Associate Director, Media Strategy

Open Position: Associate Director, Media Strategy

About the role:

As an Associate Director, Media Strategy, you will lead day-to-day media planning and strategy development for key pharmaceutical clients. You will act as a client-facing expert, internal team mentor, and cross-functional partner, developing and optimizing media approaches that drive awareness, engagement, and commercial outcomes. This role is ideal for someone who understands the regulatory nuance of healthcare media, is fluent in emerging digital channels, and brings a performance mindset to every campaign. You’ll contribute across both HCP and DTC campaigns, managing strategic frameworks, tactical planning, and post-launch optimization.

This role will collaborate closely with Minds Assembly client service and production teams to ensure an integrated approach to media, that gives the client a seamless experience. The ideal candidate will foster a culture of innovation while keeping client objectives at the forefront, positioning them as a trusted advisor both internally and externally.

Key Responsibilities:

Media Strategy, Planning & Activation

• Lead the development and execution of comprehensive media strategies that align with brand goals, patient or HCP journeys, and key performance indicators.

• Translate client objectives into measurable, insight-driven media plans—balancing innovation, efficiency, and compliance.

• Contribute to the evolution of media planning processes and best practices, ensuring a consistent and high-caliber output.

Client Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as the primary media point of contact for assigned accounts, guiding clients through planning, execution, and optimization phases.

• Present strategic media recommendations clearly and persuasively, backed by data and aligned with brand priorities.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with brand strategy, creative, RWD, analytics, omnichannel, and client services teams to ensure full campaign integration.

Performance & Optimization

• Partner with analytics teams to evaluate media performance, provide actionable insights, and adjust strategies accordingly.

• Monitor industry trends and emerging technologies to identify new opportunities for audience targeting, channel expansion, or testing.

• Support test-and-learn initiatives, including media pilots, segmentation tests, and new partner evaluations.

Healthcare & Regulatory Expertise

• Ensure all media recommendations and activations adhere to FDA regulations, brand MLR guidance, and industry best practices.

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of DTC and HCP campaign nuances, including privacy, targeting, and messaging sensitivity.

Platform Initiatives & Growth

• Engage in new business opportunities, through development and presenting of media pitch materials.

• Participate in the development and presentation of educational media resources for internal teams and clients

Experience:

• 6–8 years of media planning and strategy experience, with at least 2 years in pharmaceutical or healthcare advertising.

• Deep knowledge of both digital and traditional media channels, including programmatic, CTV, search, social, endemic, and point-of-care.

• Strong client-facing skills and the ability to confidently lead meetings, manage expectations, and deliver strategic recommendations.

• Proficiency in media tools and platforms such as Prisma, Kantar, M3 MI, and healthcare specific media platforms and data partners (e.g., Doximity, Medscape, Swoop).

• Proficiency with media performance metrics, familiarity with advanced analytics (media mix modeling, attribution modeling etc.), and omnichannel reporting frameworks.

• Experience working in cross-functional teams and contributing to integrated brand campaigns.

Salary Range: $145,000-160,000/year