Analyst/Medical Writer - Medical Communications in Edinburgh

Please apply for one role at a time because assessment processes differ.

Role Summary

Responsibilities: You will work on medical communications projects that involve the detailed analysis and presentation of data from clinical trials, which are instrumental to the successful uptake of novel therapies.

Salary: £39,000 per annum. Please note that we have established salary bands that are determined by your level of educational attainment to ensure a fair and consistent approach for all applicants, eliminating the need for individual negotiations.

Benefits: Discretionary profit share bonuses paid twice per year, hybrid and flexible working options, generous holiday allowance, private medical insurance, critical illness cover, income protection, full funding for external training and more.

Role Type: Full-time, permanent.

Start Date: We are currently recruiting for start dates throughout 2026; you will be asked to state your availability on your application form.

Application Deadlines: Whilst there are no set application deadlines, we strongly recommend applying as early as possible. The role, or particular start dates, may close when suitable candidates are found.

Location: This role is available in our Global Headquarters in Cambridge, as well as our London, Manchester, Bristol and Edinburgh offices.

About the Role

Analysts and Medical Writers work on projects involving the detailed analysis of data from clinical trials and the assimilation and creative presentation of this analysis in different formats. These deliverables include posters, slide sets and peer-reviewed publications, and they are used directly by our clients in communication with a range of external stakeholders, making them instrumental to the successful uptake of novel therapies. The work is structured on a project-by-project basis and you will usually be working on several projects in different disease areas at any one time.

You will work in project teams alongside experienced colleagues, who provide one-to-one training in the technical aspects of the role, including project management and effective client communication. Delivering project work requires close collaboration with clients, and following a successful induction period you will increasingly participate in teleconferences and face-to-face meetings with external stakeholders.

Costello Medical is organised into service areas that each focus on specific medical communications and health economics services or serve distinct sectors of the healthcare industry. In this role, you'll join our Medical Communications service area, working specifically within our Medical Affairs or Publications teams. New team members who work solely on Publications projects will have the job title of Medical Writer, whilst all other new joiners will be called Analysts. When you start, you'll be allocated a "home" team based on factors such as your interests, skills, and current business needs.

Members of the Publications team collaborate closely with clients and leading opinion experts to create materials that clearly share important scientific and clinical findings with broad audiences. Your responsibilities include preparing abstracts, manuscripts, posters, and oral presentations for major international conferences, plus offering support during those events. You may also contribute to regulatory documents, plain language summaries, and publications related to policy topics. The role features personalised training covering technical skills such as best practices for publication and strategic planning. This position suits individuals eager to combine scientific writing with creativity to produce impactful projects for diverse clients.

Medical Affairs serves as a vital link between clinical development and commercial departments within pharmaceutical and device companies. With a strong focus on patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs), its core activities aim to educate, inform clinical decisions, enhance patient care, and collect insights that guide product development. As part of the Medical Affairs team, you'll engage directly with clients to communicate the scientific foundation behind products through diverse projects such as medical education events, advisory boards, and medical information resources. Collaboration with expert advisors and event speakers is essential, and supporting events on-site may offer international travel opportunities. In this role, you will further develop robust scientific, creative, and writing skills as well as gain in-depth knowledge of specific therapy areas. Effectively presenting complex scientific information to audiences with varying levels of expertise will be especially beneficial for success.

You may also have chances to collaborate with teams outside Medical Communications, like those in Health Policy, Rare Diseases or MedTech. If you are interested in these areas, please note your preferred teams on your application form.

Key responsibilities

• Conducting detailed analysis of clinical trial data and creating materials for different audiences in various formats.
• Close collaboration with clients, including participating in teleconferences and face-to-face meetings with external stakeholders.
• Supporting project management and client communication, alongside experienced colleagues.
• Working on several projects in different disease areas at any one time.
• Engaging with different teams within the company to develop a broad understanding of service offerings and clients.

Hybrid Working Policy

We believe that having face‐to‐face time in the office holds many benefits and is central to ensuring that the community we have created, where people have a workplace they belong to and feel part of, is never lost. At the same time, we recognise that homeworking can improve work life balance, reduce commuting times and costs, and provide the opportunity to juggle personal commitments. Therefore, we offer flexible working arrangements that allow our colleagues who have passed probation to work from home for up to half of the time, measured across a 2‐week rolling period. During your probationary period (normally the first 6 months of the role), you will be able to work from home for 1 day per week.

A Day in the Life of an Analyst or Medical Writer

To learn more about a typical day for an Analyst or Medical Writer at Costello Medical, please click here: Working At Costello Medical | Costello Medical.

About Costello Medical

Costello Medical is a rapidly growing global healthcare agency specialising in medical communications, market access and health economic and outcomes research. We work with a wide range of clients, including the industry's most successful pharmaceutical and medical technology companies, patient and public health bodies and charitable organisations. We have been listed on the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For list since 2017, as well as receiving B Corporation Accreditation in 2022.

Requirements

About You

• An undergraduate degree level qualification in a scientific discipline (minimum 2.1 or equivalent). Postgraduate qualifications (minimum 2.1 or equivalent) would be an advantage, but they are not a requirement for the role. We welcome applications from candidates with a diverse range of specialisms, including but not limited to biology, chemistry, pharmacy and medicine.
• An aptitude for, and experience of, planning and writing scientific documents, which could include lab reports, dissertations, poster or oral presentations, articles for websites or student magazines, peer‐reviewed scientific publications, book chapters, grant applications, and regulatory documents.
• A self‐motivated and enthusiastic approach, with a genuine interest in healthcare and an eagerness to learn and develop your skills.
• An exceptional level of attention to detail.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage your time to work across multiple projects at the same time and prioritise tasks appropriately to maximise productivity.
• Exceptional written English, which you will use in including client work, email communication and internal messaging.
• Effective verbal communication skills, which you will use when working with colleagues and clients.
• The ability to tailor your communication style to a variety of audiences, including healthcare professionals, patient groups, suppliers, clients, non‐scientific colleagues and governmental bodies.
• A proactive mindset, including the ability to recognise challenges and suggest solutions with limited guidance.
• A collaborative approach to working, where you share knowledge with others in your team to promote the attainment of a common objective, and work together to overcome obstacles to success.
• The self‐awareness to reflect on your own work and performance, alongside a willingness to take ownership of your work and the development of your career.
• A willingness to get involved with, and contribute to, your wider team.
• Embodying Costello Medical's values, which includes being committed to delivering quality work, championing innovation in healthcare, acting with integrity and supporting your colleagues as they would support you.
• Fluency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Joining Costello Medical from Academia

At Costello Medical, we warmly welcome applicants from academia who are looking to transition into a role within a commercial, industry‐based setting. We understand the unique perspectives and valuable skills that academic professionals bring to our team. To support your career change, we offer comprehensive training, mentorship programs, and a work culture that fosters collaboration, growth and innovation. We are committed to facilitating a smooth transition and helping you thrive in an industry‐based setting.

Benefits

What We Offer

• A starting salary of £39,000 per annum, as well as a discretionary profit share bonus paid twice per year.
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank and public holidays, as well as a holiday buy and sell scheme.
• Flexible working hours and the chance to work from home for up to half of your working time after passing probation.
• Flexible benefits scheme offering cash payments, additional pension contributions and more.
• Private Medical Insurance which offers comprehensive cover on a "medical history disregard" basis.
• Paid study leave and funding for external qualifications.
• Critical Illness Cover, Income Protection and Life Assurance.
• Paid and unpaid sabbaticals based on length of service.

The Application Process

You are required to submit your CV and a cover letter via our online application form. In your cover letter, you must explain why you think you would be suited to the role and why you would like to join Costello Medical, with examples to support both. Your CV should clearly state the dates of all qualifications and grades achieved where applicable.

Then, our recruitment process includes a proofreading and written assessment for you to complete in your own time. If successful, you will be invited to an interview which will include a short presentation you can prepare for in advance.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce and, throughout the recruitment process, there are a number of reasonable adjustments we can provide.

Visa Sponsorship

Due to the Skilled Worker visa regulations, you will only be eligible for visa sponsorship if you meet at least one of the following criteria:

• You are classified as a New Entrant. This means you are under the age of 26, currently studying in the UK or a recent graduate in the UK.
• You have a PhD in a STEM subject.
• You have a PhD in a subject that is relevant to the Analyst/Medical Writer role.

You will be asked to provide details of your right to work in the UK within your application, which will be used to help assess your eligibility for visa sponsorship.

Student to Graduate Visa

For current Student visa holders, in most cases you will be unable to join us in a permanent full‐time position until you have submitted your graduate visa application.