Scientific Director (Publications)

Scientific Director, Publications - MEDICAL COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY

Boston, MA or New York, NY (hybrid 50% of the time)

Salary: Up to $160,000, depending on experience

Hiring for my client, who is an independent healthcare communications and consultancy agency partnering with pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies to communicate complex science with clarity and integrity. With US offices in Boston and New York, the Medical Communications team is growing and seeking an experienced publications leader to help shape its scientific offering.

The Role

The Scientific Director, Publications will provide scientific leadership across strategic publication planning and delivery for a portfolio of clients. This individual will serve as a trusted scientific partner to clients, guide the quality and accuracy of all publication deliverables, and mentor a team of medical writers and scientific staff. This is an excellent opportunity for a publications specialist ready to take on broader scientific ownership within a collaborative, quality-driven agency.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of strategic publication plans aligned with clients' medical and scientific objectives
• Provide scientific oversight and quality review across manuscripts, abstracts, posters, oral presentations, and congress materials
• Act as the senior scientific point of contact for clients, authors, and key opinion leaders, building strong and lasting relationships
• Ensure all publications adhere to industry guidelines, including GPP 2022, ICMJE, and CONSORT, as well as client SOPs
• Interpret complex clinical and scientific data and translate it into clear, compelling narratives
• Mentor, develop, and review the work of medical writers and scientific team members
• Partner with client services and project management teams to deliver high-quality work on time and within scope
• Contribute to new business activities, including proposals, pitches, and capability presentations
• Stay current on therapeutic area developments, publication trends, and evolving industry standards

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a life science discipline (PhD, PharmD, or MD preferred; MS with substantial experience considered)
• Significant medical communications experience, with a strong focus on publications, including experience leading strategic publication plans
• Proven ability to provide scientific leadership and quality oversight across a range of deliverables
• Strong knowledge of GPP and publication ethics
• Experience working directly with pharmaceutical or biotech clients and external authors
• Experience mentoring or managing writers is highly valued
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with meticulous attention to detail
• Therapeutic area expertise in oncology, immunology, neuroscience, or rare disease is a plus
• ISMPP CMPP™ certification preferred

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary of up to $160,000, depending on experience
• Hybrid working from the Boston or New York office
• The opportunity to shape scientific strategy within a growing US team
• A collaborative culture with a strong emphasis on quality, scientific rigor, and professional development