Lead Medical Writer

Avalere Health; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension contribution

Life insurance

Income protection

Private medical insurance

Flexible hybrid working

Work from anywhere across the globe 2×

25 days annual leave

2 personal well-being days

End-of-year holidays

Job summary

Avalere Health is seeking a Lead Medical Writer to own high-quality scientific content across Medical Communications projects. You’ll lead multiple accounts, guide writers, manage content allocation and ensure editorial excellence from planning to final review.

You’ll develop client presentations, oversee outputs to meet deadlines, and contribute to strategic client interactions while maintaining quality standards across challenging projects.

Qualifications

• Degree in a scientific or related field (advanced degree preferred).
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in medical or scientific writing.
• Experience managing multiple publications and editorial content.
• Proven leadership and mentoring to junior writers.
• Strong client communication and relationship management.
• Familiarity with regulatory guidelines for medical communications.

Responsibilities

• Act as a lead writer and client contact for assigned accounts.
• Develop content with project team ensuring editorial quality.
• Communicate with editorial, client, vendor and project teams to meet timelines and budget.
• Provide guidance to junior writers.
• Provide scientific oversight for large/complex projects.
• Drive project delivery and champion processes.
• Support business development for new medical communications projects.
• Represent Avalere Health in client meetings and advisory boards.

Skills

Medical writing

Editorial leadership

Client communication

Project management

Mentoring juniors

Education

Bachelor's or higher in a scientific field

Job description

About Avalere Health

United by one profound purpose: to reach EVERY PATIENT POSSIBLE. At Avalere Health, we ensure every patient is identified, treated, supported, and cared for. Equally. Our Advisory, Medical, and Marketing teams come together – powerfully and intentionally – to forge unconventional connections, building a future where healthcare is not a barrier and no patient is left behind.

Achieving our mission starts with providing enriching, purpose-driven careers for our team that empower them to make a tangible impact on patient lives. We are committed to creating a culture where our employees are empowered to bring their whole selves to work and tap into the power of diverse backgrounds and skillsets to play a part in making a difference for every patient, everywhere.

Our flexible approach to working allows our global teams to decide where they want to work, whether in-office or at home based on team and client need. Major city hubs in London, Manchester, Washington, D.C., and New York, and smaller offices globally, serve as collaboration hubs allowing our teams to come together when it matters. Homeworkers are equally supported, with dedicated social opportunities and resources.

Our inclusive culture is at the heart of everything we do. We proudly support our employees in bringing their whole selves to work with our six Employee Network Groups – Diverse Ability, Family, Gender, LGBTQ+, Mental Health, and Race/Ethnicity. These groups provide opportunities to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion and to connect, learn, and socialise through regular meetings and programs of activity. We are an accredited Fertility Friendly employer with our Fertility Policy, enhanced parental leave, and culture of flexibility ensuring every employee feels supported across their family planning journey and can work in a way that suits their family’s needs.

We are deeply invested in supporting professional growth for our employees through day-to-day career experiences, access to thousands of on-demand training sessions, regular career conversations, and the opportunity for global, cross-capability career moves.

Location

Flexible, ideally based within a commutable distance to one of our key UK hubs; Manchester, London, Brighton.

About The Role

As a Lead Medical Writer, you will take ownership of delivering high-quality, scientifically accurate content across a range of customised Medical Communications projects. You’ll lead multiple accounts, ensuring editorial excellence from initial planning through to final review. You will guide and support writers, manage content allocation, and contribute to strategic client interactions. You’ll also develop compelling client presentations and oversee all editorial outputs to ensure they meet agreed timelines and deliverables. Your expertise will be key to maintaining quality standards and driving successful outcomes for our clients.

What you’ll do

• Act as a lead writer and client contact for assigned accounts
• Develop content, working closely with your assigned project team to ensure quality editorial implementation of all assigned-client programs
• Effectively and proactively communicate with the editorial, client, vendor and project teams to ensure projects are completed on time and budget
• Briefing, reviewing, guidance and direction to less experienced writers in account team
• Provide high-quality scientific oversight for assigned large/complex projects or a workstream
• Drive project delivery and champions processes both internal and external (including compliance)
• Provide business development support, investigate, conceptualise, and strategize new medical communications projects and publications to support the assigned-clients needs and opportunities
• Represent Avalere Health at client meetings, advisory boards, speaker-training meetings, business development initiatives

About you

• Degree in a scientific or related field (advanced degree preferred).
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in medical or scientific writing, preferably within a healthcare consultancy or medical communications agency.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a variety of scientific content types, including high volume publications, and review content for accuracy and flow.
• Proven experience in project ownership and problem-solving, with the ability to work proactively in a collaborative team environment.
• Strong client communication skills and the ability to serve as a reliable point of contact for clients and external experts.
• Proven ability to provide leadership and mentoring to junior writers.
• Experience managing client relationships and serving as a key point of contact.
• Familiarity with compliance and regulatory guidelines for medical communications.

What we can offer

You’ll receive up to a 7% pension contribution, life insurance, income protection, and private medical insurance for peace of mind. Enjoy flexible working arrangements, including flexible hybrid working, along with the option to work from anywhere across the globe two weeks each year. We provide 25 days of annual leave plus two personal well-being days, along with gifted end-of-year holidays and an early Summer Friday finish in June, July, and August.

Access free counselling through our employee assistance program, as well as personalized health support. Enhanced maternity, paternity, family leave, and fertility policies provide support across every stage of your family-planning journey, as well as on-demand support from our partner Peppy. You can also benefit from continuous opportunities to professionally develop with on-demand training, support, and global mobility opportunities across the business.