At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire editorial teams while driving scientific strategy and innovation.
- Company: Obsidian, a passionate healthcare agency transforming scientific communications.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, 25 days holiday, private healthcare, and comprehensive training programmes.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare by leading a dynamic team of experts.
- Qualifications: Degree in biological sciences and proven leadership in medical communications.
- Other info: Join a vibrant culture with regular social events and excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
About Us
At Obsidian, we’re passionate about transforming scientific communications to improve healthcare outcomes for everyone. As a specialist healthcare agency dedicated to medical and scientific communications, we partner with global healthcare organisations to share knowledge that truly makes a difference.
Our team of over 70 academic scientists, strategists, and communications experts deliver cutting-edge solutions across:
- Medical Affairs
- Strategic Consultancy
- Scientific Meetings and Events
- Medical Education
- Publications Planning & Delivery
- Creative & Digital Services
- Commercial Strategy
The Opportunity
Following significant growth in 2025, we’re excited to welcome a Scientific Business Unit Lead to join our leadership team. In this pivotal role, you’ll:
- Lead an editorial team of 10 and collaborate with a Business Unit Director to oversee a 20-person team
- Shape and develop scientific strategy across a diverse portfolio of accounts
- Drive editorial excellence and innovation across therapy areas such as hepatitis, HIV, oncology, rare diseases, nephrology, and haemophilia
- Be a member of the core management team
This is your chance to combine scientific expertise with strategic and commercially-focused leadership – helping us to deliver impactful solutions for clients worldwide.
What You’ll Do
- Lead and Inspire: Manage and mentor editorial teams, fostering growth and excellence across the business unit
- Strategic Client Partnering: Act as a trusted scientific advisor and ensure that all editorial outputs align with client strategy and industry standards
- Business Growth: Drive organic growth and new business
- Resource management: Ensures optimal editorial resource management within the Business Unit
- Financial Management: Have a sound understanding of the financial health across accounts and support the business forecasting
- Member of the Core Management Team: Acts as a role model within Obsidian, inputting into the driving of company-wide initiatives
- Culture Building: Create an environment of collaboration, innovation and customer service excellence
What We’re Looking For
- Ideally a degree in biological sciences (BSc/MSc/PhD or equivalent)
- Proven experience within medical communications agencies, ideally as a Scientific Services Unit Lead or equivalent
- Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with a track record of managing editorial teams
- Ability to deliver high-quality scientific content and strategic counsel
- Strong commercial acumen
What We Offer
- Hybrid working: Only 2 anchor days a week in the office from our vibrant London office (just off Fetter Lane, EC4).
- 25 days’ holiday + bank holidays, plus gifted days at Christmas and your birthday off
- AXA private healthcare (with family options), Aviva pension scheme, income protection, life assurance
- Enhanced parental leave, cycle-to-work scheme, season ticket loan
- Bonus schemes and employee referral rewards
- Learning and Development: Comprehensive training programmes, annual performance reviews, and opportunities to join working groups
- Well-being Support: EAP, mental health first-aiders, AXA well-being calendar, and a dedicated well-being room
- Social Connection: Regular social events and a friendly, collaborative culture
Ready to lead, inspire, and make an impact? Join us at Obsidian and help shape the future of scientific communications.
Scientific Business Unit Director - Medical Communications in England employer: Obsidian
Contact Detail:
Obsidian Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Scientific Business Unit Director - Medical Communications in England
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their values and how they align with your experience. This will help you stand out as someone who genuinely cares about making an impact in scientific communications.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to discuss how you've managed teams and driven growth in previous roles. Highlight specific examples that demonstrate your ability to inspire and mentor others.
✨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 joining our team at Obsidian.
We think you need these skills to ace Scientific Business Unit Director - Medical Communications in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for scientific communications shine through. We want to see how your passion aligns with our mission to improve healthcare outcomes.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Scientific Business Unit Director. Highlight your leadership experience and any relevant projects that showcase your ability to drive editorial excellence and innovation.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Be specific about your experience in medical communications and how you can contribute to our team’s success.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Obsidian
✨Know Your Science
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends and breakthroughs in medical communications, especially in areas like oncology and rare diseases. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show your expertise and passion for the field.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed and mentored teams in the past. Highlight specific instances where your leadership led to improved performance or innovative solutions, as this role requires strong leadership capabilities.
✨Understand the Business Side
Familiarise yourself with financial management principles relevant to the role. Be ready to discuss how you've driven business growth or managed resources effectively in previous positions, as this will demonstrate your commercial acumen.
✨Cultural Fit Matters
Research Obsidian's culture and values. Think about how you can contribute to a collaborative and innovative environment. During the interview, share your thoughts on building a positive team culture and how you’ve done this in your past roles.