Scientific Director NXG UK

MedComms Experts; City Of London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading medical communications agency in the City of London is seeking a Scientific Director to oversee scientific content across various accounts. You will drive high-quality output while leading client communication and mentoring junior staff. The ideal candidate has a degree in biomedical science and extensive industry experience, focusing on strategic projects that guide healthcare professional behavior. This role offers opportunities for travel and professional development.

Qualifications

• Extensive med comms agency experience with proven teamwork and leadership.
• Evidence of new business acquisition.
• Solid understanding of drug development processes and related US/EU regulations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the scientific output of multiple account teams.
• Act as the primary client contact and therapeutic area expert.
• Lead expansion of existing accounts and support new business proposals.

Skills

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Scientific writing

Communication skills

Education

Degree in biomedical science

Job description

Job description: Scientific Director

Reports into: SSD or Director

Core responsibilities

• Oversee the scientific output of multiple account teams, ensuring high-quality, accurate content aligned with client objectives, budgets, and timelines.
• Act as the primary client contact and therapeutic area expert, maintaining up-to-date knowledge and advising on communication strategy.
• Consult with clients to develop and lead strategic plans, gaining buy-in from key stakeholders.
• Build and nurture strong relationships with KOLs and work collaboratively with clients to direct strategically aligned projects.
• Identify opportunities for NexGen to act as a strategic partner across accounts and support other teams through shared expertise or secondments.
• Coach, mentor, and line manage writers, ensuring efficiency, professional growth, and promotion of a positive agency image.
• Foster strong collaboration with Client Services to create a unified "one team" environment and deliver successful outcomes.
• Lead expansion of existing accounts, adapt successful approaches, and support new business proposals and pitches.
• Research, write, and review scientific materials across all formats and audiences to the highest standards.
• Lead and supervise scientific content development, ensuring adherence to processes, compliance, and client requirements.
• Attend congresses and client meetings, gathering insights, building relationships, and ensuring NexGen's activities align with client programmes.
• Support recruitment, process improvement, and the professional development of junior staff, contributing to the agency's continued growth and excellence.

Main duties

• Research, write and review copy to the highest scientific and grammatical standards across all med ed and communication materials and audiences.
• Lead on resolving complex client comments and make recommendations to improve workflow and delivery.
• Train and mentor staff to accurately interpret and incorporate amendments from clients, KOLs and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with regulatory and medical departments to minimise costly amendments and ensure compliance.
• Lead discussions with patients and KOLs to build expert knowledge of therapy areas, markets, audiences and key messages.
• Provide insight to clients and account teams on market trends, product strategy and tactical direction.
• Maintain clear communication with account and resourcing teams regarding project status and resource needs.
• Brief, review and feedback on freelance writers' work, ensuring quality, efficiency and integration within teams.
• Act as senior scientific contact for accounts, leading client and KOL meetings and providing scientific direction throughout projects.
• Attend and lead at congresses or client meetings, gather insights, and ensure NexGen activities align with client programmes.
• Support new business initiatives, identify opportunities to add client value and contribute to recruitment and process improvement.
• Coach and develop junior writers, review and QC projects to ensure consistent quality and adherence to standards.

Key result areas

• Delivery of high-quality medical education and communication projects that meet specifications, deadlines, and budgets.
• Work with Client Services to plan resource requirements in advance and secure additional support as needed.
• Drive clear, proactive communication across teams on projects, goals, and agency initiatives.
• Encourage collaboration and information sharing across teams.
• Educate teams and ensure adherence to healthcare compliance laws, guidelines, and agency/client SOPs.
• Oversee quality assurance of content produced by scientific staff.
• Ensure consistent and efficient working practices across account teams.
• Coach and develop junior staff (including line management where applicable).
• Promote innovation and continuous improvement in team processes and client offerings.
• Strengthen client relationships through novel solutions to challenges.
• Identify and lead new business opportunities and nurture potential leads.

Skills and knowledge required

• Degree or higher in a biomedical science.
• Extensive med comms agency experience with proven teamwork and leadership.
• Evidence of new business acquisition.
• Experience in strategically focused projects driving measurable HCP behaviour or opinion change.
• Excellent attention to detail, grammar, and syntax.
• Strong project management, organisational, and commercial awareness skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; able to work under pressure.
• Solid understanding of drug development processes and related US/EU regulations.
• Strong knowledge of medical publication processes and guidelines (e.g. ICMJE).
• Good understanding of brand planning and medical strategy.
• Highest-quality scientific writing and literature appraisal skills, adaptable to varied audiences.
• Commitment to coaching junior writers and maintaining scientific accuracy and quality.
• Willingness to travel (UK and internationally) for meetings and congresses.