Associate Creative Director, Copy (Health DTC)

Who We Are:

At VML, Human First is our guiding creative philosophy: we create value for people first, knowing this drives authentic and sustainable brand impact. We are a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

We connect Brand Experience, Customer Experience, and Commerce to craft unified, emotionally resonant consumer journeys.

Our 26,000 people across 50-plus markets are the heart of our company. Their perspectives, local expertise, and cultural insights drive creativity and innovation, making talent our most critical competitive advantage.

About VML Health:  

VML HEALTH is a global healthcare agency that partners with healthcare clients across a broad definition of health, from high science to wellness and everything in between. It operates fluidly within the VML agency, as a core group of health specialists (a ‘vertical’) that has the benefit of autonomy in management, but with support of non-health expertise.  

At the heart of health is the story of life – all the highs and lows, ambitions, and possibilities. But facing a health challenge can suddenly pull people away from these stories, knocking them off course. 

Our purpose is to bridge this gap, bringing people closer to life and all its meaning. We gain a deeper understanding of Healthcare Professionals’ and patients’ needs, behaviors and lived experiences through what we call ‘radical empathy’. 

VML Health creates connected brands that get to the heart, bringing people closer to the lives they want to live.  Get to the heart. Connect for life. 

What We're Looking For:

We're seeking a passionate and highly creative Associate Creative Director, Copy, to lead and inspire our team. You're a strategic thinker with a proven track record of developing compelling and effective copy for the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. You possess a strong understanding of marketing principles, advertising best practices, and the ability to translate complex scientific information into clear and engaging messaging. You're a natural leader, a skilled communicator, and a collaborative team player who thrives in a fast-paced environment.

What You’ll Do:

• Be responsible for on-brand creative concepts for assigned projects, working closely with copy partner, and ensures consistency of concepts across tactics.
• Grasp the creative brief for core insight and ensures creative is aligned with strategy.
• Work closely with art partner and guide team(s) to stay focused on the big idea.
• Contribute award-worthy concepts and recommendations to execute ideas.
• Lead production efforts and demonstrates ability to work within budget or can articulate justification to increase budget for projects.
• Foster strong relationships with clients and spot opportunities to enhance or build on a project (upsell).
• Be able to present confidently to client and clearly communicate how creative work/copy meets the strategic and business objective.
• Manage multiple projects, sometimes for various brands with different scopes and ensure all project of self and team deadlines are met.
• Craft compelling and persuasive copy across a variety of channels, including digital, print, video, and social media.
• Ensure all copy is accurate, compliant, and aligned with brand guidelines.
• Mentor and develop junior copywriters.

Who You Are:

• A highly creative individual with the ability to generate innovative, award-worthy creative and strategic ideas that solve clients’ business challenges.
• A collaborative team player who is eager to partner with an art director and cross-functional teams including Account, Strategy, Social, UX and Medical teams.
• A confident and persuasive presenter who can respond well to challenging client situations.

What You'll Need:

• A portfolio that demonstrates creative and conceptual thinking and award-winning copy, preferably in the healthcare/pharma industry.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
• A strong understanding of marketing principles and advertising best practices.
• The ability to translate complex scientific information into clear and engaging copy.
• 5-7 years of relevant client or agency experience with 3-5 years of supervisory experience.

What we offer: 

• Passionate, driven people | We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.
• Consciously cultivated culture | We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusive community that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empow