Medical Strategy Director- Advertising

Fifth Element is seeking a full-time Medical Strategy Director to join its advertising team in New York City, New York — a senior leadership role for a science-driven strategist ready to shape how medical accuracy and brand ambition intersect.

About the Role

As Medical Strategy Director at Fifth Element, you are the scientific authority behind the work — not a checkpoint, but a driver. You hold medical strategy accountable across a portfolio of major brands and diverse therapy areas, operating at the senior client level and earning trust through rigor, insight, and decisive leadership. You ensure that medical thinking doesn't just coexist with creative and brand strategy — it elevates it.

What You'll Do

• Own end-to-end medical strategy across multiple brands and therapeutic categories, setting direction and maintaining scientific integrity throughout the campaign lifecycle
• Lead and mentor internal teams, translating complex clinical and scientific content into strategically sound, audience-ready messaging
• Serve as a senior partner to clients, building credibility and long-term trust through expert counsel and proactive strategic guidance
• Operate at the convergence of medical, brand, and creative functions — keeping all workstreams aligned, accurate, and built to perform in the marketplace
• Shape regulatory and scientific positioning across campaigns, ensuring every execution reflects both clinical truth and commercial intent
• Drive strategy development from brief through final deliverable, not simply reviewing work but actively defining its medical and scientific foundation

What We're Looking For

• Deep expertise in medical or scientific strategy within a healthcare advertising, medical communications, or pharmaceutical marketing context
• Demonstrated ability to lead across multiple brands and therapy areas simultaneously, with strong prioritization and team management skills
• Proven track record building senior client relationships and communicating complex science with clarity and confidence
• Fluency working at the intersection of clinical data, brand strategy, and creative execution
• A proactive, ownership-oriented mindset — someone who drives strategy forward rather than waiting to validate it
• Advanced degree in a life sciences, medical, or related field preferred; equivalent professional experience in healthcare advertising will be considered

About Fifth Element

Fifth Element is a New York City-based advertising agency operating at the forefront of healthcare and life sciences marketing. The agency brings together medical rigor and creative excellence to deliver campaigns that resonate with both clinical audiences and patients — work that is accurate, compelling, and built to make an impact.

How to Apply

To apply, complete your application directly on this page, or you'll be redirected to the employer's application platform to finish submitting there.