Scientific Director in Manchester

Healthcare Consultancy Group (HCG) is the global healthcare communications partner for pharma and biotech, accelerating the impact of medical science. We boldly define the healthcare communications landscape at the convergence of people, purpose, science and technology, driving the impact that pharma needs to realise the promise of innovative medicines.

About The Role

The Scientific Director is responsible for managing client business and relationships and working in partnership with senior client service team members to drive business forward through business development, strategic direction, financial and resource management, and performance. The role includes high-level leadership internally and externally, providing specific therapeutic knowledge to build effective partnerships, driving continual innovation and process development, building capability and strategic thinking within the scientific services function, and leading the professional development of their own team.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Delivery
  • Support senior leaders, take lead on multi-writer projects, assist with resourcing and scientific communications review.
  • Demonstrate a high degree of scientific and commercial knowledge and insights across all activities, guiding others to develop this skill.
  • Oversee content on a wide range of complex projects across multiple teams and therapy areas.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in reviewing scientific content, helping to guide others to develop this skill.
  • Consistently produce client-ready deliverables across a wide range of projects.
  • Ensure full compliance with internal processes and lead adherence to best practices, setting an example for junior team members.
  • Provide feedback on scientific components of budget development.
  • Identify and communicate important updates and any medical/regulatory milestones to the team, linking with potential new business opportunities where applicable.
  • Enter time and submit expenses by deadlines using appropriate job codes.
• Strategic Mindset
  • Act as scientific lead on assigned accounts, providing strategic direction and scientific leadership.
  • Demonstrate a high degree of scientific knowledge and commercial insight across all activities.
  • Partner with client services teams in strategic planning activities and account/issues management.
  • Communicate complex therapeutic and scientific concepts to colleagues, clients and external experts, adapting language and content appropriately.
  • Demonstrate leadership to deliver the highest possible standards in scientific excellence throughout the entire project process.
  • Maintain an effective overview of the ‘bigger picture’ while focusing on account and agency detail.
• Business Development
  • Participate in business development initiatives with existing and potential clients, collaborating with the business development team to develop proposals and pitches.
  • Work collaboratively across departments to cross-sell services, demonstrating an excellent understanding of the client’s business strategy.
  • Identify opportunities for account growth and cross-selling through a thorough understanding of business offerings.
• Collaboration and Building Relationships
  • Establish, maintain and lead scientific relationships/communications with clients, medical experts and third parties, supporting junior team members to develop these skills.
  • Lead collaborative work between Synergy and client teams/medical experts to moderate and facilitate activities.
• Builds Effective Teams
  • Share in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical industry standards across multiple teams and therapy areas, staying up to date on latest industry developments.
  • Guide decision-making and provide insight into writing styles, content inclusion and data interpretation.
  • Oversee the work of junior scientific service colleagues, delegating responsibilities and tasks to provide experience, growth and knowledge transfer.
  • Provide clear, constructive and actionable feedback to junior staff on a regular basis, and to peers when required.
  • Help guide junior team members in their strategic development by explaining how to incorporate strategic concepts into projects.
  • Provide effective line management, supervising and supporting your team to achieve their objectives.
  • Partner with HR to identify and proactively address performance management issues.
  • Own responsibility for the account team’s understanding of the therapy areas they work on.
  • Develop and deliver group presentations, or one-to-one/small-group coaching sessions where appropriate.
  • Seek feedback from team members across all levels and implement learnings proactively.
  • Pursue personal development opportunities, maximising exposure to new experiences and training needs.
  • Undertake tasks outside the specific job description where business reasons require it.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Educated to degree level in a relevant science subject or have 6+ years of experience writing in a medical communications agency or similar environment.
• Experience in independently writing across a range of medical communications media.
• Previous line-management experience.
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office programmes (e.g. PowerPoint, Excel, etc.).
• Excellent command of the English language in both written and verbal communications.

Desirable

• Previous experience in a medical communications agency or industry.
• Keen interest in working and developing scientific expertise across a range of therapy areas.
• Previous business-development experience, including live pitch participation.
• Ability to travel.

Equal Opportunity Statement

HCG is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any category or class of person protected by law. If there is anything in this ad that appeals to you, but your experience doesn’t match the criteria, please get in touch with us anyway as we’d love to hear from you. We will process your personal data in accordance with our Recruitment Privacy Notice.