Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead medical operations and drive innovation in patient care across UK & Ireland.
- Company: Join a leading pharmaceutical company committed to medical excellence and patient impact.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership opportunities, and a chance to shape the future of healthcare.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in patient care while leading a high-performing team.
- Qualifications: Medical or pharmacy degree, significant experience in Medical Affairs, and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Embrace diversity and innovation in a collaborative work environment.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 ÂŁ per year.
Are you ready to step into a high-impact leadership role at the heart of UK & Ireland Medical Affairs, where you’ll shape strategy, elevate standards and influence the future of patient care. This is a rare opportunity to own end-to-end medical excellence – from Medical Information, RWE and clinical operations to governance, ABPI signatory strategy and omnichannel innovation. You’ll work side by side with senior country leadership, act as a trusted ambassador to key external stakeholders, and build a high-performing team that delivers outstanding science, compliance and business impact.
What You Will Do
- Lead operational excellence across UK & Ireland (UKI) Medical Affairs, partnering with the Country Medical Director and Medical Leadership Team to align with cross‑functional and regional business priorities and UK/Ireland regulatory frameworks.
- Own Medical Information and MAH/DPOC responsibilities, leading an industry‑leading medical information function that consistently meets and exceeds compliance obligations.
- Drive Real World Evidence and clinical operations (LDG and MISP), delivering integrated evidence plans, investigator initiated studies and innovative use of real‑world healthcare data on time and on budget.
- Lead medical modernisation and innovation (including omnichannel medical strategy), scaling new ways of working across UKI Medical Affairs with regional and cross‑functional partners.
- Oversee governance, training, process assurance and audit readiness, ensuring 100% compliance with ABPI, regulatory requirements and internal quality standards.
- Build and maintain a robust ABPI signatory model, ensuring high‑quality, compliant materials and activities and managing signatory training, validation and registration with PMCPA and MHRA.
- Shape and manage Medical Affairs budgets with disciplined planning, delivery and tracking, meeting financial forecasts within agreed variance.
- Provide strategic medical leadership for pipeline and new products, aligning therapy area, cross‑functional and UKI leadership teams to inform launch and lifecycle strategies.
- Act as a key external ambassador, ensuring UK decision‑makers have access to high‑quality, UK‑relevant scientific and clinical data, and engaging with life sciences, academia, professional bodies and government.
- Attract, develop and inspire talent, champion cross‑functional collaboration, role‑model integrity and ethical governance, and deputise for UK medical leadership when required.
What you will need
- Medical or pharmacy degree or PhD.
- Significant Medical Affairs industry experience (ideally >5 years) with a robust understanding and working knowledge of medical affairs excellence and operations and a clear demonstration of achievements, in the areas of Medical Information, Integrated Evidence Planning, Scientific Services and Medical Innovation and Omnichannel Strategy.
- Strong leadership experience in medical affairs with previous line management and an expertise in drive and build high performing teams, with a focus on developing and inspiring talent.
- A demonstration of understanding the identification, application and adoption of technologies and processes in the medical affairs and wider pharmaceutical and/or healthcare delivery environments.
- Understanding of the wider NHS environment and key opportunities for pharma and the NHS to partner effectively within the scope of GCP, regulations and the ABPI Code of Practice – with high level of knowledge of ABPI Code of Practice and a AQP or HCP final signatory.
We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively for the common good. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.
Required Skills
- Change Management
- Execution Excellence
- Leadership Alignment
- Management Process
- Medical Affairs
- Medical Care
- Medical Communications
- Professional Networking
- Results-Oriented
- Scientific Exchange
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Strategic Planning
- Strategic Thinking
Director of Medical Operations employer: MSD in the UK
Contact Detail:
MSD in the UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Medical Operations
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the medical affairs field. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their recent projects and challenges in the UK & Ireland medical landscape. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in making an impact.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate your experience and how it aligns with the role of Director of Medical Operations. Highlight your leadership skills and any innovative strategies you've implemented in the past. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. So, get that application in and let’s make some waves together!
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Medical Operations
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. Highlight your leadership experience and any relevant achievements in medical affairs to show us you’re the right fit for this high-impact role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about medical operations and how your background aligns with our mission. Be sure to mention any innovative strategies you've implemented in previous roles.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves building and leading high-performing teams, make sure to highlight your leadership style and any successful team projects you've managed. We want to see how you inspire and develop talent!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the quickest way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates during the process. Let’s get started!
How to prepare for a job interview at MSD in the UK
✨Know Your Medical Affairs Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid grasp of medical affairs, especially in the context of the UK and Ireland. Brush up on the ABPI Code of Practice and be ready to discuss how you've successfully navigated compliance and governance in your previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Director of Medical Operations, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership capabilities. Prepare examples of how you've built high-performing teams and inspired talent in your past positions. Be ready to discuss your approach to change management and how you've driven operational excellence.
✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions
This role involves shaping strategy and influencing patient care. Think about how you've contributed to strategic planning in your previous roles. Be prepared to discuss your experience with integrated evidence planning and how you've used real-world healthcare data to drive decisions.
✨Engage with External Stakeholders
You'll act as an ambassador to key external stakeholders, so it's crucial to show your networking skills. Prepare to talk about your experiences engaging with life sciences, academia, and government bodies. Highlight any successful collaborations that have led to impactful outcomes.
