Associate Director, Influencer Marketing

About This Role

This role will design and lead Takeda's unified influencer and ambassador program strategy to deepen patient engagement, build trust, and elevate brand awareness. Focus on developing and managing patient ambassador and influencer marketing strategies that drive both innovation and impact through authentic campaigns and strategic creator partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own KPI-driven influencer and ambassador strategies aligned to brand goals, omnichannel plans, and patient journeys.
• Identify, recruit, and nurture strong relationships with influencers/creators/celebrity ambassadors and HCP digital opinion leaders.
• Develop a patient Ambassador Program (unbranded and branded), including programming strategy, goals and KPIs.
• Oversee the creative development of influencer and ambassador-led content across live & virtual events, digital campaigns, and advocacy platforms.
• Run patient advisory board/summit meetings to garner insights and to activate the patient community through authentic personal storytelling.
• Partner closely with Omnichannel team to Integrate ambassador/influencer content into broader omnichannel programs.
• Collaborate with advocacy groups to incorporate real patient perspectives into marketing initiatives.
• Facilitate development of scopes of work and partnership agreements, ensuring adherence to industry regulations, privacy laws, and Takeda's policies.
• Develop and lead influencer onboarding, training and governance processes related to programming, compliant content creation, and risk mitigation.
• Serve as a key liaison with Legal, Ethics & Compliance, Regulatory, Medical, and Pharmacovigilance to proactively manage risk and maintain brand safety.
• Manage performance of influencer and ambassador initiatives, tracking ROI, brand safety, sentiment, reach, and audience impact.
• Stay current on digital, social, and creator trends—recommending innovations that improve reach, engagement, compliance, and program ROI.
• Continuously optimize influencer and ambassador mix, platform selection, creative strategy, and budget allocation based on insights and learning.

Requirements

• Minimum BS/BA degree
• 5+ years of marketing and/or PR experience managing influencer and celebrity ambassador programs
• 3+ years in pharma/healthcare or other regulated industry
• Demonstrated success developing and executing ambassador programs and celebrity influencer campaigns that drive measurable outcomes
• Strong understanding of social platforms (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, LinkedIn, Facebook) and creator ecosystems
• Experience managing agencies, influencer platforms, and analytics tools
• Strong familiarity with healthcare compliance, privacy laws, and regulatory requirements
• Experience with contract negotiation, partner onboarding, and content governance
• Excellent project management and communication skills
• Experience managing cross-functional relationships
• Proven track record of influencing, aligning, and inspiring cross-functional stakeholders at all levels
• Results-driven mindset with a high level of ownership, urgency, and resilience
• Demonstrated ability to use data, insights, and structured analysis to inform decisions

Qualifications

• Minimum BS/BA degree with MS/MBA preferred.
• 5+ years of marketing and/or PR experience managing influencer and celebrity ambassador programs; 3+ years in pharma/healthcare or other regulated industry.

Nice to Have

• MS/MBA

Skills

* Required skills

Benefits