About this 21GRAMS- VP, Medical Strategy Director role at Real Chemistry
At Real Chemistry, making the world a healthier place isn’t just an aspiration—it’s our everyday reality. Our drive to transform healthcare is informed by our blend of deep scientific expertise, human-centred creativity, and AI-driven insights, fostering a unique environment where innovation thrives and our people are impact-obsessed. As a global agency, we provide a full suite of services across healthcare communications and marketing to our clients, including top players in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
Our #LifeatRealChem culture is rooted in our people—we believe we are best together and are committed to excellence for both our clients and colleagues. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your career, if you share our passion for healthcare and connection, we invite you to explore our opportunities.
Discover your purpose. Embrace innovation. Experience #LifeatRealChem.
Job Summary:
Real Chemistry is looking for a VP, Medical Strategy Director to join our growing team!
21GRAMS, part of Real Chemistry, is a full-service healthcare advertising agency built on the belief that healthcare should feel more human. We combine bold creativity, strategic rigor, and deep scientific understanding to create work that changes behavior, improves outcomes, and makes a meaningful impact on people's lives. Our culture is grounded in collaboration, curiosity, and a shared commitment to doing exceptional work. We believe in being good to each other while pushing ourselves to deliver ideas that move audiences, brands, and healthcare forward.
This is a role for someone who loves science but doesn't stop there. Someone who can connect clinical evidence to human insight. Someone who can challenge thinking, shape strategy, inspire creative teams, and earn the trust of clients. You'll serve as a senior strategic leader across brands and therapeutic areas, helping transform complex science into meaningful, actionable ideas that drive behavior change.
You'll partner closely with Strategy, Creative, Account, Medical, and Activation teams to ensure the work is not only accurate—but unforgettable.
Reports To: Head of Medical Strategy
This role can be remote within the United States or based in any of our U.S. office locations, including New York City, Boston, Chicago, Lambertville, NJ, San Francisco, or Carmel, IN.
What You'll Do:
- A SCIENTIFIC STORYTELLER You turn data into direction and evidence into inspiration. You help teams uncover the strategic implications hidden within the science and ensure every idea is grounded in a compelling medical truth.
- A STRATEGIC LEADER You lead medical strategy across brands, franchises, and new business opportunities. You define scientific narratives, identify strategic opportunities, and help shape positioning, messaging, and communication platforms.
- A CREATIVE PARTNER You work hand-in-hand with creative and brand strategy teams to elevate the work. You don't simply review ideas—you help make them stronger.
- A TRUSTED CLIENT ADVISOR You confidently engage clients as a senior strategic partner, helping them navigate complex scientific and commercial challenges while earning credibility through expertise and thoughtful counsel.
- A QUALITY CHAMPION You ensure scientific rigor and medical accuracy across deliverables while maintaining a sharp focus on strategic relevance and business impact.
- AN INSPIRING TEACHER You elevate the capabilities of those around you—mentoring junior team members, strengthening agency medical acumen, and helping clients think differently about their brands and opportunities.
- A NEW BUSINESS CATALYST You play an active role in pitches, workshops, and growth initiatives, bringing scientific leadership and strategic thinking that help win new business.
- A BUILDER You help shape the future of Medical Strategy at 21GRAMS—developing frameworks, processes, thought leadership, and capabilities that keep us ahead of where healthcare marketing is going.
This position is a perfect fit for you if:
- Our Company values, Best Together, Impact Obsessed, Excellence Expected, Evolve Always, and Accountability with an "I", genuinely resonate with how you work and lead.
- You demonstrate the Real Chemistry Can mindset by approaching challenges with optimism, accountability, creativity, and a solutions-oriented attitude, always looking for ways to make a meaningful impact for our clients, colleagues, and communities.
- You are adaptable, resilient, and comfortable adjusting your scope, responsibilities, and priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment. As our business grows and changes, so do we.
- You are proactive, driven, and resourceful, with strong prioritization skills, intellectual curiosity, and a desire to leverage data to inform decisions and drive outcomes.
- You are energized by innovation and the transformative potential of AI, actively exploring new technologies, identifying opportunities to work smarter, and championing practical, responsible AI adoption that drives meaningful business impact.
What You Should Have:
- Advanced scientific degree required (PharmD, PhD, MD, DO, NP, PA, or equivalent)
- 10+ years of experience in pharmaceutical advertising, healthcare communications, medical strategy, or related healthcare marketing environments
- Significant agency experience supporting pharmaceutical and biotech brands
- Deep understanding of promotional healthcare communications across HCP, patient, and consumer audiences
- Experience leading scientific and strategic discussions with senior-level clients
- Demonstrated success partnering with creative, strategy, and account teams to develop breakthrough work
- Experience contributing to new business pitches and agency growth initiatives
- Strong presentation, storytelling, and facilitation skills
- Ability to simplify complex science into clear, compelling strategic direction
- Experience managing, mentoring, and developing talent
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in rare disease, oncology, immunology, neuroscience, infectious disease, or specialty care categories
- Launch experience across pre-launch, launch, and lifecycle brands
- Experience leading workshops, advisory boards, and KOL engagements
- A healthy obsession with healthcare, culture, technology, and where they're headed next
Pay Range: $200,000 - $225,000
The anticipated salary range for this position is listed above. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on job-related, non-discriminatory factors including but not limited to experience, skills, qualifications, geographic location, and internal parity.
In addition to base salary, Real Chemistry offers a comprehensive benefits package and a variety of programs designed to support our employees' well-being, growth, and success.
Real Chemistry reserves the right to update compensation and benefits programs at any time.
Real Chemistry is proud to be Great Place to Work® certified; check out what our people shared about our culture and workplace on our Great Places to Work Profile here.
We believe we can do our best when feeling our best, which is why we’ve put together a benefits program designed to give you the support you and your family need at every stage of life. Real Chemistry offers a comprehensive benefit program and perks, tailored to your region. Globally, this includes offices in our key markets with free snacks to keep you running all day long, generous holiday and paid time off, options for private medical, dental, and vison plans, and support in saving for the future. Other perks include mental wellness coaching and support and access to more than 13,000 online classes with LinkedIn Learning. Learn more about our great benefits and perks and search specific offerings in your region at: www.realchemistrybenefits.com.
Working with Real HART: Since the pandemic, we have adapted to how our people told us they want to work. We have office locations in cities in the US, UK, and Europe with many employees and clients that serve as hubs where and when they need us. For employees who are within an hour of one of our offices, we expect attendance in the office two days per week, either at a Real Chemistry office or onsite with clients. We are also actively opening new office locations, so if one opens near you, our Real HART policy will apply. We are not looking for attendance for the sake of attendance but believe that the opportunity to coordinate in-office team meetings, 1:1 meetings with managers, taking advantage of on-site learning, and connecting with client partners is a critical to delivering on our purpose of making healthcare what it should be. Outside of these offices, we have regions, where people work remotely but come together quarterly for collaboration, culture and learning opportunities. We call this our Real Hybrid and Regional Teams (Real HART) approach. Real Chemistry believes we are best together – and our workplace strategy fosters connection and collaboration in person – but also supports flexibility for our people.
Real Chemistry is an Equal Opportunity employer. We continually strive to build and sustain an inclusive and equitable work environment where our employees feel empowered to leverage all they bring from their personal lived experience and professional expertise, to make our team the best in the industry. We encourage motivated and qualified applicants to apply without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, ethnic or national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local employment discrimination laws where Real Chemistry operates. Should you require accommodations throughout the interview process please let your recruiter know.
*Notice: Real Chemistry and its affiliates' names are being misused by scammers through messaging services, fake websites, and apps. Do not share personal or financial information or make payments to any unverified sources claiming to be connected to Real Chemistry. We are working to stop these unauthorized activities and protect our community. Read more here.
