Director, Scientific Services (RID00206)

Position Summary

The Director is a senior scientific leader with strategic ownership of one or more client accounts. This role leads integrated scientific communication and publication strategies, ensures excellence across deliverables, manages client relationships, and oversees the development of scientific teams. Serving as the primary scientific voice for clients, the Director aligns scientific strategy with business objectives, establishes quality standards, drives operational excellence, and mentors team members to deliver high-quality medical communications. With significant autonomy, the Director combines scientific expertise, strategic leadership, people management, and business partnership to support account growth and successful client outcomes.

Scientific & Strategic Leadership

• Lead scientific strategy for large, complex accounts.
• Develop and guide integrated publication and medical communication plans.
• Serve as the primary scientific advisor to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Align scientific recommendations with brand objectives and evidence needs.
• Establish scientific best practices and quality standards across teams.

Content Excellence

• Oversee development of manuscripts, congress materials, medical education, digital content, and MLR-reviewed assets.
• Ensure scientific accuracy, medical relevance, and adherence to client, journal, and industry guidelines.
• Lead scientific reviews and provide strategic direction on content quality.
• Support and defend materials through MLR review processes and resolve scientific challenges.

Client Partnership & Business Growth

• Lead scientific discussions, workshops, advisory boards, and training programs.
• Build trusted client relationships and represent the organization as a scientific expert.
• Contribute to proposals, pitches, scoping, forecasting, and business development activities.

People Leadership

• Manage and mentor a team of 3-5 writers and/or Associate Scientific Directors.
• Conduct performance reviews, establish development goals, and support career growth.
• Identify capability gaps and create training and development plans.

Operational Excellence

• Support resource planning, project scoping, and risk management.
• Contribute to recruitment and talent development efforts.
• Ensure compliance with internal processes, documentation standards, and quality systems.
• Drive continuous improvement of scientific workflows and team efficiencies.

Education

• Advanced degree preferred (PhD, PharmD, MD, MSc, or related scientific/healthcare field).
• Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.

Experience

• 6+ years of medical communications or medical writing experience.
• Experience leading complex accounts and multi-channel scientific communications programs.
• 2+ years of people management, coaching, and team leadership experience.

Skills

• Exceptional scientific writing, editing, and data interpretation skills.
• Deep understanding of publication standards, clinical research, and the regulatory environment.
• Strong client leadership, presentation, and facilitation capabilities.
• Experience supporting MLR review processes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and collaboration tools.
• Strong organizational, project management, and time-management skills.
  
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