Principal Medical Writer (Maternity Cover)

Principal Medical Writer

Reports to: Scientific Director
Department: Scientific Services
Location: London or Manchester

About Us

At MedComms Experts and NexGen, who have recently combined forces, we believe our transformational role in communicating scientific progress has the power to shape clinical practice and improve lives.

We stand apart through strategic and creative thinking, excellence in execution, and a people-first, collaborative mindset. We partner with clients who share our ambition to challenge convention and co-create innovative solutions that make complex science accessible, engaging, and memorable.

By combining scientific depth with human-centered storytelling and digital innovation, we help medical and scientific leaders communicate with clarity, authenticity, and measurable impact.

Overview

The Principal Medical Writer is a strategic scientific lead responsible for the development and delivery of high-quality, scientifically rigorous medical education and communications. Acting as a trusted expert to clients and internal teams, this role ensures content meets client objectives, regulatory standards, timelines, and budgets. The role also plays a key part in mentoring junior writers, supporting account growth, and contributing to NexGen’s scientific reputation and business development.

Core responsibilities 

• Ownership and responsibility for development and delivery of high quality, scientifically accurate content that is aligned with client objectives and meets the specification, budgetary and schedule requirements


• Coach, mentor or line manage junior writers, demonstrating leadership as appropriate, in all aspects of the agency’s business, and as directed by the Directors, ensuring they are provided with opportunities to learn and apply those learnings to future work


• As the strategic communications and therapeutic area(s) expert, be the prime point of contact with the client(s) and together with Client Services, ensure timely project completion; act as the voice of the client in the agency


• Support the expansion of accounts, strengthen medical writing skills through training junior team members, sharing expertise in delivering technical and/or complex projects

Main duties

• Maintain expertise of therapy area(s)/ market/ audiences/ key messages and input into the development /implementation of strategic communication plans in close collaboration with clients/account teams; maintain expertise in relevant media coverage and new developments in the pharma industry that affect NexGen business


• Act as the senior [lead] scientific services contact for specified accounts and liaise with clients, healthcare professionals, external service providers and other external bodies; includes leading client & KOL meetings (F2F, TC or Zoom) to develop scientific content for live projects


• Research, write and review copy to the highest scientific and grammatical standards for a full range of med ed and communications materials (including manuscripts, abstracts, posters, oral presentations, print items and multimedia) and target audiences


• Ensure accurate interpretation and incorporation of amendments from clients, KOLs and other project stakeholders


• Provide input into budget and schedule development by client services team by advising on required writing hours throughout all stages of a project. Throughout all stages of a project maintain an understanding of commercial aspects and impact of team decisions and providing guidance to the team


• Assist managers by proactively forecasting and discussing workload and resource requirements for own and any line reports’ projects; brief and review the work of freelance writers to ensure workflow is smooth and ensures timely delivery to meet clients’ briefs


• Check and sign off final versions of materials for print/production ahead of certification/client sign off


• Provide guidance and scientific direction for creative designs and input into concept development as appropriate


• Coach and assist in the training and development of junior writers; review and QC projects to ensure quality standards are consistently achieved


• Ensure agency processes and regulatory and compliance guidelines/ regulations are adhered to and that junior staff are coached and monitored to do likewise


• Support and input into the agency’s new business activities, including attending at pitches to demonstrate the agency’s depth and breadth of scientific expertise; collaborate with the client services team to maximise organic growth within existing accounts


• Support the recruitment effort for scientific services staff across NexGen, including screening of CVs, review of writing test, interviews and the decision-making process


• Work with STLs and Client Services to ensure timely delivery of projects at the highest possible standard

Key result areas

• Delivery of consistently high-quality medical education and communication projects that meet project specification/brief, are on time and to budget


• Quality assurance of content written by other scientific services staff


• Ensure adherence to healthcare compliance laws, guidelines and SOPs of all materials produced


• Coaching and ongoing development, (and line management if desired), of junior staff


• Proactive contribution of creative medical education, publications, or communication concepts for business development and ongoing business growth

Skills and knowledge required

• Degree level or higher in a biomedical science


• Several years’ med comms agency experience, including strong evidence of teamwork and leadership


• Solid understanding of the process of drug development and the regulations that drive this in the US and EU


• Solid understanding of medical publication processes and associated guidelines (e.g. ICMJE)


• Highest quality scientific writing, literature search and appraisal techniques, with skills to adapt content and style to suit different audiences


• Excellent attention to detail, good grammar and syntax skills


• Ability to coach junior writers, review content and provide constructive feedback to ensure highest standards of quality and scientific accuracy are consistently achieved


• Willingness to travel (UK and international) as required for NexGen or client meetings


• Strong project management and organisational skills, combined with good understanding of the commercial drivers of the business


• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, ability to work in a high-pressure environment