Principal Medical Writer

Purpose of the Job

The Principal Medical Writer (PMW) will work across a range of UK, European and Global healthcare communications activities, building on their existing therapeutic and project experience to generate innovative ways of engaging healthcare professionals and patients. The PMW is a key part of Scientific Services, balancing the responsibilities of developing the scientific direction of projects with day-to-day delivery of high-quality content and mentoring other team members, with support from the Scientific Lead or other senior team members. The PMW will partner with Client Services, Creative and Digital development teams to translate the clients’ vision into engaging activities that go above and beyond the brief. As a client and thought-leader facing role, the PMW will offer and continue to build scientific acumen and creative thinking across projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead writer on at least one large/medium-sized key account alongside other accounts, supported by other members of Scientific Services
• In-house therapy area expert within multiple disease areas
• Idea generation for proposals and new projects, including participation in client pitches
• Reviewing team members’ work, providing mentoring to colleagues and line management to senior, mid-weight or junior members of Scientific Services
• Attending client and thought-leader meetings and teleconferences, leading the content discussions and providing on-site attendance at specific activities as required
• Developing and writing engaging, accurate and fully referenced copy across a range of media types to the highest of standards
• Ensuring all work allocated is executed within the timeline and schedule provided, and recording all hours worked accurately on Workfront
• Collaboratively working with the Client Services, Creative and Digital development teams to produce high-quality communications
• Closely working with the Associate Director to optimise ways of working within Scientific Services, including oversight and direction of ongoing process refinement
• Developing and maintaining excellent relationships with all other departments
• Being a brand guardian, both for our company brand as well as for our clients
• Managing personal workload and schedules

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• In-depth healthcare/medical communications agency experience with clear evidence of career progression
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of current international life sciences developments
• Mentoring and line management skills
• Detail orientated and focused on quality and service delivery
• Excellent interpersonal skills, both internal and external
• Perfect written and spoken English with excellent presentation capabilities
• Experience across various channels of healthcare communications
• Varied therapy area experience
• BSc in a medical or scientific subject; MSc or PhD preferred but not essential
• Able to work as part of a team or solo
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, managers and clients
• Strong Mac literacy, certain dedicated software and highly experienced in Microsoft Office
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results to the appropriate quality and timeline metrics