Principal Medical Copywriter in Surrey, Thames Ditton

Havas Life London is not just evolving; we’re reimagining what a health and wellness agency can be. We’re building a destination for the brightest minds, the boldest ideas, and the kind of creativity that reshapes industries! We’re a collective of curious thinkers, courageous makers, and kind collaborators. The culture we’re building is fast, fearless, and future-facing - driven by a belief that creativity is the most powerful force for growth. We are vibrant collaborators, smart decision-makers, and believers in a win-or-learn mindset. Our emerging creative culture is built on curiosity, courage, and kindness. We expect more from ourselves and those who join our high-performance team.

As part of the Havas Health network, we’re pushing boundaries, embracing AI and emerging tech, and reimagining how strategic creativity can unlock new value for clients across the globe. Be the go-to creative strategic partner for our network colleagues and client partners alike.

The role

You will take ownership of complex, high-profile projects across a diverse range of medical communications deliverables, ensuring quality and scientific integrity in close partnership with Client Services. Beyond leading the generation of launch content, message architectures, and commercial narratives, you will play a pivotal role in our operational success. This includes line management and the active mentoring of the writing team to sharpen therapy area expertise, as well as strategic resource management to ensure excellence in content delivery. We are looking for a leader who is as invested in the development of our people and processes as they are in the quality of the work while keeping flexing their creative muscles.

Core Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop a deep, intuitive understanding of client portfolios, competitor dynamics, and therapy areas to provide high-level strategic counsel in an evolving market.
• Drive consistently elite medical writing quality across the agency, acting as the Technical Lead on complex, large-scale client projects.
• Stay ahead of industry codes and legislation, treating them not as barriers, but as the framework for smart, courageous decision-making.
• Serve as a cross-functional mentor, guiding junior writers across multiple accounts to elevate their scientific knowledge and delivery skills.
• Demonstrate sophisticated briefing and reviewing skills, actively evolving our quality control processes.
• Partner seamlessly with Client Services and the wider agency network to ensure every account objective is met with strategic precision.
• Lead prioritisation discussions and clearly communicate budget and schedule guidelines, ensuring the team is set up for success.
• Provide high-level strategic writing and authoritative presence for new business proposals and pitches.
• Proactively identify opportunities to expand existing accounts by demonstrating the value of our creative and scientific offering.
• Oversee the financial health of projects, contributing to specifications and cost estimates, monitoring budgets, and collaborating with Client Services on account plan forecasts.

You will bring

• Proven medical writing expertise from a healthcare communications agency, with a portfolio that spans the full spectrum of global health deliverables.
• A rare ability to translate complex science into compelling narratives, effortlessly tailoring your voice to resonate with diverse audiences.
• An in-depth understanding of the pharmaceutical landscape and its codes, using that knowledge to navigate challenges with a smart, decision-making mindset.
• Strong organisational and people skills necessary to lead a high-performance team, fostering a culture built on curiosity and kindness.
• Readiness to step beyond the page, embracing the challenge of resource management and project ownership as a key driver of our agency’s growth.