Medical Writer II

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.; Remote; GBP 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading medical communications agency is seeking a Principal Medical Writer to oversee multiple projects and ensure high-quality deliverables. This remote position offers up to £80,000 for a 9-month contract and requires experience in medical communications, strong writing and mentoring skills, and the ability to maintain scientific integrity in outputs. Ideal candidates will possess a background in life sciences and demonstrate leadership abilities. The role includes coaching junior staff and managing complex projects, ensuring timely delivery and client satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Experience as a Senior Medical Writer in a medcomms or pharma environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and ensure high-quality outputs.
• Advanced understanding of medical terminology and ABPI Code of Practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead medical writing projects ensuring quality and accuracy.
• Provide strategic input and guidance to clients and stakeholders.
• Coach and mentor junior colleagues for professional growth.

Skills

Leadership of large projects

Coaching and mentoring skills

Strong writing and reviewing skills

Stakeholder relationship management

Proactive communication

Project management skills

Education

Graduate in life sciences

Higher degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Excel

Job description

As a Principal Medical Writer, you will take leadership of large projects/specific workstreams across a range of medical communications deliverables and will be responsible for the quality and scientific integrity of all outputs delivered by the team. You will also be pivotal in coaching and mentoring of MSS team members to foster therapy area, content delivery and medical communications environment expertise.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensuring that your work, and that of your team, is of high quality, scientifically accurate, appropriate to the target audience, across multiple different project types, and meets the client's needs and conforms to any industry guidelines.
• Serving as the lead scientific contact for your clients and experts, building key relationships with existing clients and stakeholders, and contributing to new business opportunities.
• Providing scientific support and guidance along with strategic input into accounts, actively seeking to add value and working closely with the account team to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget.
• Providing effective and proactive communication with team members within and across functions, clients, authors, faculty, and vendors.
• Providing content support and leading new business opportunities, such as proposals and presentations.
• Identifying and anticipating any problems or resource limitations that could jeopardise the delivery of projects on‑time, on‑budget or with sufficient quality.
• Providing accurate estimates of budgeted hours, and proactively informing Client Services colleagues when projects are at risk of going over budget or out of scope.
• Maintaining knowledge in relevant therapy areas, industry guidelines and best practices.
• Managing, motivating and inspiring the medical writing team to excel and to actively promote their individual growth and development.
• Coaching and mentoring of junior colleagues, and providing proactive feedback to relevant Line Managers.
• Contribution to the establishment of best practices across relevant accounts, to ensure the highest possible standards in content and client service, levels of consistency, efficiencies and cost‑effectiveness.
• Submission of accurate and timely timesheet records.

Line Management Responsibilities

• Provision of effective line management, supporting the career and personal development of assigned line reports.
• Ensuring all line reports undergo performance review and have appropriate objectives and development plans in place.
• Rapid addressing of under‑performance and initiation of active management plans to support individuals as required.

Senior Medical Writer (Home‑Based) – Key Points

• Fully remote 9‑month contract, up to £80,000 remuneration.
• Experience as a Senior Medical Writer in a medcomms, healthcare agency or pharma environment.
• Excellent writing and reviewing skills; strong coaching and mentoring skills; outstanding attention to detail; strong project, time and client management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to forge strong stakeholder relationships, take leadership of large, complex projects, and ensure the quality of outputs developed by others.
• Previous line management and/or mentoring experience essential.
• Experience across a broad range of medical communication activities.
• Ability to work independently, with minimal supervision.
• A flexible, proactive approach with the ability to multi‑task and adapt quickly to change, work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Advanced proficiency in Word, PowerPoint and Excel to an advanced standard, and in compliance with the appropriate style guide.
• Advanced understanding of the ABPI Code of Practice and thorough familiarity with AMA editorial style and medical terminology.
• Graduate in life sciences (ideally biomedical or related degree such as Pharmacy, Medicine), higher degree preferred.

Additional Context

• Role includes responsibilities for evidence synthesis, data communication and related content for a UK‑based, hybrid position.
• The company is a leading medical communications agency that values scientific integrity and professional growth.
• Health‑related specialties include clinical, regulatory, medical strategy, and education.