Associate Editorial Director

Reset your expectations of a health and wellness agency. From our inception, Fingerpaint has been driven by an unstoppable collective spirit of possibility. It’s that curiosity that’s at the heart of everything we do. From our legendary people-first culture to the hundreds of Fingerpainters who define us, we’ve reimagined what it means to be a healthcare and wellness advertising agency. Here, creativity happens naturally—we attract top talent and collaborate.

The Opportunity: Role Summary

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Associate Editorial Director to oversee high-science pharmaceutical brands. The ideal candidate has deep category expertise in oncology and schizophrenia, excels at managing teams, and thrives in a fast-paced environment requiring precision and strategic thinking. This individual will be instrumental in performing all levels of editing, including copyediting, substantive editing, fact-checking, proofreading, styling, and layout review, as well as serving as the lead or backup editor on multiple brands.

Key Responsibilities

Core Function:

• Review high-science promotional and medical content, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and compliance with regulatory standards.
• As lead or backup editor across multiple brands, perform detailed content review and ensure editorial standards are consistently met.
• Edit materials such as slide decks, core visual aids, white papers, videos, banner ads, websites, and emails.
• Proofread layout materials to ensure alignment with approved copy, checking format, organization, graphics, and spacing for consistency with standards.
• Fact-check referenced information to confirm that source documents adequately support all claims.
• Manage and mentor fellow editors, fostering professional growth and ensuring high-quality deliverables.
• Establish and optimize editorial workflows, create and maintain style guides and master reference lists, and ensure adherence to industry and client-specific standards.
• Ensure compliance with relevant standards (eg, AMA, FDA) and stay current on guidelines.

What You’ll Bring: Required Qualifications

• Education:
• Bachelor’s degree (minimum), preferably in English, communications, journalism, or health sciences field.
• Experience:
• At least 5–8 years of professional medical editing experience in pharmaceutical advertising or medical communications, including fact-checking and reviewing high-science materials.
• Proven experience in managing editorial teams and mentoring junior staff.

Specialized Knowledge:

• Strong background in reviewing high-science materials, including in the oncology and schizophrenia spaces.
• Strong medical editing skills, including copyediting, substantive editing, and fact-checking, with knowledge of AMA Manual of Style, 11th edition.
• Thorough understanding of grammar rules and comprehension of medical, pharmaceutical, and scientific terminology.
• Familiarity with FDA and other regulatory guidelines affecting promotional content.

Skills:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey complex scientific concepts clearly.
• Strong skills in time management, prioritizing, and problem-solving, with attention to deadlines.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to editorial excellence.
• Proficiency with standard software: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook; Adobe Acrobat.

Preferred Qualifications (Nice to Have)

• Experience with Ziflow (or similar online proofing software) preferred.
• Contributes to the creation or revision of departmental resources and processes.