Lead Medical Writer - Medical Communications

Avalere; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K with company match

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Flexible hybrid/remote work options

Generous vacation and holidays

Job summary

Avalere Health is seeking a Lead Medical Writer to own the delivery of scientifically accurate content across oncology-focused medical communications projects, transforming complex data into engaging content for healthcare professionals.

You will lead multiple accounts, ensure editorial excellence from planning through final review, and guide writers while supporting client interactions. This role offers a clear career pathway and leadership growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• Degree in the life sciences; PharmD or PhD advantageous.
• 3+ years of medical or scientific writing experience in healthcare consultancy or medical communications.
• Experience developing scientific content across therapeutic areas; Oncology is advantageous but not essential.
• Ability to manage a variety of scientific content types, including publications, with accuracy and flow.

Responsibilities

• Act as lead writer and client contact for assigned accounts.
• Develop content with your project team to ensure quality editorial implementation.
• Communicate with editorial, client, vendor and project teams to meet deadlines and budget.
• Provide briefing, guidance and direction to junior writers in the team.
• Provide high-quality scientific oversight for large/complex projects or workstreams.
• Drive project delivery and champion internal and external processes (including compliance).
• Support business development, conceptualize new medical communications projects and publications.
• Represent Avalere Health at client meetings and advisory boards.

Skills

Scientific writing

Client communication

Leadership mentoring

Project ownership

Education

Degree in life sciences

PharmD or PhD advantageous

Job description

About Avalere Health

United by one profound purpose: to reach EVERY PATIENT POSSIBLE. At Avalere Health, we ensure every patient is identified, treated, supported, and cared for. Equally. Our Advisory, Medical, and Marketing teams come together – powerfully and intentionally – to forge unconventional connections, building a future where healthcare is not a barrier and no patient is left behind.

Achieving our mission starts with providing enriching, purpose-driven careers for our team that empower them to make a tangible impact on patient lives. We are committed to creating a culture where our employees are empowered to bring their whole selves to work and tap into the power of diverse backgrounds and skillsets to play a part in making a difference for every patient, everywhere.

Our flexible approach to working allows our global teams to decide where they want to work, whether in-office or at home based on team and client need. Major city hubs in London, Manchester, Washington, D.C., and New York, and smaller offices globally, serve as collaboration hubs allowing our teams to come together when it matters. Homeworkers are equally supported, with dedicated social opportunities and resources.

Our inclusive culture is at the heart of everything we do. We proudly support our employees in bringing their whole selves to work with our six Employee Network Groups – Diverse Ability, Family, Gender, LGBTQ+, Mental Health, and Race/Ethnicity. These groups provide opportunities to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion and to connect, learn, and socialise through regular meetings and programs of activity. We are an accredited Fertility Friendly employer with our Fertility Policy, enhanced parental leave, and culture of flexibility ensuring every employee feels supported across their family planning journey and can work in a way that suits their family’s needs.

We are deeply invested in supporting professional growth for our employees through day-to-day career experiences, access to thousands of on-demand training sessions, regular career conversations, and the opportunity for global, cross-capability career moves.

We take pride in being part of the Disability Confident Scheme. This helps make sure you can be interviewed fairly if you have a disability, long term health condition, or are neurodiverse. If you'd like to apply and need adjustments made, you can let us know in your application.

Location:

Flexible, remote or hybrid, US or Toronto (East Coast TZ)

About the role

As a Lead Medical Writer, you will take ownership of delivering high-quality, scientifically accurate content across a range of Oncology focused medical communications projects (congress activities, manuscripts, abstracts, posters, plain language summaries) transforming complex data into clear, engaging stories for healthcare professionals. You will lead multiple accounts, ensuring editorial excellence from initial planning through to final review. You will guide and support writers, manage content allocation, and play an active role in strategic client interactions. You will benefit from a clear, structured career pathway, with the opportunity to progress to Associate Scientific Director and beyond as you continue to expand your scientific, strategic and leadership skills. Your expertise will be key to maintaining high quality standards and driving successful outcomes for our clients.

What you’ll do

• Act as a lead writer and client contact for assigned accounts
• Develop content, working closely with your assigned project team to ensure quality editorial implementation of all assigned-client programs
• Effectively and proactively communicate with the editorial, client, vendor and project teams to ensure projects are completed on time and budget
• Briefing, reviewing, guidance and direction to less experienced writers in account team
• Provide high-quality scientific oversight for assigned large/complex projects or a workstream
• Drive project delivery and champions processes both internal and external (including compliance)
• Provide business development support, investigate, conceptualise, and strategize new medical communications projects and publications to support the assigned-clients needs and opportunities
• Represent Avalere Health at client meetings, advisory boards, speaker-training meetings, business development initiatives

About you

• Degree in the life sciences; PharmD or PhD advantageous
• Ideally 3 years+ experience in medical or scientific writing within a healthcare consultancy or medical communications agency
• Proven experience in the development of scientific content across a varied range of therapeutic areas, Oncology expertise is advantageous but not essential
• Demonstrated ability to manage a variety of scientific content types, including publications, and review content for accuracy and flow
• Proven experience in project ownership and problem-solving, with the ability to work proactively in a collaborative team environment
• Strong client communication skills and the ability to serve as a reliable point of contact for clients and external experts
• Ability to provide leadership and mentoring to junior writers
• Experience managing client relationships and serving as a key point of contact
• Familiarity with compliance and regulatory guidelines for medical communications

$110,000 - $125,000 a year

We are committed to offering a competitive and fair salary that reflects your location, skills and the experience you will bring to our team. Salary ranges posted are dependent upon experience.

What we can offer

You will receive a 401K plan with an employer match contribution up to 4% (immediately vested), as well as life insurance, disability coverage, and medical, dental, and vision plans for peace of mind. Enjoy flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and remote work, along with the option to work from anywhere across the globe two weeks each year. We provide 20 vacation days plus one personal well-being day, recognise 9 public holidays, along with gifted end-of-year holidays and an early Summer Friday finish in June, July, and August.

Access free counselling through our employee assistance program and personalized health support. Our enhanced maternity, paternity, family leave, and fertility policies provide support across every stage of your family-planning journey. You can also benefit from continuous opportunities to professionally develop with on-demand training, support, and global mobility opportunities across the business.

We encourage all applicants to read our candidate privacy notice before applying to Avalere Health.