Senior Sceintifc Advisor

Boots; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Boots Retirement Savings Plan

Discretionary annual bonus

Generous employee discounts

Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption

Flexible benefits scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Boots seeks a Senior Scientific Advisor to provide scientific leadership across its Health & Wellness portfolio in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Based on site in Nottingham, you will translate complex evidence into credible, commercially relevant guidance shaping products and claims.

You will influence stakeholders, support compliant propositions, and partner with technical and non-technical teams to bring credible health products to market, balancing safety, regulation and commercial aims.

Qualifications

• A degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacology, Biology or a related discipline.
• 3–5+ years' post-qualification experience in a consumer healthcare or pharmaceutical setting.
• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills with objective judgement.
• Excellent medical writing and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to translate complex scientific data into clear guidance.
• Experience in product claims, dossier reviews and literature appraisals.
• Organised and autonomous with ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Influence stakeholders across levels while balancing safety, regulation, and commercial aims.

Responsibilities

• Provide cross-category scientific leadership for Boots Own Brand Health & Wellness portfolio in the UK & ROI.
• Monitor emerging science, technologies and trends for opportunities/risks.
• Critically appraise data and translate into actionable guidance for stakeholders.
• Interpret mechanisms of action, benefits, risks and safety for risk-based decisions.
• Develop and maintain robust claims substantiation for on-pack and materials.
• Contribute to product dossiers and technical files to support compliance.
• Support technical reviews, audits and regulatory enquiries.
• Build partnerships across Product, Technical, Regulatory, Pharmacy Office and Commercial teams.

Skills

Critical thinking

Analytical skills

Medical writing

Verbal communication

Stakeholder influence

Education

Degree in Life Sciences / Pharmacology / Biology

MSc/PhD preferred

Job description

Intro

Contract: Permanent

Closing date: 19th November 2026

Recruitment Partner: Katrina, [e-mail]

What you'll be doing

As Senior Scientific Advisor, you'll provide scientific leadership across Boots Own Brand Health & Wellness portfolio in the UK and Republic of Ireland, spanning medicines, medical devices, biocides, food supplements, cosmetics and general consumer goods. Based on site in Nottingham, you'll turn complex scientific, medical and clinical evidence into clear, commercially relevant guidance that helps shape new products, trusted claims and smarter decision-making across the business.

This is a role for someone who enjoys combining scientific rigour with real commercial impact at pace. You'll use scientific expertise to influence and help deliver Boots Own Brand strategy, support robust and compliant product propositions, and partner with technical and non-technical stakeholders to help Boots bring credible, consumer-relevant health and wellness products to market.

Key responsibilities

• Provide cross-category scientific leadership for the Boots Own Brand Health & Wellness portfolio, helping shape product delivery strategy and new product propositions for the brand in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Monitor emerging science, new technologies and consumer health trends, identifying and sharing opportunities and risks for the business.
• Critically appraise scientific, medical and clinical data and translate it into clear, actionable guidance for stakeholders.
• Interpret product mechanisms of action, functional benefits, risks, limitations and safety considerations to support pragmatic, risk-based decisions.
• Develop and maintain robust claims substantiation to support on-pack claims and professional- and consumer-facing materials in line with applicable legislation and advertising codes.
• Contribute to product dossiers and technical files to support ongoing product compliance and lifecycle management.
• Support technical reviews, audits and responses to regulatory, health authority, customer, media and stakeholder enquiries.
• Build strong partnerships across Product, Technical, Regulatory, Pharmacy Office, Learning & Development, PR and wider commercial teams.
• Build and maintain effective external relationships with suppliers and specialist experts, contributing to a culture of scientific excellence and consumer focus.

What you'll need to have (our must-haves)

• A degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacology, Biology or a related discipline.
• 3-5+ years' post-qualification experience in a consumer healthcare or pharmaceutical setting.
• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to assess evidence objectively and make sound scientific judgements.
• Excellent medical writing and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex science into clear, practical guidance.
• Proven ability to rapidly assimilate and apply complex scientific, technical and regulatory information across fast-paced evolving portfolios.
• Experience in product claims, dossier reviews and literature appraisals.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to work autonomously, manage competing priorities and maintain rigour under pressure.
• The confidence and resilience to influence stakeholders at all levels and balance consumer safety, regulatory requirements and commercial objectives.

It would be great if you also have

• A higher degree such as an MSc, PhD or PharmD.
• Experience working across multiple health and wellness categories rather than within a single product area.
• Strong familiarity with UK/EU regulations across different product classifications.
• Knowledge of advertising standards, including ASA/CAP codes.
• Experience working in a retail, pharmacy-led or consumer-facing healthcare environment.

Where your brilliance can take you

This is a broad, visible role in which your scientific judgement can directly influence product strategy, claims development and consumer trust across a high-profile portfolio. At Boots, you'll have the chance to deepen your expertise across multiple categories, build your profile as a subject matter expert and grow your impact through cross-functional leadership. It's a strong opportunity for someone who wants to move beyond reactive review work and play a bigger part in shaping what comes next for Boots Own Brand.

Rewards designed for you

• Boots Retirement Savings Plan
• Discretionary annual bonus
• Generous employee discounts
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave pay and gift card for anyone expecting or adopting a child
• Flexible benefits scheme including option to buy additional holiday, discounted gym membership, life assurance, activity passes and much more.
• Access to free, 24/7 counselling and support through TELUS Health, our Employee Assistance Programme.

There's lots more in our benefits and discounts, MyBoosts - there to give you that little lift in your everyday. Find out more at http://boots.jobs/rewards. Exclusions may apply; eligible roles only. Please note that any salary estimates provided on third-party sites are not endorsed by Boots and may not be accurate.

A bit about us

At Boots, we're proud to be an equal opportunity employer, creating a place where everyone feels welcome, supported and free to be themselves. We believe that when our people feel valued and included, they thrive, so we're committed to creating a brilliant Boots for our people so they can make a difference for our customers and colleagues every time.

Boots is a Ban the Box employer and will consider the suitability of applicants with criminal convictions on a case-by-case basis