We are seeking a Head of Growth to lead the next phase of expansion for an established media-only ad agency specializing in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry. This role owns net-new revenue generation and is accountable for building a predictable, scalable new-business engine within the pharma category.
This position will report to the CEO and collaborate closely with the management team. All team members share a common desire to learn, grow, and bring a strong entrepreneurial spirit. 2025 was our strongest year to date, and we are looking for a leader who can turn that momentum into sustained, repeatable growth.
We are NYC-based working 80% remotely with the understanding that this role requires attendance at conferences and industry events when needed. In addition, the team meets at our Manhattan location approximately two times per month. Silverlight Digital is an MM+M Top 100 Agency and well known within the pharma industry.
This is a hands-on, individual contributor role with strategic ownership, ideal for a senior business development leader who excels at building pipeline and closing complex opportunities. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in the pharma and healthcare landscape, understands how omnichannel media is used to help our clients exceed their KPIs, and can translate insight into closed revenue.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own the agency’s pharma-focused business development strategy, including annual and multiyear revenue targets, pipeline health, and forecasting
- Build, cultivate, and maintain senior-level relationships across the pharmaceutical, biopharma, and healthcare marketing ecosystem to generate qualified opportunities and accelerate deal progression
- Excel as a proactive consultative salesperson focused on prospecting, pitching, and closing new business
- Identify high value growth opportunities across pharmaceutical manufacturers, emerging biopharma, specialty pharma, and allied life sciences brands
- Lead strategic new business pursuits from initial outreach through pitch, negotiation, and close
- Position the agency as a long-term strategic partner, not a transactional vendor, by clearly diagnosing client challenges and translating them into scoped, closeable opportunities
- Work with the marketing team to refine and articulate the agency’s pharmaceutical market positioning, differentiators, and value proposition
- Stay current on pharma marketing trends, including omnichannel, HCP media, patient engagement, privacy regulations, and data-driven activation
- Stay current on digital media trends and expertly speak to the agency’s use of and approach to search, social, programmatic, endemic, CTV, and analytics including the rollout of our new Intelligence Suite.
- Provide market intelligence to inform service expansion and thought leadership
- Represent the agency at pharma focused industry events and conferences with clear expectations for follow-up, opportunity creation, and pipeline contribution
- Maintain strong CRM hygiene and sales discipline, ensuring leadership has accurate, timely insight into deal stage, risk, and probability
Qualifications include:
- Proven track record of success growing pharma or healthcare advertising revenue through net-new client acquisition
- Deep understanding of the pharma marketing ecosystem, including healthcare marketing agencies, creative agencies, and pharmaceutical manufacturers
- Established credibility with senior leaders at Healthcare Marketing Agencies for uncovering media partnership needs
- Familiarity with biopharma and specialty pharma advertisers at both the company and marketing leader level
- Experience tracking the drug development pipeline at key pharmaceutical companies, especially Phase 3 assets
- Thorough knowledge of the digital media landscape and key data providers, with the ability to instill confidence in prospects
- Experience managing long, complex sales cycle (3+ months) and effectively moving opportunities through defined pipeline stages
- Strong business acumen with the ability to identify and capitalize on white-space opportunities
- Demonstrated ability to close complex, six-figure+ engagements
- Relationship builder who can build trust and close deals without over-reliance on formal RFP processes
- 5+ years of experience working in pharmaceutical advertising, targeting both HCP and patient audiences.
- Familiarity with data targeting and the endemic publishing partners
- Ability to draft winning sales prospecting and follow-up communications
- Proven “hunter” mentality with the discipline to independently source, advance, and close opportunities, while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams to move deals through the pipeline
- Proficient with lead generation and signal-based prospecting tools (e.g., Apollo, HubSpot, Monday.com) to identify, prioritize, and engage high-value prospects
The compensation package for this role includes a base salary and commission structure aligned to performance and results.
Silverlight Digital is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or other fascinating characteristics that make us unique.