Scientific Director, Medical Communications

Job description

Accountabilities: Serve as the scientific lead for assigned client teams and ensure all content is evidence-based, medically accurate, editorially excellent, strategically aligned, appropriately referenced, and compliant with applicable industry and client standards. Write, review, and provide scientific direction and feedback on materials developed by Medical Writers, Editors, Graphic Artists, and other contributors. Analyze and interpret complex medical literature, clinical data, and scientific documents, while reviewing analyses and deliverables produced by junior team members. Partner with Strategic Account Directors to translate clients’ strategic, educational, and marketing objectives into effective scientific communication programs. Lead or support scientific discussions with clients, authors, key opinion leaders, and faculty, ensuring their input is effectively incorporated into content development. Manage, mentor, and develop Medical Writers, providing guidance, feedback, training, and support to maintain consistently high standards of scientific and editorial quality. Maintain deep and current knowledge of assigned therapeutic areas, including emerging research, competitor products, drugs in development, treatment approaches, and market dynamics. Attend relevant medical conferences and assess competitor activity, scientific developments, and market opportunities that may affect client products or communication strategies. Provide scientific and strategic guidance to Writers, Editors, and other team members throughout the content development lifecycle. Oversee regulatory review processes across assigned client teams, identify opportunities for consistency, and apply learnings to improve review workflows and content quality. Manage timelines, priorities, resources, and stakeholder expectations to ensure projects are delivered effectively and within demanding schedules. Participate in and help design advisory board meetings and other high-level scientific engagements. Support new business development through prospect discussions, capabilities presentations, pitches, project scoping, and strategic planning. Identify opportunities to expand existing client relationships and support the development of new business within relevant therapeutic areas. Partner with senior content leadership to define and maintain standards of excellence, improve content development processes, optimize team resources, and identify capability gaps. Help develop and deliver training programs for Writers and Editors to strengthen scientific, editorial, and communication capabilities. Contribute to continuous improvement across the broader content development function through process innovation, knowledge sharing, and effective resource planning. Travel as required for client meetings, medical conferences, advisory boards, internal collaboration, and other business needs. Requirements: Advanced degree in the life sciences, such as an MD, PhD, or PharmD, is required. Extensive professional experience in medical writing and scientific communications, with at least 2–3 years of experience within a medical communications agency. Demonstrated ability to develop, review, and guide a broad range of scientific and medical deliverables while maintaining exceptional accuracy, clarity, and strategic relevance. Strong experience interpreting complex medical literature and clinical information and translating it into accessible, compelling, and evidence-based communications. Proven ability to work directly with pharmaceutical or biotechnology clients, authors, thought leaders, and other senior stakeholders across therapeutic areas. Experience leading discovery, content strategy, scientific discussions, and quality-control processes throughout the development lifecycle. Strong people-management and mentoring capabilities, with the ability to develop writers and other scientific team members while maintaining high performance standards. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex scientific concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, including the ability to connect scientific evidence with client objectives and broader market dynamics. Exceptional time-management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, competing priorities, and demanding timelines. Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a multidisciplinary, collaborative team environment. Professional presence and interpersonal skills to build trusted relationships with clients, key opinion leaders, authors, and internal stakeholders. Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, Adobe Acrobat, and reference-management software such as EndNote. Demonstrated ability to stay current with evolving scientific evidence, therapeutic-area developments, competitive activity, and industry trends. Benefits: Competitive base salary range of $125,000–$155,000 USD, with final compensation determined by experience, skills, training, qualifications, and other applicable factors. Eligibility for a discretionary annual bonus. Health insurance and comprehensive employee benefits. Retirement savings benefits. Life insurance and disability benefits. Paid parental leave. Paid time off, including sick leave and vacation. Opportunity to work on impactful medical communications programs for leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology organizations. Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional development and scientific leadership. Opportunity to mentor and develop scientific and medical writing talent. Exposure to diverse therapeutic areas, scientific programs, clients, thought leaders, and emerging research. Opportunity to contribute to strategic initiatives, business development, and the evolution of medical communications standards and processes. How Jobgether works: We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team. We appreciate your interest and wish you the best! Why Apply Through Jobgether? Data Privacy Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time. #LI-CL1 This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Scientific Director, Medical Communications based in the United States. This is a senior scientific leadership role within a collaborative medical communications environment serving pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients.You will provide scientific and medical expertise across complex content programs, ensuring work is accurate, evidence-based, strategically aligned, and clinically meaningful.The role combines hands-on scientific leadership with mentorship, client engagement, quality oversight, and strategic consultation.You will work closely with account leaders, medical writers, editors, clients, authors, and key opinion leaders to translate complex science into compelling communications.You will also contribute to business development, advisory boards, regulatory review, and the continuous improvement of content development standards.Success requires strong scientific judgment, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced agency setting.The position offers an opportunity to influence high-impact medical communications while developing people, processes, client relationships, and new business opportunities.