Scientific Specialist

Job Purpose:

• Comprehensive understanding of the organization’s service offerings and processes
• Develop high-quality scientific content by means of all necessary research, scientific writing, editing, and fact checking, to meet deadlines and work within project scope and objectives. Applies to all formats of MedCom’s communication outputs
• Acquire and maintain in-depth understanding of relevant therapy areas, client products, and objectives
• Take ownership of assigned projects or programs and resolve complex technical issues, with minimal management direction, to ensure excellent project delivery. Liaise effectively with client and external authors/opinion leaders during the lifecycle of assigned projects or programs

Key Accountabilities:

Accountability and Supporting Activities

Specialized Knowledge

• Demonstrate sufficient understanding of department’s service offerings in order to:

• ensure that discussions with client are informed, appropriate, and consistent with MedCom’s service offerings
• contribute to client solutions

• Be familiar with and comply with all departmental procedures related to project delivery and tracking, promote adoption of these procedures by others, and recommend appropriate enhancements for efficiency
• Develop and maintain in-depth knowledge of client products and therapy areas on assigned accounts
• Develop and maintain in-depth knowledge of relevant industry guidelines (eg, Good Publications Practice), apply these to assigned projects and promote adherence by others
• Identify technical or process issues that are relevant to project delivery, and initiate, or work with other team members to initiate, appropriate actions
• Creatively and proactively apply specialist knowledge when working as part of a proposal and pitch development team

Project Execution and Success

• Undertake writing and editing to develop high-quality scientific content
• Prioritize own work and manage project schedule to meet delivery deadlines
• Be familiar with and work within project scope (specification and budget hours) and objectives. Monitor project progress, scope changes, and own hours sufficient to flag changes in scope to project lead, and proceed accordingly
• Interpret scientific data accurately and appropriately
• Maintain familiarity with client objectives and messages and produce output consistent with these
• Undertake necessary research on topics relevant to assigned projects and maintain familiarity with available information sources
• Liaise with all opinion leaders/authors or other external parties in such a way as to foster strong and positive relationships and to ensure project success
• Identify issues that may affect project delivery and take independent action or liaise effectively with Manager and other team members, as appropriate, to resolve project issues
• Follow up on all assigned actions and proactively communicate status
• Maintain familiarity with and adhere to departmental SOPs (those related to quality control and all others)
• Seek opportunities to maximize project efficiency and make recommendations or take actions as appropriate
• Provide guidance to other team members on technical or process issues as necessary
• Provide mentorship and coaching of other team members, as directed
• Communicate effectively and sensitively with team members across all functions
• Participate in team discussions and meetings and contribute actively
• Proactively use knowledge and experience to for the benefit of project delivery and business success
• Effectively and comprehensively brief other team members or freelance contributors, as directed
• Participate effectively, as directed, in peer review of others’ work (in-house team members or freelance contributors)
• Use project experience to participate, as directed, in the development of accurate budgets

Client Management

• Proactively assess project needs and work to identify how these can be best met, to the benefit of client satisfaction and project profitability
• Identify complex technical and process issues and work with internal crossfunctional teams, client, and/or external bodies to resolve them
• Be alert to opportunities to develop follow-on business
• Actively communicate and manage changes in project scope
• Maintain high level of client satisfaction with all interactions and deliverables
• Undertake discussions with client so as to actively manage timelines and expectations, maintaining client satisfaction throughout

Skills:

• Intermediate computer and Internet skills, including knowledge of MS applications such as Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Technical expertise:

• Ability to acquire and apply specialized therapy area knowledge
• Ability to interpret and organize scientific data
• Ability to understand and implement marketing messages
• Scientific writing competency
• Proofreading and copyediting skills
• Ability to quality control own output

• Effective project management skills. Effective interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in a
• team environment. Strong client focus. Ability to interact professionally within a client organization.
• Ability to prioritize work and define steps needed to achieve specified project outcomes. Ability to successfully manage assignments on time with high quality
• Effective presentation skills. Ability and willingness to participate in the training and mentoring of other team members
• Willingness to undertake continuous professional learning and development
• Willingness to work in a matrix environment and to value the importance of teamwork
• Proficient use of English language

Knowledge and Experience:

• 5-8 years prior experience preferred in a similar role, preferably within a medical communications agency environment

Education:

• Degree and a higher degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, or Medicine (BSc, BA, PharmD, PhD, MD)