At Obsidian, we’re passionate about transforming scientific communications to improve healthcare outcomes for everyone. As a specialist healthcare agency, dedicated to medical & scientific communications, we partner with global healthcare organisations to share knowledge that truly makes a difference.
Our team of >60 academic scientists, strategists, and communications experts deliver cutting-edge solutions across:
- Medical Affairs
- Strategic Consultancy
- Scientific Meetings and Events
- Medical Education
- Publications Planning and Delivery
The Opportunity
This is an exciting opportunity for an accomplished Senior Scientific Director to join one of our thriving Business Units on a structured development pathway to Scientific Business Unit Lead (SBUL). You’ll take on the full responsibilities of a Senior Scientific Director from day one and, over a dedicated 6-month development programme, grow into leading the scientific side of the whole Business Unit. As a Senior Scientific Director (SSD), you will:
- Lead strategic direction and scientific excellence of designated accounts providing senior counsel to clients and internal teams with minimal oversight
- Lead the editorial team across your accounts, including longer‑term resource and recruitment planning.
- Act as a valued partner to clients and medical experts, leading liaison on scientific content and its strategic implications.
- Nurture and develop writers of all levels, coaching junior line managers and helping to design and deliver training.
- Partner with client services to grow your accounts, spotting organic growth opportunities and driving the scientific development of proposals and pitches.
Your Pathway to Business Unit Co-Leadership
Your 6-month programme is jointly mentored by our Director of Scientific Services and the Business Unit Director, with monthly check-ins. You’ll build experience across six areas:
- Business Unit leadership and decision‑making – operating with a Business Unit‑wide mindset as a leadership partner to the Business Unit Director.
- Resourcing and capacity planning – taking ownership of capacity and allocation decisions across all Business Unit accounts and anticipating capacity gaps and making recruitment and succession recommendations.
- Financial and commercial awareness – understanding Business Unit and wider agency financial targets and the editorial drivers of performance.
- New business strategy and growth – leading the scientific/strategic element of new business proposals and pitches, and organic growth proposals.
- People leadership and team development – building a team‑wide view of strengths, development needs and succession.
Promotion to SBUL is considered at the 6-month review. As an SBUL, you’ll be the scientific half of the Business Unit leadership partnership: responsible for editorial output across the team, lead scientific and editorial counsel for our clients, and a member of our Core Management Team (CMT), acting as senior counsel and a role model across Obsidian.
What You’ll Do
- Lead the editorial, scientific and strategic development of projects, owning the overall editorial output of your accounts.
- Shape and refine account strategy, monitoring market changes and ensuring every project is strategically aligned and scientifically accurate.
- Build trusted, long‑term partnerships with key clients and medical experts.
- Line manage, coach and mentor your team, ensuring new starters are onboarded effectively.
- Master budgets and resourcing, taking a long‑term view of workload and keeping projects on time and profitable.
- Champion compliance and process, recommending improvements that raise quality and efficiency.
- Spot growth opportunities and drive the scientific development of standout pitches and proposals.
- Step up progressively into Business Unit‑wide leadership across resourcing, finances, growth and people.
What We’re Looking For
- Ideally a degree in biological sciences (BSc/MSc/PhD or equivalent).
- Proven experience leading a wide variety of editorial projects to time and budget within medical communications agencies, ideally as a Senior Scientific Director or equivalent.
- Line management experience is essential.
- Experience of leading multiple teams, directing client strategy or acting as lead scientific counsel across several accounts is desirable.
- Ability to deliver high‑quality scientific content and strategic counsel with autonomy and accountability.
- Strong commercial awareness and a clear ambition to move into Business Unit leadership.
- Willingness to travel in the UK and overseas in line with business needs.
What We Offer
- Flexible and hybrid working environment, with opportunities to collaborate from our London office.
- 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.
- Wellbeing Support: EAP, mental health first aiders, AXA wellbeing calendar, and a dedicated wellbeing room.
- Social Connection: Regular social events, and a friendly, collaborative culture.
Ready to take the next step into Business Unit leadership?
Join us at Obsidian and help shape the future of scientific communications.
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Senior Scientific Director (SBUL Development Pathway) – Medical Communications employer: Obsidian
Obsidian is an exceptional employer located in the vibrant Greater London area, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration among experts in the field. Employees benefit from a fast-start program with opportunities for growth and extension, alongside a commitment to quality in AI model training that makes a meaningful impact in genomics. With a focus on professional development and a supportive environment, Obsidian is dedicated to empowering its team members to excel in their careers.
