AI Lead - Medical Communications

Albion Rye Associates; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading medical communications agency in the UK is seeking an AI Lead to shape and scale AI use within their operations. This senior role requires expertise in medical communications and AI to drive innovative, compliant solutions that enhance content and insights. The candidate will act as a bridge between medical expertise and technology, fostering a culture of responsible innovation while ensuring high quality standards. The position offers flexible working and competitive compensation.

Benefits

Flexible working

Competitive compensation

Investment in learning and development

Qualifications

• Proven ability to translate complex ideas into practical, compliant solutions.
• Comfort working in regulated environments.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the agency’s AI vision and roadmap, aligned with business goals.
• Work closely with medical writers to integrate AI tools into content development.
• Establish AI governance frameworks, ensuring responsible AI use.

Skills

Experience in medical communications, pharma, life sciences, or healthcare consulting

Strong understanding of AI / GenAI concepts and applications

Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills

Education

PhD, MD, PharmD, or life sciences degree (or equivalent experience)

Job description

AI Lead – Medical Communications

Location: Hybrid / Remote UK

Function: Digital, Innovation & Medical Strategy

About the role

We’re looking for an AI Lead to shape, embed, and scale the use of artificial intelligence across our Medical Communications agency. This is a senior, cross‑functional role focused on responsible, compliant, and value‑driven AI adoption that enhances medical content, insight generation, and agency operations.

You will act as the bridge between medical expertise, content teams, clients, and technology, ensuring AI is used thoughtfully to improve quality, speed, and impact, without compromising scientific integrity or compliance.

This role is not about building models from scratch, but about strategic leadership, use‑case development, governance, and enablement in a highly regulated environment.

Key responsibilities

AI strategy & leadership

• Define and own the agency’s AI vision and roadmap, aligned with business goals and regulatory expectations
• Identify high‑impact AI use cases across medical writing, scientific services, insights, and operations
• Act as the internal subject matter expert on AI in Med Comms

Medical & content enablement

• Work closely with medical writers, editors, and account teams to integrate AI tools into content development workflows
• Ensure AI supports (not replaces) scientific thinking, narrative development, and critical appraisal
• Develop best practices for AI‑assisted literature analysis, content drafting, data synthesis, and insight generation

Governance, compliance & risk

• Establish AI governance frameworks, including validation, auditability, data privacy, and documentation
• Partner with medical, legal, and compliance teams to ensure responsible AI use
• Stay ahead of evolving regulations, guidance, and client expectations around AI in healthcare communications

Client engagement

• Support client conversations around AI‑enabled solutions and innovation
• Help design compliant, AI‑supported deliverables where appropriate
• Contribute to pitches, proposals, and thought leadership

Change, training & adoption

• Lead AI training and upskilling across the agency
• Build confidence and capability among medical and non‑medical teams
• Champion a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and responsible innovation

About you

You don’t need to be a software engineer, but you do need to understand both AI capabilities and the realities of Med Comms.

Essential

• Experience in medical communications, pharma, life sciences, or healthcare consulting
• Strong understanding of AI / GenAI concepts and applications
• Proven ability to translate complex ideas into practical, compliant solutions
• Comfort working in regulated environments
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills

Desirable

• Experience leading digital, innovation, or transformation initiatives
• Exposure to AI governance, validation, or responsible AI frameworks
• Background in medical writing, scientific strategy, or healthcare data
• PhD, MD, PharmD, or life sciences degree (or equivalent experience)

What we offer

• A genuine opportunity to shape how AI is used responsibly in Med Comms
• High visibility role with senior leadership and global clients
• Collaborative, science‑led culture
• Flexible working and competitive compensation
• Investment in learning, development, and experimentation

Why this role matters

AI is transforming medical communications, but only when used thoughtfully, ethically, and with scientific rigor. This role ensures innovation enhances, rather than undermines, the quality and trust at the heart of what we do.