Associate Director, Strategy

Summary

Underscore Marketing is a media agency specializing in pharmaceutical media advertising. The Associate Director, Strategy will manage performance reporting, analyze marketing and media data, uncover actionable insights, and recommend strategic optimizations for pharmaceutical clients. The role will also support the agency’s data analytics roadmap through AI-enhanced solutions, cross-functional collaboration, and process improvements.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage regular media performance reporting for multiple pharmaceutical accounts, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and timeliness
• Analyze marketing and media performance data to identify trends, insights, and optimization opportunities
• Translate complex datasets into clear narratives and actionable recommendations for internal teams and clients, bringing the data to life in a powerful way
• Develop dashboards, visualizations, and scorecards using relevant tools (e.g. Tableau, Power BI, Google Looker Studio)
• Experience working with third-party health data providers, with clear understanding of approaches and methodologies used
• Ability to apply analytical frameworks and understanding of attribution methodologies, test/control analyses, and other marketing effectiveness measurement approaches to evaluate performance and guide media strategy
• Support the design and interpretation of A/B tests, pilots, and controlled experiments
• Contribute to modeling and predictive analysis projects
• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal agency teams and leadership to develop and refine the agency’s reporting and analytics offerings and roadmap
• Support & execute against opportunities identified within the agency to integrate or leverage AI and automation to improve reporting speed, accuracy, and insights generation
• Work cross-functionally with media, account, and technology teams to enhance data flows, reporting templates, and processes
• Document and communicate best practices for analytics and performance optimization

Skills

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., Data Science, Statistics, Marketing Analytics, Applied Mathematics, or a similar discipline)
• 2–3 years of professional experience (including internships) in marketing analytics, performance reporting, or related analytical roles
• Experience in or exposure to pharmaceutical media advertising across digital and traditional channels required
• Strong presentation skills, with experience presenting deliverables to clients and ensuring delivery excellence
• Proficiency with data visualization
• Understanding of media measurement frameworks (e.g., attribution modeling, MMM, lift studies)
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication skills—able to translate data into clear, actionable insights for non-technical audiences
• High attention to detail, accuracy, and data integrity
• Ability to manage multiple projects independently in a fast-paced, client-driven environment
• A proactive, curious mindset with a passion for learning and innovation
• Experience working with third-party health data providers, with clear understanding of approaches and methodologies used
• Ability to apply analytical frameworks and understanding of attribution methodologies, test/control analyses, and other marketing effectiveness measurement approaches to evaluate performance and guide media strategy
• Working knowledge of SQL, Python, or R for data manipulation and analysis is a plus
• Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and tools for reporting or analytics automation is advantageous

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., Data Science, Statistics, Marketing Analytics, Applied Mathematics, or a similar discipline)
• 2–3 years of professional experience (including internships) in marketing analytics, performance reporting, or related analytical roles
• Experience in or exposure to pharmaceutical media advertising across digital and traditional channels required
• Strong presentation skills, with experience presenting deliverables to clients and ensuring delivery excellence
• Proficiency with data visualization
• Understanding of media measurement frameworks (e.g., attribution modeling, MMM, lift studies)
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication skills—able to translate data into clear, actionable insights for non-technical audiences
• High attention to detail, accuracy, and data integrity
• Ability to manage multiple projects independently in a fast-paced, client-driven environment
• A proactive, curious mindset with a passion for learning and innovation
• Experience working with third-party health data providers, with clear understanding of approaches and methodologies used
• Ability to apply analytical frameworks and understanding of attribution methodologies, test/control analyses, and other marketing effectiveness measurement approaches to evaluate performance and guide media strategy

Nice to Haves

• Working knowledge of SQL, Python, or R for data manipulation and analysis is a plus
• Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and tools for reporting or analytics automation is advantageous

Benefits

• Health coverage
• Retirement plans
• Paid time off
• Professional growth opportunities
• Remote work arrangement