Scientific Director

Scientific Director

Homebased role flexible location across USA

At ICON, it's our people that set us apart.

As a global provider of drug development solutions, our work is serious business. But that doesn't mean you can't have fun while you do it. With our vision to be the partner of choice in drug development, we hire only the best and brightest in the industry. Are you one of them?

We are looking for conscientious, resilient, and inspiring individuals to join our team. As the Scientific Director (SD), you will be the Scientific Lead on assigned client accounts. Your primary responsibility will be content quality oversight including the review of all project and/or client-related content for accuracy and consistency. Contributing to team alignment with set client objectives, along with scientific and therapy area insights, is also a key responsibility. Responsibilities may also include direct line or matrix management for medical writers and/or Associate Scientific Director (ASD) staff. The SD will work closely with the account manager and other members of the client account team to help develop and/or maintain strong client relationships and have an active role in the team's support of client-related work and interactions, including organic growth. As a scientific leader, input and participation in internal company initiatives, as required, offers additional potential opportunities for growth.

The Role:

As a Scientific Director, prior experience and in-depth knowledge concerning all aspects of developing and executing the diverse array of deliverables within medical publications and medical communications is expected and will be an integral foundation for this role. Based on this and the overall description, the SD role will fall broadly across the following approximate allocations (individual client account teams may have, from time to time, specific needs that may alter these allocations as may be necessary/required).

• 50% of your time will be devoted to content oversight and quality control from inception to delivery, including but not limited to, responsibility for:
• overall client satisfaction and high quality of all assigned scientific content/editorial projects and initiatives
• product/therapy area information and insight pertinent to the assigned client/account
• identifying and obtaining required/helpful background materials, including from client, sufficient for completion of projects to the highest level of scientific rigor and insight (e.g., study data, client market research/plans, landscape/competitor analysis, etc)
• reviewing of writers' work to ensure both high-level content and technical accuracy (e.g., understanding of the product/TA/project goals, organization, syntax, grammar, clarity, focus, etc) that require a minimum level of editing/rewriting
• 25% of your time will be devoted to management and mentoring of assigned writers and/or ASDs and oversight of their assigned projects including but not limited to, responsibility for:
• contributing to/reviewing project specifications (e.g., timelines, lead time, resource availability, etc)
• helping to make writer assignments and allocations within the client account team
• knowledge of all aspects of project development from initiation to completion, including a working knowledge of financial aspects (e.g., budget awareness and overages, out of scope requests/work, time management/time keeping, etc)
• establishing and/or enforcing high-quality content standards and review procedures within the client account team
• 25% of your time will be devoted to scientific and medical insight support of clients (both external and internal) including but not limited to, responsibility for:
• being the "strategic bridge" - between clients' overall product development plans and practical implications for product/account deliverables - for team members and, as required, ICON GMC senior leadership
• establishing/maintaining peer-to-peer relationships with content authors, client product/TA experts, and other external (and internal) scientific/clinical experts
• recognizing/developing new business opportunities, in partnership with the account manager, for client organic growth, and, as required, with ICON GMC senior leadership

What you need:

• Advanced degree, preferably PhD but PharmD and MD may also be considered
• Prior relevant experience in a medical publications/medical communications agency strongly preferred
• Minimum of 4-6 years' experience of high-level content development and management, with at least 3 years as a Senior Medical Writer; applicants with additional 2-3 years' experience as a Scientific Director (or equivalent) while at a medical communications agency strongly preferred
• CMPP™/MAPPS Certification preferred
• Proven history of strong client relationship management
• Proven mentoring and leadership skills
• People management skills strongly preferred
• Ability to work efficiently with network directories/databases
• Familiarity and ability to work with industry standard resources (e.g., PubMed/Medline, clinicaltrials.gov, various market intelligence/data analytic providers, etc)
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams (e.g., editorial/library services, graphics/digital services, presentations support, etc)
• A strong desire to be a key part of a global network of services that lead to better outcomes for its clients, its people and for patients…apply now and Own IT@ICON!

Why join us?

Ongoing development is vital to us, and as a Scientific Director, you will have the opportunity to progress your career, with the potential to move into other related areas to enhance your skill set. Our benefits package is competitive, our scope is international and we genuinely care about our people and their success.

ICON is an equal opportunity employer and committed to providing a workplace free of any discrimination or harassment.

EOE race/color/religion/sex/sexual orientation/gender identity/disability/vet/national origin