Senior Scientific Specialist

Job Purpose: 
• Act as senior therapy area/content expert and lead the delivery of assigned programs/projects within account team, interacting directly with client and KOLs 
• Develop high-quality scientific content by means of all necessary research, scientific writing, editing, and fact checking, to meet deadlines while working within project scope and objectives. Applies to all formats of MedCom’s communication outputs 
• Acquire and maintain expert knowledge of relevant therapy areas, client products, and objectives
• Take ownership of assigned projects and programs and take independent action to resolve complex technical issues to ensure excellent project delivery 
• Work in partnership with Scientific Team Lead to ensure quality delivery, client satisfaction, and account growth 
• Liaise effectively with client and external authors/opinion leaders during the lifecycle of assigned projects or programs
 • Work directly on projects or provide expert guidance of projects/programs being undertaken by other team members 
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and direction within projects to ensure efficient delivery and highquality outputs 
• Comprehensive understanding of the organization’s service offerings and processes 
• Take prominent role in new business development activities

Key Accountabilities:

Accountability Supporting Activities Client Interaction /Relationship

• Act as senior content expert on assigned accounts/programs and proactively build client relationships and, in conjunction with Scientific Team Lead and Account Management, ensure client satisfaction and project profitability

• Identify complex technical and process challenges, and work in partnership with Scientific Team Lead to resolve problems/challenges

 • Be alert to opportunities to develop follow-on business, and, as a content expert, develop and endeavor to secure NBAs in conjunction with Account Management

• Actively communicate and manage changes in project scope

• Maintain high level of client satisfaction with all interactions and deliverables and, in partnership with Scientific Team Lead, provide strategic input in programs/projects

• Undertake discussions with client to actively manage timelines and expectations within assigned projects/programs, maintaining client satisfaction throughout, and negotiate confidently with client on these matters (except budgetary, where internal consultation is necessary)

Specialized Knowledge

• Demonstrate sufficient understanding of department’s service offerings in order to: o Ensure that discussions with client are informed, appropriate, and consistent with MedCom’s service offerings o Contribute to client solutions o Discuss opportunities or issues with account team leadership

• Be familiar and comply with all departmental procedures related to project delivery and tracking, promote adoption of these procedures by others, and recommend appropriate enhancements for efficiency

 • Develop and maintain expert knowledge of client products and therapy areas on assigned accounts, and be recognized and sought after for expertise by internal team, client, and opinion leaders, providing consultative support as needed. Provide strategic advice and guidance on programs/projects (in partnership with Scientific Team Lead and Scientific Strategy Advisor)

• Develop and maintain in-depth knowledge of relevant industry guidelines (e.g., Good Publications Practice); apply these to assigned projects and promote adherence by others

• Identify technical or process issues that are relevant to project delivery, and work with other team members to initiate appropriate actions

 • Creatively and proactively apply specialist knowledge when working as part of a proposal and pitch development team, taking prominent role in pitch presentations as needed

 • Share expertise proactively via one-to-one mentoring or via participation in formal training initiatives

Project Execution and Success

• Undertake writing and editing to develop high-quality scientific content

• Prioritize own work and manage project schedule to meet delivery deadlines

• Be familiar with and work within project scope (specification and budget hours) and objectives. Monitor project progress, scope changes, and own hours sufficiently to flag changes in scope to project lead, and proceed accordingly

• Interpret scientific data accurately and appropriately

• Maintain familiarity with client objectives and messages and produce outputs consistent with these

• Undertake necessary research on topics relevant to assigned projects and maintain familiarity with available information sources

• Liaise with all opinion leaders/authors or other external parties in such a way as to foster strong and positive relationships and to ensure project success

 • Identify issues that may affect project delivery and take independent action and liaise effectively with Scientific Team Lead and other team members, as appropriate, to resolve project issues

 • Follow up on all assigned actions and proactively communicate status

• When providing expert mentoring and coaching to other team members, make appropriate judgments on level of guidance and intervention required to aid others in their development as well as ensure successful project completion

• Maintain familiarity with, and adhere to, departmental SOPs (those related to quality control and all others), as well as propose enhancements and participate in implementation of these

• Seek opportunities to maximize project efficiency, identify and champion change to advance team performance in conjunction with account team leadership and colleagues

• Provide expert guidance to other team members on technical or process issues as necessary

 • Communicate effectively and sensitively with team members across all functions

• Participate in or lead project discussions and meetings and contribute proactively

• Develop creative and innovative ways to meet clients’ communication objectives

• Effectively and comprehensively brief other team members or freelance contributors, as directed

• Provide expert review of others’ work (in-house team members or freelance contributors)

• Use project experience to participate, as directed, in the development of accurate budgets

Skills:

• Advanced computer and Internet skills, including knowledge of MS applications such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel

• Advanced oral and written communication skills

• Advanced problem-solving skills

Technical expertise:

• Ability to acquire and apply specialized therapy area knowledge rapidly

• Good breadth of therapy area knowledge

• Ability to interpret and organize highly complex scientific data

• Ability to understand and implement marketing messages

• Scientific writing competency

• Proofreading and copyediting skills

• Ability to quality control check own output according to editorial SOPs, and review and QC work from other team members

• Effective project management skills

• Effective interpersonal skills and relationship-building competency

• Ability to lead projects and programs

• Strong client focus

• Ability to interact professionally within a client organization

• Ability to prioritize work and define steps needed to achieve specified project outcomes

• Ability to successfully manage assignments on time with high quality

• Strong presentation skills

• Strong mentoring skills

• Willingness to undertake continuous professional learning and development

• Willingness to work in a matrix environment and to value the importance of teamwork

• Proficient use of the English language

Knowledge and Experience:

• 8-12 years prior experience preferred in a similar role within a medical communications agency environment

Education:

• Degree and a higher degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, or Medicine (BSc, BA, PharmD, PhD, MD)