At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead scientific strategy and oversee high-quality content for major accounts in medical communications.
- Company: Join Red Nucleus, a globally recognised leader in life sciences communication.
- Benefits: Enjoy remote work flexibility, a supportive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values creativity, quality, and community.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare by advancing knowledge and improving lives.
- Qualifications: Advanced degree preferred; 6+ years in medical communications and leadership experience required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 ÂŁ per year.
Red Nucleus is hiring a Director, Scientific Services to join our global Medical Communications team! This role is remote based anywhere within the UK. Our purpose is advancing knowledge to improve lives. We succeed by being the premier provider of strategic learning and development, scientific advisory services, and medical communications solutions for the life sciences industry. Our global team is composed of nearly 900 full-time employees whose commitment to creativity, quality, and on-time delivery is unrivaled in our space. At Red Nucleus, we believe in providing a rich working environment that pushes us to innovate in ways that engages our employees to be their best selves. Our culture is about meaningful work, a true sense of community, and fun. We love to celebrate our people and we are proud to have been Internationally recognized as a “Great Place to Work”.
Position Overview: The Director, Scientific Services is a scientific leader accountable for full strategic ownership of one or more accounts. Directors lead scientific strategy, oversee content excellence at scale, and manage teams with autonomy. Compared with the AD, the Director owns end‑to‑end scientific strategy, leads larger and more complex accounts, manages multiple reports, and serves as the primary scientific voice to clients. The Director sets scientific standards across accounts, leads publication and communication strategies, mentors a team of writers/ASDs, and drives continuous improvement across workflows. Integrates strategic medical leadership, rigorous scientific review, and senior‑level client relationship management.
Core Responsibilities
- Scientific & Strategic Leadership: Lead one or more large/high‑complexity accounts; define and drive integrated medical/scientific communication strategies (publication planning, communications tactics). Serve as principal scientific contact for client stakeholders and clinical leads; align scientific strategy to brand priorities. Establish quality standards and best practices across assigned teams.
- Content Excellence & Review: Oversee high‑quality content across manuscripts, congress materials, training content, digital assets, and MLR‑regulated materials. Conduct detailed scientific reviews for accuracy, alignment, and stylistic consistency (AMA, client style guides, journal/congress guidelines). Ensure compliance with relevant industry standards (e.g. Good Publication Practices, International Committee of Medical Journal Editors guidelines, PhRMA guidelines). Lead/defend submissions in MLR systems; resolve scientific issues independently.
- Client Engagement & Growth: Lead scientific discussions, workshops, speaker trainings, and advisory boards; represent the organization externally. Provide scientific leadership in pitches and proposals; partner with Client Services on resourcing, scoping, and forecasting.
- People Leadership & Capability Development: Manage 3–5 direct reports (writers/ASDs); conduct performance evaluations, set goals, and guide career development. Identify training needs; create structured development plans to grow capability.
- Operational & Quality Governance: Contribute to scoping and resource planning for assigned projects; escalate risks proactively. Support recruitment efforts for on-team hires. Maintain strong version control, documentation discipline, and adherence to internal procedures. Optimize scientific workflows and processes to improve consistency and efficiency. Anticipate risks and complex issues; implement mitigation plans; share therapeutic/industry insights to elevate team knowledge.
Qualifications
- Education: Advanced degree in a scientific or healthcare‑related field preferred (eg, MSc, PhD, PharmD, MD). Candidates with a relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree plus extensive experience may be considered.
- Experience: ~6+ years’ medical communications/medical writing experience, including multi‑asset or multi‑account leadership and scientific team oversight. ~2+ years’ people management and coaching experience.
- Skills: Excellence in scientific writing, editing, data interpretation; mastery of publications standards when applicable. Strategic thinking and client leadership; expert facilitation and presentation skills. Strong understanding of clinical research and regulatory landscape; comfortable guiding MLR submissions. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, graphic and image generations software, and collaboration platforms. Strong organization/time‑management.
Work Environment & Travel: Remote/hybrid based on location; occasional overnight travel (up to ~20%).
Diversity, equity and inclusion are valued at Red Nucleus and we believe we have a shared responsibility to provide equal opportunity and foster an inclusive spirit. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, caste, sexual orientation, gender, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
To learn more about working at Red Nucleus, please visit Careers | Red Nucleus.
Scientific Director (Med Comms) employer: Red Nucleus
Contact Detail:
Red Nucleus Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Scientific Director (Med Comms)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. We can’t stress enough how important it is to make those personal connections that could lead to job opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their mission and values, especially since Red Nucleus focuses on advancing knowledge to improve lives. We want you to show them you’re not just a fit for the role, but for their team too!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate your experience and how it aligns with the role of Director, Scientific Services. We recommend rehearsing common interview questions and preparing examples that showcase your leadership and strategic thinking skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A simple thank-you email can go a long way in leaving a positive impression. We believe this shows your enthusiasm for the position and keeps you top of mind for the hiring team.
We think you need these skills to ace Scientific Director (Med Comms)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Scientific Director role. Highlight your relevant experience in medical communications and showcase how your skills align with our mission at Red Nucleus.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a Director, you'll be leading teams and managing complex accounts. Use your application to demonstrate your leadership experience and how you've successfully guided teams in the past.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured content that gets straight to the heart of your qualifications and experiences.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role without any hiccups!
How to prepare for a job interview at Red Nucleus
✨Know Your Science
As a Scientific Director, you'll need to demonstrate your expertise in medical communications and scientific strategy. Brush up on the latest trends in life sciences and be ready to discuss how you can apply this knowledge to drive integrated communication strategies.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
This role involves managing teams and leading accounts, so be prepared to share examples of your leadership experience. Highlight how you've mentored others, driven team performance, and navigated complex client relationships in your previous roles.
✨Prepare for Client Engagement Scenarios
Expect to engage in discussions about client needs and how you can meet them. Think of specific instances where you've successfully led workshops or advisory boards, and be ready to explain your approach to building strong client relationships.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
The interview will likely focus on your ability to think strategically about scientific communications. Prepare to discuss how you've developed and implemented successful publication plans or communication tactics in the past, and how you can bring that expertise to Red Nucleus.