Associate Director, Paid Social – Pharma Focus

MERGE

Associate Director leading high-impact paid social strategies for life sciences clients at MERGE. Requires expertise in regulated environments and performance-driven marketing.

Posted 5/6/2026full-timeRemote • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $88,490 - $129,786 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of paid social campaigns across platforms such as Meta, LinkedIn, TikTok, 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.

Requirements

What you’ll need

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, LinkedIn, TikTok, 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 workstreams in a fast-paced environment
Strong verbal, written, and presentation skills.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical
Dental
Vision
Life Insurance
401K
Lifestyle Spending Account
Employer Paid Life & Disability Insurance
Flexible Time off & Holidays

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

paid social strategycampaign executionfull-funnel marketingHCP targetingpatient targetingdata analysisperformance optimizationbudget managementregulatory compliancemeasurement frameworks

Soft Skills

strategic leadershipclient-facing skillsorganizational skillsdetail-orientedcommunication skillspresentation skillsrelationship buildinganalytical mindsetmulti-taskingcollaboration