Associate Director, Paid Social (Life Sciences / Pharma Focus)

Boston, MA (Hybrid)

$95K/yr – $114K/yrSenior Level8+ years expFull time

Posted 4 months ago

Top 1% of applicants do these two things.

The other 99% submit and hope. You're about to do something different.

Job Summary

Drive paid social strategy and execution for regulated life sciences campaigns with cross-functional leadership.

  • Must-have: 8–10 years in paid social strategy and execution
  • Standout: Experience in Life Sciences/pharma with MLR/compliance
  • Owns full-funnel paid social programs and budget planning

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • 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

Requirements

  • 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

Benefits

  • 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.
  • 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.
MERGE logo

MERGE

MERGE is a marketing and technology agency built for the intersection of health and wellness. We help brands navigate complex consumer journeys and unlock growth through data-driven storytelling, AI-powered personalization, and bold creativity.Powered by human insight, creativity, and AI, we unite people and brands.Our expertise spans health and consumer brands, with demonstrated experience across industries including: Pharma and Medtech, Health Providers, Insurance, Health, Financial Services, Retail, Connected Living, and Food.We provide deep platform expertise and services in: Strategy, Creative, Public Relations, Experience, Performance Marketing, Media, and Platforms.Our success is best illustrated in our enduring client partnerships with marquee brands such as Abbott, Blue Cross Blue Shield, GE Healthcare, Supernus, American Express, T-Mobile, Coach, and Meta.With teams across offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York City, and Raleigh. MERGE’s culture embraces agility, ability, and humility to consistently deliver exceptional client results.Recruitment Fraud Alert Notice: Please be aware of potential fraud or scams by individuals, organizations, or websites falsely claiming to represent MERGE in recruitment activities. MERGE follows a well-defined recruitment process for all positions, which includes formal interviews before issuing any offers of employment. Importantly, we do not require any payments or fees from job applicants. Additionally, MERGE does not conduct interviews through texting platforms such as RingCentral. If you receive any suspicious emails claiming to recruit on behalf of MERGE, do not share personal information or make any payments. Qualified candidates should only apply to current openings directly through MERGE’s

Founded in 2018
Chicago, Illinois, USA
852 employees (246 in marketing)

Traffic Signals

Monthly Visitors
46.8K
Monthly Google Ads Budget
$18.6K
Traffic Source Mix
Search
39.5%
Direct
45.4%
Referral
9.1%
Social
4.5%
Paid
1.3%

Headcount Trend

Current headcount: ~857

Marketing Team

Marketing Team Size
130 (15% of company)
Median Career Experience
12 years
Median Tenure
3.5 years
Marketing Roles Posted (Last 30 Days)
4