Junior Medical Writer in Edinburgh

At Real Chemistry, making the world a healthier place isn’t just an aspiration—it’s our everyday reality. Our drive to transform healthcare is informed by our blend of deep scientific expertise, human‑centred creativity, and AI‑driven insights, fostering a unique environment where innovation thrives and our people are impact‑obsessed. As a global agency, we provide a full suite of services across healthcare communications and marketing to our clients, including top players in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
Our #LifeatRealChem culture is rooted in our people—we believe we are best together and are committed to excellence for both our clients and colleagues. Whether you\’re a seasoned professional or just starting your career, if you share our passion for healthcare and connection, we invite you to explore our opportunities.
Discover your purpose. Embrace innovation. Experience #LifeatRealChem.
Junior Medical Writer (JMW)
We’re looking for curious scientists ready to take their first step into medical writing through Elements, our development programme designed to turn talented scientists into confident, high‑impact medical writers. You’ll learn how to deliver excellent medical content, developing the scientific, strategic, writing, quality, and AI skills needed to build a long‑term career in medical communications.
Elements combines hands‑on project experience, structured learning, coaching and feedback to give you a clear pathway to grow. If you’re curious, ambitious, and excited by turning science into compelling communications, this role is for you.
Key Responsibilities
Scientific knowledge:
Uses a range of resources and AI tools to learn about therapy area and the underlying science, and demonstrates this knowledge in assigned tasks, with support
Demonstrates thorough understanding of statistical methods and strong data analysis skills in assigned tasks, with support
Applies critical judgement to verify AI outputs against primary sources, with support
Strategic knowledge:
Actively interrogates briefs for assigned tasks, asking questions, and confirming understanding, with support
Uses a range of resources and AI tools, and asks questions to learn about the client’s strategic objectives and medical affairs/commercial contexts (landscape and competitors) for assigned tasks, and demonstrates awareness of these in written work, with support
Writing and editorial:
Develops content to meet client communication objectives on assigned tasks, with support
Uses clear, concise and accurate writing style with appropriate language (e.g., no comparisons, no unverified claims etc.) in assigned tasks, with support
Adapts writing style to suit different audiences (e.g. primary and secondary care physicians, nurses or patients) in assigned tasks, with support
Structures and writes content for assigned tasks, with support
Uses PPT, Word, and Excel to efficiently create scientific content with storytelling impact for assigned tasks, with support
Uses AI tools to support quality control processes
Quality control:
Ensures that all content is accurately and fully referenced for assigned tasks and a reference pack is prepared, with support
Conducts data checking and proofreading for assigned projects, with a keen eye for detail and adhering to quality control processes, with support
Accurately and efficiently adds reference tags to materials within VVPM, with support
Understands the ABPI code and good practice/industry guidelines, and ensures that all content for assigned tasks is adherent, with support
Uses AI tools to support quality control processes, with support
Takes ownership of executing assigned tasks to deliver high‑quality content within agreed timeframes, with support
Critically reviews and corrects their own work before passing to others
Proactively seeks support when needed
Flags potential barriers (queries and problems) to successful task completion to team members at the earliest stage and suggests solutions, with support
Adheres to hours, timelines, budgets, and briefs for a task, proactively seeking clarification when needed and flagging out‑of‑scope changes.
Prioritises tasks according to timelines, deadlines, and availability of key people (reviewers), and provides timely and accurate communication to the team on status
Completes timesheets and expense claims accurately and on time
Uses AI tools to support efficient task delivery, with support
Responds promptly and appropriately to client requests for assigned tasks, with support
Contributes to scientific discussions during meetings with clients, with support
May go on‑site to support project delivery
Uses AI tools to support client interactions, with support
Business growth and new business:
Contributes to assigned tasks to support