Principal Medical Affairs Specialist

Placements24; Gauteng; Remote; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and wellness benefits

Performance-based bonuses

Professional development allowances

Remote work flexibility

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Principal Medical Affairs Specialist to drive medical strategy in a fully remote role with occasional travel to Pretoria, Gauteng. Lead KOL engagements, provide scientific expertise, and oversee medical education and publications.

You will shape medical strategies, ensure regulatory compliance, and collaborate with Marketing, R&D and Regulatory teams while managing budgets for Gauteng-wide activities. A senior, strategic thinker with 8+ years in medical affairs is required.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in life sciences; 8+ years in medical affairs or a related role.
• Proven track record in KOL engagement and scientific communication.
• Strong understanding of clinical trial design and data interpretation.
• Ability to develop and implement medical affairs strategies; regulatory knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute medical affairs strategies aligned with global and local objectives.
• Engage with KOLs and healthcare professionals to build relationships and insights.
• Provide scientific and clinical expertise to internal stakeholders (Marketing, R&D, Regulatory).
• Support development of medical communication materials, publications, and presentations.
• Review and approve materials for scientific accuracy and compliance.
• Contribute to medical education programs and advisory boards.
• Stay updated on scientific advancements and market trends in relevant areas.
• Support regulatory submissions and medical information responses.
• Collaborate with clinical operations on trial design and execution.
• Manage budgets and resources for medical affairs projects in Gauteng and beyond.

Skills

KOL engagement

Scientific communication

Medical education

Clinical development

Regulatory knowledge

Remote work

Budget management

Education

MD/PhD/PharmD

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a globally recognized pharmaceutical leader, is seeking a distinguished Principal Medical Affairs Specialist to join their esteemed team, working remotely but with potential travel to their Pretoria, Gauteng hub. This senior role is crucial for driving strategic medical initiatives, fostering key opinion leader (KOL) engagement, and ensuring the scientific integrity of the company's product portfolio. The ideal candidate will possess a deep scientific and clinical understanding of therapeutic areas, coupled with exceptional communication and strategic planning skills. This is a remarkable opportunity to influence medical strategy and contribute to patient care from a fully remote position, providing unparalleled flexibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive medical affairs strategies aligned with global and local business objectives.
• Engage with key opinion leaders (KOLs) and healthcare professionals to build strong relationships and gather insights.
• Provide scientific and clinical expertise on company products and therapeutic areas to internal stakeholders (e.g., Marketing, R&D, Regulatory).
• Support the development of medical communication materials, publications, and presentations.
• Review and approve promotional and non‑promotional materials for scientific accuracy and compliance.
• Contribute to the planning and execution of medical education programs and advisory boards.
• Stay abreast of the latest scientific advancements, clinical trial data, and market trends within relevant therapeutic areas.
• Support regulatory submissions and respond to medical information requests.
• Collaborate with the clinical operations team on trial design and execution where applicable.
• Manage budgets and resources associated with medical affairs activities for projects in the Gauteng region and beyond.

Requirements

• Advanced degree (M.D., Pharm.D., Ph.D.) in a life science or healthcare-related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in medical affairs, clinical development, or a related role within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Extensive knowledge of relevant therapeutic areas and a strong understanding of clinical trial design and data interpretation.
• Proven experience in KOL engagement, scientific communication, and medical education.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement successful medical affairs strategies.
• Excellent understanding of pharmaceutical industry regulations and compliance requirements.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking abilities.
• Ability to work independently and effectively manage multiple priorities in a remote setting.
• Willingness to travel occasionally as needed to Pretoria or other locations for key meetings and conferences.

Benefits

This pivotal role offers a highly competitive annual salary of R , reflecting the seniority and impact of the position. In addition to the salary, you will receive comprehensive health and wellness benefits, performance-based bonuses, generous professional development allowances, and significant opportunities for career advancement within a global organization. The fully remote nature of this position provides exceptional work‑life balance and the flexibility to work from anywhere. Embrace this opportunity to shape medical strategy and drive innovation from the comfort of your own home.