Associate Director Medical Publications

ACL Digital; United States; Remote; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Part time

Job summary

ACL Digital is seeking an Associate Director of Medical Publications for a remote, contract role (6–12 months) in the Cell Therapy space. You will lead publication execution across manuscripts, abstracts, posters, and presentations, coordinating with stakeholders to ensure timely, quality outputs.

The role requires an advanced life sciences degree and 5–7+ years of medical publications experience, with strict adherence to ICMJE and GPP guidelines and the ability to operate with minimal

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in life sciences.
• 5-7+ years of experience in medical publications.
• Strong knowledge of publication guidelines (ICMJE, GPP)

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of manuscripts, abstracts, posters, and presentations.
• Manage publication lifecycle from planning through submission and post-publication activities.
• Coordinate with Medical Affairs, Clinical, HEOR and external partners to ensure alignment and quality.

Skills

Independent work

Prioritization

Multiple workstreams

Effective communication

Attention to detail

Education

PhD in Life Sciences

Job description

Job Title: Associate Director Medical Publications

Duration: 6–12 months, potential extension

Location: Remote

Therapeutic area: Cell Therapy

Overview

The Publications Lead (Contractor) supports the delivery of scientific publications across one or more therapeutic areas during a high-priority period. This role works alongside existing Publications Leads to provide additional leadership, executional support, and flexibility across the portfolio.

The position is suited for an experienced publications professional who can quickly embed within the team, independently manage key deliverables, and flex across priorities as needed to ensure timely, high-quality scientific communication.

Partner with existing Publications Leads to support delivery of publication plans across priority programs

Step in to lead specific publications, workstreams, or assets as needed

Provide additional bandwidth during peak periods (e.g., congress timelines, key data readouts)

End-to-End Publication Execution

Lead development and execution of manuscripts, abstracts, posters, and presentations

Manage publication lifecycle from planning through submission and post-publication activities

Ensure timely delivery of high-quality outputs aligned with agreed timelines

Track publication milestones and maintain publication trackers and calendars

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with Medical Affairs, Clinical, HEOR, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment

Interface with authors, investigators, and external experts

Support publication planning discussions and decision-making as needed

Provide direction to medical writing agencies and review deliverables for scientific quality

Manage timelines, risks, and competing priorities across multiple deliverables

Ensure efficient execution across internal teams and external partners

Compliance & Quality

Ensure all publications adhere to ICMJE, GPP, and internal policies

Maintain scientific rigor and accuracy across all outputs

Support audit-ready documentation and adherence to publication processes

Adaptive Support Across the Portfolio

Flex across therapeutic areas, assets, or deliverables based on evolving business needs

Pick up in-flight projects or support areas requiring additional focus

Help maintain continuity and momentum across publication activities

Qualifications

Advanced degree (PhD, PharmD, MD, or MSc) in life sciences

5-7+ years of experience in medical publications within pharma/biotech

Strong knowledge of publication guidelines (ICMJE, GPP)

Key Skills

Ability to operate independently with minimal onboarding

Strong prioritization and ability to manage parallel workstreams

Comfortable stepping into partially developed projects

Clear, pragmatic communication with stakeholders in a compliance-driven environment

Strong quality mindset and attention to detail