORATION

• Collaborate with NA Strategy Lead to develop and execute an internal education plan to elevate the agency’s collective understanding of strategic craft
• Build powerful, two-way relationships with leaders in other departments, demonstrating how we show up as "we" and how strategic partnership leads to better work, stronger client relationships, and organic growth
• Proactively identify opportunities to showcase the value of strategy during all agency meetings (e.g., Beach Session), showcasing the work, and delivering thought leadership
• Skillfully navigate internal skepticism by lining strategic initiatives directly to client satisfaction and business outcomes

Essential Requirements

• Experience: 12+ years of experience in brand, communications, or CXStrategy, with at least 5 years within a healthcare advertising agency
• Healthcare Acumen: Deep expertise across various therapeutic categories. A proven track record of successfully launching pharmaceutical/biotech brands in the US market is essential, DTC and HCP experience.
• Leadership: 8+ years of direct management experience, with a demonstrated ability to inspire and develop strategic talent
• Strategic Craft: Mastery of a wide range of strategic tools and frameworks(e.g., journey mapping, workshop design, qualitative/quantitative research, competitive analysis, persona development)
• Presentation & Storytelling: World-class communication skills. Ability to command a senior-level client audience and simplify the complex with clarity and passion
• Education: Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree (MBA, MS) in relevant field is a plus

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $150,000 to $185,000. 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.

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. As one of the world's ten most-awarded healthcare advertising agencies, GSW is hell-bent not to replace the same old with the same old. This is achieved through a provocative premise - if other brands communicated the way healthcare brands do, how many customers would they have? GSW turns against this premise through discovery of beneath-the-surface customer insights that we impact with stories, simplicity and authenticity.

Work Here Matters Everywhere | How are you inspired to change lives?

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

Syneos Health has a voluntary COVID-19 vaccination policy. We strongly encourage all employees to be fully vaccinated. Additionally, certain local governments or Syneos Health customers may have vaccine requirements that apply to some of our employees. These employees are required to submit proof of vaccination to Syneos Health and maintain compliance with these requirements.

At Syneos Health, we believe in providing an environment and culture in which Our People can thrive, develop and advance. We reward and recognize our people by providing valuable benefits and a quality-of-life balance. The benefits for this position will include a competitive compensation package, Health benefits to include Medical, Dental and Vision, Company match 401k, flexible paid time off (PTO) and sick time. Because certain states and municipalities have regulated paid sick time requirements, eligibility for paid sick time may vary depending on where you work. Syneos Health complies with all applicable federal, state, and municipal paid sick time requirements.