Senior Medical Writer

Reports to Principal Medical Writer or Scientific Team Lead Medical & Scientific Services (MSS)

Job Summary

As a Senior Medical Writer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the communication of complex scientific ideas. Taking leadership of large projects/specific workstreams across a range of medical communications deliverables, you will be responsible for the quality and scientific integrity of all outputs delivered by the team.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Developing written materials that are of high quality, scientifically accurate, clear, fully referenced, appropriate to the target audience, meets the client’s communication objectives and conforms to client specifications; this includes interacting with key experts, negotiating on content and making constructive suggestions on content
• Developing a broad range of materials including meeting materials (e.g. slides, agendas, discussions guides); post-meeting activities (e.g. webcasts, reports), as well as attending meetings, workshops and advisory boards; newsletters; training materials; and publications
• Developing and maintaining relationships with clients and key experts
• Researching medical and scientific topics using relevant information sources
• Developing and maintaining knowledge in relevant therapy areas including drug mechanisms of action, disease state, treatment guidelines and competitive landscape
• Participation in strategic projects and in the provision of strategic counsel, insights, recommendations, and solutions to clients on their projects and programs
• Following all relevant internal, client and industry guidelines and SOPs – at the personal and junior team member level
• Providing support to accounts team and attending meetings as required, including internal kick-off meetings, status meetings and client calls
• Identifying and anticipating any problems or resource limitations that could jeopardize the delivery of your projects on-time, on-budget or with sufficient quality
• Nurturing client relationships and be aware of opportunities to develop and grow business
• Providing content support for new business opportunities, such as proposals and presentations
• Proficiency in the use of all relevant supportive tools and databases (e.g. EndNote, DataVision, ZINC, etc.), as required
• Coaching and mentoring of junior colleagues, proactive provision of feedback to relevant Line Managers
• Submission of accurate and timely timesheet records

For line managers

• Provision of effective line management, supporting the career and personal development of assigned line reports
• Ensuring all line reports undergo performance review and have appropriate objectives and development plans in place
• Rapid addressing of under-performance and initiation of active management plans to support individuals as required

Experience, Skills, and Qualifications

• Graduate in life sciences (ideally biomedical or related degree eg. Pharmacy, Medicine), higher degree preferred
• Prior experience at Medical Writer level in a medical communications agency environment; knowledge of pharmaceutical healthcare marketing principles preferred
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interpret and fulfil client briefs in a creative and technically accurate manner
• Sound understanding of science and medicine, the healthcare environment and the medical education and publication industry
• Outstanding attention-to-detail
• Willingness/ability to learn and apply new skills and news scientific/therapeutic/ regulatory information
• Plan, organize and complete multiple tasks and deal with changes in project timings and specifications
• Manage workload in line with the changing demands of the business
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• Able to communicate and negotiate effectively to achieve agreed objectives
• Excellent time management skills
• Adaptability / flexibility
• Management / mentoring
• Able to produce documents in Word, PowerPoint and Excel to an advanced standard, and in compliance with the appropriate style guide (e.g. OPEN Health Medical Communications, client or external publisher)

Travel Requirements

• As required by business needs