Senior Medical Writer

VML South Africa; London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

VML South Africa is seeking a Senior Medical Writer to join their team in London, Manchester, or remotely. The role involves developing and overseeing scientific education materials for global pharmaceutical clients, requiring a strong background in life sciences and excellent communication skills. This position offers the opportunity to mentor junior writers and contribute to strategic discussions with clients.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience, ideally in a med comms agency.
• Business professional / fluent speaker of English.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks effectively.

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee scientific/medical education materials.
• Review documents to meet industry standards.
• Mentor and coach junior writers.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Teamwork

Learning enthusiasm

Education

Bachelor’s degree or PhD in a biology- or medicine-related discipline

Tools

MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Job description

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences.Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

VML HEALTH is a leading global healthcare agency that partners with clients to build connected experiences across the healthcare ecosystem. A deep understanding of individual needs and behaviour, and how they are connected, allows us to create seamless experiences. And when these experiences are personalized, unique and relevant at every touchpoint, their power is all the more profound.

We power connections beyond science into humanbehaviour. We believe that science can change the world and that changing the world starts with a single person behaving differently. Overcoming beliefs and barriers to make life better for patients and healthcare communities is second nature to us.

Role: Senior Medical Writer

Location: London, Manchester or Remote

Job Summary:

We are seeking highly motivated Senior Medical Writers to join our growing team servicing the needs of global Pharmaceutical and Medical device companies.

Core aspects of the role – Medical writer:

• Hands on development of a range of scientific/medical education materials such as slide decks, KOL presentations and content for Ad Boards
• Review and refine documents with support of senior writers/scientific director to ensure that they meet industry standards and client-specific requirements
• Gain a thorough understanding of your assigned client's product and brand strategy, therapeutic landscape, and competitive environment
• Participate in client meetings, contributing to discussions and taking detailed notes
• Stay up to date on the latest trends, regulations, and documentation practices to support both internal development and client engagement, with support from senior team members
• Work on self-development by ensuring quick and comprehensive understanding of new therapeutic areas, thereby inspiring team and client confidence
• Proactively maintain and update project reference packs, document templates and style guides

Core aspects of the role – Senior Medical writer:

• Hands on development – and oversight – of a range of scientific/medical education materials such as slide decks, KOL presentations and content for Ad Boards
• Review and refine documents to ensure that they meet industry standards and client-specific requirements
• Stay up to date on the latest trends, regulations, and documentation practices to support both internal development and client engagement
• Work on self-development by ensuring quick and comprehensive understanding of new therapeutic areas, thereby inspiring team and client confidence
• Proactively maintain and update project reference packs, document templates and style guides
• Leading discussions on scientific content with clients and external experts (KOLs), both face to face (when necessary) and on calls
• Able to contribute to scientific strategy development to inform tactical planning of accounts, both internally and with clients
• Contribute to organic growth opportunities on accounts and provide scientific input for proposals for business growth
• Mentor and coach more junior writers (may not always be relevant depending on size and composition of workstream team).

Key Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or PhD in a biology- or medicine-related discipline
• 5+ years experience, ideally gained within a med comms agency
• Business professional / fluent speaker of English
• Proficient with MS Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); general tech aptitude and willingness to learn new software
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and manage multiple tasks
• Enthusiasm for learning about life sciences and emerging technologies

#LI-EMEA #LI-REMOTE

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through ourRecruitment Privacy Policy . California residents should read ourCalifornia Recruitment Privacy Notice . This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy . California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice . This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.