ASSOCIATE SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR
A BOLDSCIENCE Associate Scientific Director (ASD) is pivotal in the Scientific Services senior team. They have excellent technical writing skills and broad medical communications experience. An ASD is a key day-to-day contact for the client and is viewed as a trusted partner. They respectfully challenge clients when needed and provide useful suggestions and appropriate recommendations. They can interpret the client’s needs into strategic goals and translate them to the team for implementation into deliverables. They can utilize their experience to conceptualize and execute less well-defined and more strategic projects into a successful output with minimal input.
An ASD has excellent communication skills and is adept at leading a small-to-medium-sized team, including resourcing, quality control, and processes. They ensure that all content developed is evidence-based, of the highest editorial quality, and meets the client’s strategic objectives. They establish strong working relationships and actively collaborate with internal and client teams. They pride themselves in people management and their ability to coach and mentor their team to success, ensuring that the highest quality standards are met.
Day-to-Day Responsibilities:
At BOLDSCIENCE, no 2 days are the same, and our ASDs actively lead their account and contribute to the Scientific Services team. Some typical activities include:
Technical Writing:
- Designs, develops, and reviews different types of materials across a wide range of project types for various audiences, including more complex, strategic deliverables (e.g., scientific platforms, communication plans, and workshops) from start to finish with minimal technical input from senior team members
- Ensures that projects reflect a thorough understanding of clients’ products strategies and communication objectives and that scientific statements are supported appropriately
- Delivers client-ready work for review that is thoroughly researched, technically accurate, well written, presentable (reviewed once and sent out), and meets client objectives
- Takes responsibility for the quality of the work by junior team members, ensuring that they are scientifically accurate, fully referenced, appropriate to the target audience, meet client objectives, and adhere to the time and budget allocated for the project
- Provides constructive feedback and coaching to junior-level writers; always takes the time to answer questions from the team
- Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the client brief; asks well-informed questions to ensure that all relevant information has been received and communicates the brief to the team to set them up for success
Client & Project Management Skills:
- Leads client meetings, including project kick-off, regular status, and ad hoc client and healthcare professional (HCP) calls; updates client on key scientific/content actions and answers any questions they may have
- Builds strong client relationships with the confidence to push back and advise where necessary
- Lead briefing calls and follow-up conversations with HCPs and other subject matter experts
- Collaborates with clients to make recommendations and provide advice – is seen as a trusted partner
- Plans weekly workload and long-term workload for their account team in collaboration with senior team members (as relevant) and liaises with other team members to prioritize tasks across accounts as needed
- Communicates and delegates briefs effectively, ensuring that the team deliverables are in line with the client’s strategic goals and meet the high-quality standards expected
- Ensures that senior team members are regularly updated and have a clear picture of account activity and resourcing needs, foreseeing and escalating any red flags
- Forward-thinking approach, constantly looking ahead to provide clients with fresh ideas
Scientific Knowledge:
- Detailed understanding of the therapeutic area and strategic needs across their account(s)
- Ability to translate large amounts of highly technical scientific data into accessible deliverables for a variety of different audiences. Knowing how and when to adapt the language and content
New Business:
- Actively participates in new business activities, including organic growth of existing accounts and requests for proposals
- Develop sections of new business proposals that are well-researched, accurate, and reflect the BOLD style and standard
- Represent the BOLDSCIENCE scientific team on new business pitches by presenting clearly and confidently
- Identify opportunities with existing clients for organic growth and leverage client relationships to connect BOLDSCIENCE with new business opportunities
Financial Management:
- Monitor project recoverability on the account and proactively take steps to bring the project in on budget while ensuring high-quality standards and client satisfaction is maintained
- Monitor billability for yourself and your line reports, and ensure team members on your account are sufficiently occupied
- Complete timesheets accurately on time and ensures the same from line reports and wider team members
People Management Skills:
- Manages 1–3 direct reports effectively by providing constructive and actionable feedback
- Provides regular feedback and guidance to their team throughout the course of projects
- Mentors junior-level team members on skills and best practices and adopts a coaching approach to ensure that they feel supported
- Oversees activities of junior colleagues, ensuring that excellent quality is maintained
- Contributes to training and development of members of the Scientific Services team
Required Qualifications:
- Advanced, doctoral-level degree (Ph.D., M.D., PharmD, etc.)
- 5–7 years of experience within the medical communications industry
- Expertise in >1 therapy area and broad experience that can be applied to new situations
- Excellent scientific and editorial competency and well-honed communication skills
- Experience in building strong relationships with clients and HCPs
- Ability to critically review deliverables for scientific accuracy and integrity
- Experience in coaching and mentoring junior-level writers
- Proactive approach and an enthusiasm for trying new things
- Ability to work under pressure and juggle multiple deadlines
- In-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical industry standards and compliance
