| Description |
A leading communications agency has a requirement for a principle writer.
Description:
The Principal Medical Writer is expected to write and/or edit publication manuscripts, slide kits, monographs, newsletters, and congress/exhibit materials based on research conducted in specialized areas of medical science. Throughout the development of assigned programs, the Principal Medical Writer is responsible for assuring the quality of content and format, as well as liaising appropriately with both faculty and client. For specific projects, the Principal Medical Writer serves as the primary editorial contact for both in-house staff and client, with responsibility for assuring the completion of these projects on time and within budget. In addition, a Principal Medical Writer may be asked to mentor less experienced editorial personnel.
Responsibilities Include:
Writing/editing:
- Understand the medical, commercial, and functional objectives of each assigned account
- Analyze, evaluate, and interpret client data to determine relevant support of product messages
- Apply appropriate scientific and marketing criteria to ensure that client objectives are met and overall standards are maintained
- Write manuscripts for medical/scientific publications in accordance with agreed brief and the following criteria:
- Appropriate interpretation of data
- Highest scientific accuracy
- Incorporation of client/product messages
- Accurate citing of primary references
- Write other types of manuscripts, e.g. patient information brochures, news reports, press releases, image brochures, product monographs, and review articles
- Review and edit existing manuscripts to give maximum clarity of meaning, accuracy, relevance, and consistency of style and format to ensure that client objectives are met and overall quality standards are maintained
Research:
- Research medical/scientific topics, utilizing the various information services available, including in-house resources, libraries, and databases
- Assimilate and utilize specialist knowledge, including that relating to disease area, product, opinion leaders, meetings, and journals
Project Management/Quality Control:
- Identify the scientific resources required to undertake an assigned project, communicating the requirements to the Editorial Team Director as appropriate
- Monitor the progress of all assigned projects against schedule and budget specifications, repeating any variances to Editorial Team Director and Client Services
- Ensure that all quality control procedures are followed, including all approvals and sign-offs from client, authors, editorial team and Client Services
- Prepare a clear brief for in-house or freelance staff that accurately defines the scope, objectives, and timeframe of a project, the needs of the client, and the agreed budget
- Review the work of, and provide feedback to, freelance writers/in-house Medical Writers to ensure that:
- Their work reflects the brief
- Data have been interpreted accurately
- Product messages are clearly supported
- All items are of the highest scientific, editorial, and production quality
- All items are delivered on time and to budget
- Monitor all projects for defamation and/or intellectual property rights issues, and discuss any concerns in this area with the Editorial Team Director
- Manage the day-to-day editorial development of specified projects, serving as the principal editorial contact for both in-house staff and client
Training/Development:
- Contribute to the evaluation, training, and development of Associate Medical Writers/Medical Writers/Senior Medical Writers, as requested by the Editorial Team Director
Account Development/Strategic Input:
- Develop and maintain a basic understanding of the company's core capabilities, services, and products in order to contribute to client solutions
- Provide strategic and creative input into the generation of proposals and the subsequent development of editorial items, in cooperation with the Editorial Team Director and Client Services
- Establish and maintain relationships with key journals and congress secretariats in conjunction with CMP and the Meetings Group as appropriate
Communication:
- Communicate effectively and sensitively to other team members and other internal departments
- Liaise with clients and faculty in a diplomatic, informed manner, projecting an efficient, capable, professional image at all times
- Participate in team meetings
- Chair internal editorial progress meetings, as appropriate
Knowledge & Experience:
- Bachelor of Science in the life sciences; higher degree preferred
- Experience in technical writing experience, including experience writing primary and secondary manuscripts, abstracts, and presentations from clinical study data and NDA/EMEA documentation, the majority undertaken while in an agency environment
- Ability to work with minimal supervision and assume extensive responsibility for specific projects
- Proven ability to multitask, running multiple projects and programs in parallel
- Excellent copyediting and proofreading skills
- Ability to effectively brief and mentor other members of staff
- A good knowledge of the editorial processes in order to make sound judgments on project management issues, and identify solutions to client issues
- Effective communication/interpersonal skills
- Authoritative client liaison skills
- Computer literacy, familiarity with Reference Manager helpful
- Willingness to travel to attend client meetings, international congresses, etc
Package:
A very competitive package will be offered to the successful candidate.
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