Associate Director, Paid Social; Pharma Focus

As our Associate Director, Paid Social, you will lead the development and execution of high‑impact paid social strategies for one or more clients, with a strong emphasis on Life Sciences and pharmaceutical brands. You bring deep expertise navigating regulated environments and understand how to balance performance, compliance, and innovation across platforms.

You’ll partner cross‑functionally to translate complex business and marketing objectives into scalable, data‑driven paid social programs. This role requires a strategic thinker who can push performance forward while ensuring adherence to regulatory standards and delivering measurable business outcomes.

• Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of paid social campaigns across platforms such as Meta, Linked In, Tik Tok, and emerging channels
• Develop full‑funnel paid social approaches tailored to Life Sciences and pharma brands, including HCP and patient targeting strategies
• Ensure all campaigns meet regulatory, legal, and compliance standards (MLR familiarity required) while maintaining performance rigor
• Partner with cross‑functional teams (media, analytics, strategy, creative, and client services) to deliver integrated marketing initiatives
• Own paid social performance, including optimization strategies, testing frameworks, and continuous improvement plans
• Translate data into actionable insights, delivering clear, executive‑level reporting and recommendations
• Manage and forecast paid social budgets, ensuring efficient allocation and strong return on investment
• Oversee platform best practices, staying ahead of changes in privacy, targeting, and platform capabilities—especially within regulated categories
• Guide audience strategy development, including first‑party data, privacy‑safe targeting, and platform‑native solutions
• Serve as a senior client lead, providing strategic guidance and building strong, trusted relationships
• Contribute to new business efforts, including paid social strategy development, pharma‑specific POVs, and pitch presentations
• Elevate internal standards and processes for paid social excellence, particularly within regulated verticals

• 8–10 years of paid social strategy and execution experience
• Demonstrated experience working in Life Sciences, pharmaceutical, or other highly regulated industries
• Strong understanding of regulatory considerations, including MLR processes and compliance requirements in paid media
• Proven ability to lead full‑funnel paid social programs, including HCP and patient‑focused campaigns
• Deep platform expertise across Meta, Linked In, Tik Tok, Reddit and other emerging paid social channels
• Strong analytical mindset with experience translating performance data into strategic recommendations
• Experience with social analytics, measurement frameworks, and platform tools (e.g., Sprinklr, platform‑native tools, third‑party measurement solutions)
• Ability to operate as both a strategic leader and hands‑on operator when needed
• Excellent client‑facing skills, with the ability to simplify complex strategies for executive audiences
• Highly organized, detail‑oriented, and comfortable managing multiple work streams in a fast‑paced environment
• Strong verbal, written, and presentation skills

MERGE is proud to invest in benefits that include meaningful Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401K, Lifestyle Spending Account, Employer Paid Life & Disability Insurance, Flexible Time off & Holidays plus many other benefits and rewards. The salary range for this role is $88,490-$129,786
, 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.

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.

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!