Associate Director, Paid and Earned Media

The Associate Director, Paid and Earned Media is responsible for paid and earned media strategies and plans for their respective therapeutic area (TA)/brand, ensuring alignment with brand positioning and objectives.

Responsibilities:
- Own the full paid media ecosystem (DTC & HCP) across Branded and Market Development programs.
- Develop and coordinate DTC/HCP paid media plans with TA and Brand leads and other stakeholders.
- Identify innovative test-and-learn opportunities and coordinate stakeholder endorsement.
- Manage paid and influencer agency partners.
- Integrate insights and analytics into performance drivers to optimize impact and efficiency.
- Partner with media AOR and Orchestration to ensure planning, execution, optimization, and analysis of media activities.
- Support Market Development Paid Media and Media Integration with patient marketing and Product Communications.
- Integrate influencer marketing into brand programming; develop integrated influencer plans (earned/owned/paid/shared).
- Oversee influencer program execution (sourcing, contracting, FTC compliance, reporting, optimization).
- Provide senior counsel to Brands to maximize business outcomes using paid and earned media.
- Lead development of media strategies/plans and proactive recommendations for evolving needs and cultural shifts.
- Accountable for brand/portfolio media budget; set up testing methodologies, reporting, and modeling.
- Translate data/KPIs into actionable insights; develop robust test-and-learn approaches.
- Partner to contract, create, measure, and report on media conversion tracking; manage contracts and agency expenses.
- Monitor spend, allocate resources to budget, and participate in media plan status/optimization meetings.
- Track and reconcile expenses to ensure budget is on track.

Qualifications (Required/Preferred):
- Bachelor’s degree in Marketing/Business or related field (advanced degree preferred).
- 10+ years paid media marketing experience, preferably digital.
- Curious/challenger mindset with test-and-learn approach.
- Experience working with external media agencies.
- Strong strategic planning; translate strategy into tactics and execution.
- Knowledge of pharmaceutical industry (Medical/Regulatory/clinical processes/market dynamics).
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking; regulatory/compliance/ethical understanding for engaging HCPs and patients.
- Proven success with paid media strategy and innovative customer experience tactics (metrics/ROI).
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management; ability to influence across levels; strong leadership.
- HCP/Patient tactical planning experience preferred.

Skills/Experience:
- Agency partner management; influencer program management; media optimization and analytics; budget management; complexity management.

Physical Requirements:
- 20–30% overnight travel required.