MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Cactus Communications; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative firm is seeking a Medical Director to lead strategic medical communications initiatives. This role requires expertise in translating complex scientific information into impactful communications, guiding client accounts, and managing a team of writers. With a focus on collaboration and quality, you will develop strategic plans, oversee deliverables, and enhance client relationships. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in the life sciences sector while working in a remote-first environment. Join a team that values scientific rigor and creativity, and help shape the future of medical communications.

Benefits

Comprehensive Medical Coverage

401K Plan with Employer Contributions

Annual Leave and Sick Days

Company-Provided Phone

Mileage Reimbursement

Mental Health Resources

Flexible Leave Options

Qualifications

• 5+ years of agency experience in a strategic, client-facing role.
• Ability to train and develop junior writers.

Responsibilities

• Lead scientific strategy for client accounts and oversee content development.
• Manage team performance and foster the growth of junior writers.

Skills

Strategic Thinking

Presentation Skills

Client Management

Medical Communications

Editorial Skills

Digital Content Development

Education

Advanced Doctoral Degree in a Scientific Discipline

Tools

MS Teams

Job description

Please note : While we are a remote-first organization, this role is intended for candidates in and around New Jersey and requires travel approximately once a month.

Cactus Life Sciences is currently looking to add self-motivated, strategy-oriented members to its life sciences team. This is an opportunity to grow your career and make a greater impact on the lives around you.

Responsibilities

• Bring broad knowledge across therapeutic areas and a desire to expand expertise into new fields. The Medical Director excels at translating complex scientific information into clear, impactful communications. They lead scientific strategy for client accounts, overseeing content development and providing editorial support. Strong management skills are essential for guiding their team, ensuring quality standards, and implementing best practices.
• Work with clients’ Medical Affairs and Medical Communications teams to develop and execute strategic medical communications initiatives such as scientific communications platforms, medical communications plans, KOL engagement plans, strategic slide decks, iPDFs, meeting planning, etc
• Work with clients’ publications teams to develop and execute manuscripts, abstracts, posters, review articles, symposia decks, literature searches, gap analyses, strategic publication plans
• Develop, manage, and track strategy and tactics in partnership with a cross-functional team of internal and client stakeholders
• Oversee and be accountable for quality of medical communications tactics / deliverables developed by in-house scientific writers. Review deliverables to ensure strategic alignment and scientific accuracy as needed in order to uphold scientific excellence
• Communicate updates on products, medical / regulatory milestones, and industry trends
• Continuously offer fresh ideas and forward-thinking strategies
• Work with in-house technology and creative teams on building innovative digital solutions for Medical Affairs and Medical Communications clients
• Work closely with the agency team in developing publications by providing review support
• Manage team performance and foster the growth of junior writers
• Work with Account Director to ensure excellence in execution, planning, compliance and consistency with client SOPs, messaging, and publication objectives
• Build and maintain strong client and medical expert relationships
• Support new business development, both with existing clients and new prospects as the scientific lead
• Ensure organic growth through delivery quality and client engagement

Qualifications And Prerequisites

• Advanced doctoral-level degree in a scientific discipline.
• At least 5+ years of of agency experience as a Senior / Medical Director in a strategic, client facing role
• Excellent presentation skills and composure under pressure
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and guide both internal teams and clients in development of best practices
• Experience across several therapy areas preferred
• Integrated scicoms experience required with demonstrated experience on both medical communications and publications accounts
• Experience with product launch accounts
• Demonstrated expertise in developing and executing deliverables mentioned in the above for both investigational and mature products
• Experience with developing digital content, and infographics to supplement traditional deliverables and communications
• Experience of providing congress support and conducting / facilitating advisory board meetings
• Strong attention to details and editorial skills needed
• Experience in writing / reviewing deliverables
• Ability to train and develop junior writers by doing detailed reviews of documents and training sessions
• Although the role is fully remote, there is a preference for candidates based on the East Coast, as it will involve travel to client locations and attending meetings / congresses both within the US and internationally

Benefits of this Role

• Leave : Enjoy annual leave, public holidays, personal and sick days, birthday leave, and progressive leave based on tenure. Special leave options include maternity, paternity, and sabbaticals.
• Healthcare : Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees, partners, and dependents, plus HSA support. Access to 24 / 7 medical consultations, mental health services, and dermatology care.
• Financial Security : Life insurance, and a 401K plan with employer contributions, rollover, and loan options.
• Expenses : Company-provided phone, mileage reimbursement, and coverage for approved business expenses.
• Wellbeing : Mental health resources, flexible leave options, and employer-supported financial planning.

Application Process

Before applying, please ensure you meet the role requirements listed above and have legal authorization to work in the country where this role is advertised. The selection process for this role includes an initial recruiter screening, an interview with the hiring manager, a proctored strategic assessment, and two in-person interview rounds, scheduled on the same day for convenience.

Our hiring practices reflect our commitment to providing equal opportunities and creating an environment where everyone can thrive, develop, and succeed. We celebrate the uniqueness of our team members and prohibit discrimination of any kind, based on race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

Accelerating from Anywhere

• As a remote-first organization, these are essential attributes we look for in all our candidates.
• Taking ownership of your work with minimal supervision, showing strong ability to organize, prioritize and deliver results independently.
• Documenting work that brings everyone on the same page.
• Maturity to choose between synchronous and asynchronous collaboration.
• Effectively collaborating with colleagues across different time zones by setting dedicated hours for collaboration and keeping team members updated through your MS Teams status.

About Cactus Life Sciences

At Cactus Life Sciences (cactuslifesciences.com), we believe the future of medical communications lies at the intersection of science, technology, and human connection. Headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, with teams in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, India, and Japan, we help biopharmaceutical organizations redefine scientific exchange—leveraging AI, automation, and innovation while keeping patients at the heart of everything we do.

Our expertise spans medical strategy, scientific content development, and medical education across therapeutic areas and the product lifecycle. By blending scientific rigor, agile operational models, and future-ready technologies, we partner with medical affairs teams to catalyze their transformation, adapt to a changing landscape, and drive meaningful outcomes for healthcare communities worldwide.

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Medical Director • Philadelphia, PA, United States