VP, Creative - Pharma Copy

MERGE; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 130,000 - 191,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401K

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Flexible Time off

Job summary

MERGE, a marketing and technology agency, seeks a VP, Creative Director to lead vision, visual architecture, and strategy for high-stakes healthcare accounts. You'll shape scalable design systems and multi-channel narratives, partnering with strategy, copy, and client leadership to set creative standards.

You will drive business growth, mentor mid- to senior-level talent, and foster a culture of innovation, staying ahead of healthcare and digital trends with AI-enabled workflows.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive creative experience in an advertising agency or health/pharma Agency of Record (AOR).
• Demonstrated ability to build and scale complex visual design systems and omnichannel brand languages.
• Ability to translate clinical insights into elegant visual solutions and executive narratives.
• Extensive expertise in digital-first design, interactive media, and component-based design architecture (e.g., Figma).
• Exceptional communication, storytelling, and presentation skills with C-suite track record.
• Proven success leading and winning high-value new business pitches.

Responsibilities

• Architect scalable visual ecosystems and brand platforms across multi-channel healthcare ecosystems.
• Translate clinical data and brand strategy into executive-level creative narratives.
• Lead senior client engagements and defend strategic creative directions with stakeholders.
• Define and maintain high creative standards balancing innovation with medical, legal, and regulatory compliance.
• Drive new business opportunities and coordinate with strategy, copy, and account leadership.
• Mentor mid- to senior-level teams and foster a systems-first design culture.

Skills

Experience 12+ yrs

Systems thinking

Strategic acumen

Omnichannel design

Executive presence

New business

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Figma

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 VP, Creative Director, you will...

Serve as the executive creative leader driving the vision, visual architecture, and overarching creative strategy for high-stakes healthcare accounts and brands. Moving beyond tactical oversight, you will architect scalable, multi-channel design frameworks and narratives that transform complex clinical insights into powerful visual stories. Working in close partnership with executive strategy, copy, and client leadership teams, you will establish foundational creative benchmarks, elevate agency craft, defend strategic creative direction before executive stakeholders, and solidify lead strategic agency status. You will also serve as a key driver of agency growth, talent development, and culture.

What You'll Do

Executive Strategy & Brand Stewardship

• Architect Scalable Ecosystems: Establish and oversee the overarching visual architecture, brand platforms, and modular design languages that ensure consistency, impact, and efficiency across complex, multi-channel healthcare ecosystems.
• Elevate Storytelling: Translate complex clinical data, scientific insights, and overarching brand strategy into compelling executive-level creative narratives.
• Lead Strategic Client Engagement: Serve as a primary creative contact for senior client executives; articulate, defend, and champion strategic creative visions that align with business and market goals.
• Set Creative Standards: Define and maintain the standard for creative excellence, ensuring all output balances breakthrough innovation with strict medical, legal, and regulatory (MLR) compliance.

Business Growth & Agency Leadership

• Drive New Business Development: Lead creative strategy and execution for pitch opportunities—from early insight gathering and narrative positioning to high-stakes client pitch presentations.
• Pillar Alignment: Partner seamlessly with executive Copy, Strategy, and Account Leadership to build unified brand platforms that solidify Lead Strategic Agency positioning.
• Operational & Production Oversight: Collaborate with cross-functional leadership and production teams to ensure work is delivered efficiently, scalably, and at the highest level of craft.

Team Development & Culture

• Mentorship & Talent Architecture: Direct, inspire, and grow mid- to senior-level creative talent, instilling a "systems-first" design approach and fostering an environment of creative rigour.
• Creative Quality Control: Act as a critical judge and partner, providing constructive, actionable guidance that elevates concepts from good to groundbreaking.
• Culture & Innovation: Stay ahead of healthcare, technology, and design trends—integrating modern digital frameworks (e.g., component-based platforms, AI-enabled processes) into daily agency workflows.

Who You Are

• Experience: 12+ years of progressive creative experience in an advertising agency or health/pharma Agency of Record (AOR), with 4+ years in direct supervisory or creative management roles.
• Mastery of Systems Thinking: Demonstrated portfolio showcasing the ability to build, scale, and maintain complex visual design systems and omnichannel brand languages.
• Strategic Acumen: Proven ability to turn complex clinical evidence and deep HCP/patient insights into elegant visual solutions.
• Omnichannel & Digital Excellence: Extensive expertise in digital-first design, interactive media, and component-based design architecture (e.g., Figma).
• Executive Presence: Exceptional communication, storytelling, and presentation skills with a track record of defending creative strategy before C-suite client stakeholders.
• New Business Track Record: Demonstrated success leading and winning high-value new business pitches.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Advertising, Visual Communications, Fine Arts, or equivalent practical experience.

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 $130,300 - $190,800, 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 includemeaningful 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!