At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic scientific communications and foster client partnerships in healthcare.
- Company: Join Havas Lynx, a global leader in healthcare communications with over 35 years of experience.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, generous holiday allowance, and extensive learning support.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare while collaborating with innovative teams.
- Qualifications: Advanced degree in life sciences and 10+ years in medical communications required.
- Other info: This role is based in Manchester with a vibrant team culture.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 100000 £ per year.
Are you passionate about creating communications that not only informs but also transform lives within the healthcare sector?
At Havas Lynx, a global agency at the forefront of healthcare communications, we combine unmatched creativity, extensive expertise, and a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical and healthcare field with excellence in scientific knowledge and patient understanding . Our communications resonate deeply with audiences and adhere to the highest standards of healthcare advertising.
Committed to driving meaningful change—a change built on a foundation of rich experience, inspired by innovation, and confirmed through our proven track record—we work in close partnership with healthcare professionals, patients, carers, and leading pharmaceutical brands to navigate the complex challenges of today\’s healthcare landscape. Our approach blends strategic insights and deep scientific acumen with cutting-edge creativity and digital innovation, crafting campaigns and solutions that significantly improve people\’s lives.
We’re a team of over 400+ people in Manchester and London, with a history spanning over 35 years and an ever-evolving future. You can get a feel for the #LYNXLife through our YouTube #LYNXLife playlist, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Everything this company achieves—every life it saves, every penny it makes, every policy it changes, every award it wins—is down to everyone who works here.
Please note that this role is based in Manchester in our medical communications team, and our current hybrid working arrangement requires office attendance on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
Our Role:
We are seeking an exceptional and visionary Scientific Strategic Lead to join our med comms agency team. This pivotal role is designed for a highly experienced individual who can combine the key skills of scientific rigor, strategic insight and client partnership. Reporting directly to senior leadership (e.g. MD), the Scientific Strategic Lead will sit above and seamlessly integrate our medical and strategic planning teams, providing an overarching scientific and strategic vision. This individual will be instrumental in fostering deep, long-term pharmaceutical client partnerships by leveraging a profound understanding of scientific data, brand objectives, the evolving therapeutic landscape, and the holistic business needs of our clients.
What you can expect to be doing:
- Provide high-level scientific and strategic direction across multiple accounts, ensuring alignment between medical content, strategic objectives, and client business goals.
- Act as a unifying force, guiding and empowering both medical and strategy teams to collaborate effectively, fostering a cohesive and innovative approach to client challenges.
- Develop and champion innovative scientific communication strategies that translate complex data into compelling and actionable narratives for diverse audiences.
- Cultivate and expand strategic relationships with senior pharmaceutical clients, acting as a trusted advisor who understands their commercial imperatives, product pipelines, and long-term vision.
- Proactively identify client needs and opportunities for growth, developing bespoke solutions that drive value and enhance partnership longevity.
- Lead strategic discussions and workshops with clients, translating their business challenges into clear medical communications objectives.
- Possess a deep, nuanced understanding of scientific data across various therapeutic areas, clinical development phases, and regulatory environments.
- Demonstrate acute awareness of the pharmaceutical market landscape, competitive dynamics, emerging trends, and the lifecycle management of brands.
- Possess a deep, nuanced understanding of scientific data across various therapeutic areas, clinical development phases, and regulatory environments.
- Demonstrate acute awareness of the pharmaceutical market landscape, competitive dynamics, emerging trends, and the lifecycle management of brands.
- Possess a deep, nuanced understanding of scientific data across various therapeutic areas, clinical development phases, and regulatory environments.
- Demonstrate acute awareness of the pharmaceutical market landscape, competitive dynamics, emerging trends, and the lifecycle management of brands.
This role could be a great fit for you if you have:
- Advanced degree in a life science discipline (PhD, PharmD, MD highly preferred).
- Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in medical communications, with a significant portion in a strategic leadership or client-facing role within an agency setting. This is a pivitol need for the role due to this being a new area of the business. We cannot consider applicants from a non agency background
- Proven ability to develop sophisticated, insight-driven strategies that address complex pharmaceutical client challenges and achieve measurable outcomes.
- Exceptional ability to interpret, synthesize, and communicate complex scientific and clinical data across a range of therapeutic areas.
- Demonstrated success in building and nurturing senior-level client relationships, with a strong understanding of pharmaceutical business drivers and commercial objectives.
- Outstanding leadership skills with the ability to inspire, guide, and integrate multi-disciplinary teams. Strong influencing and negotiation skills.
What you can expect from us
A supportive and challenging environment in which you will have the opportunity to learn, grow, and make an impact that matters. We put a huge investment into #LYNXLife and our #LXAcademy internal programmes. It’s a unique initiative that aims to reward hard work, reduce pressures, and ensure that we can all enjoy our time at Lynx. Our strategy is to build capabilities internally and inspire the best talent, so we can continue to deliver on our mission.
You can also expect a whole host of benefits, including:
- Hybrid Working – 3 days in the office (flexible working options are available for in-office days)
- Starting holiday allowance of 28 days annual leave + Bank Holidays, with increasing allowance connected to length of service
- Option to buy, carry or sell holidays
- Early Friday finish throughout the year
- Seasonal working hours
- Enhanced family leave, pay and return to work benefit scheme
- Extensive L&D support
- Sabbatical opportunities
- Season ticket interest free loans for travel
- Cycle to work scheme
- Life insurance (4x salary)
- Company pension scheme
- Fully compensated company events
- Volunteer days
- Wellbeing programme including sports clubs, discounted gym memberships, free onsite flu vaccinations, extended lunch breaks on Wellness Wednesdays and much more
- +Medicash healthcare benefit
- 24/7 access to a free, confidential and independent Employee Assistance Programme
Get in touch to find out how we can make an impact that matters together.
Locations
Strategic Science Director employer: Havas Lynx
Contact Detail:
Havas Lynx Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Science Director
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in healthcare communications and pharmaceutical marketing. Understanding the current landscape will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews and demonstrate your expertise.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the medical communications field, especially those who have experience in strategic roles. Attend industry events or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and learn about their experiences at agencies like Havas Lynx.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific case studies where you've successfully developed and implemented scientific communication strategies. Highlighting your past achievements will showcase your ability to drive results and align with client objectives.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Havas Lynx's recent campaigns and initiatives. Being knowledgeable about their work will not only impress your interviewers but also allow you to tailor your responses to align with their values and mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Science Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in medical communications and strategic leadership. Emphasise your advanced degree and any specific projects that showcase your ability to interpret complex scientific data.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for healthcare communications and how your background aligns with the role. Mention specific examples of how you've successfully built client relationships and developed innovative strategies.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Highlight instances where you've led multi-disciplinary teams or strategic discussions. This is crucial for demonstrating your ability to inspire and guide others, which is a key requirement for the role.
Research Havas Lynx: Familiarise yourself with Havas Lynx's work and values. Understanding their approach to healthcare communications will help you tailor your application and show how you can contribute to their mission.
How to prepare for a job interview at Havas Lynx
✨Showcase Your Scientific Expertise
As a Strategic Science Director, it's crucial to demonstrate your deep understanding of scientific data and its application in healthcare communications. Be prepared to discuss specific examples where you've successfully translated complex scientific concepts into actionable strategies.
✨Highlight Client Relationship Skills
This role requires exceptional client partnership abilities. Share experiences where you've built and nurtured relationships with senior pharmaceutical clients, focusing on how you understood their business needs and provided tailored solutions.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
Prepare to discuss your approach to developing insight-driven strategies that address complex challenges. Use examples from your past roles to illustrate how your strategic insights have led to measurable outcomes for clients.
✨Emphasise Leadership and Team Collaboration
The ability to inspire and guide multi-disciplinary teams is key. Be ready to talk about your leadership style and provide examples of how you've fostered collaboration between medical and strategic teams to achieve common goals.