Job Order: 5218
Staff Representative: Tim Jadwin
Position: Senior Medical Writer
Location: Georgia
Company Summary:
International healthcare communications company providing a wide range of research and marketing support services to clients in the healthcare industry.
Description:
Position Summary:
Research specialized areas of medical science in order to write, edit, and proof-read text for products as well as work with design and production teams to produce a range of printed and computer-based materials to meet the needs of clients.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The senior medical writer will receive guidance on all projects from the Editorial Manager and/or the Editorial Director on an ongoing basis.
- Research and Information Management
- Research medical and scientific topics utilizing various information services including in-house reference system, on-line journal subscriptions, libraries, and literature search databases (i.e., Pub Med)
- Assist with tracking and maintaining in-house references within the internal reference database system, Reference Manager
- Source appropriate information for editorial projects and proposals, including reference retrieval and photocopying of references
- General Writing
- Take briefs from colleagues
- Assist with development of concepts for editorial projects
- Write or edit publication manuscripts, slide kits, monographs, newsletters, meeting reports, posters, and other materials that utilize assimilated knowledge of specialized therapeutic area
- Draft and edit work in different writing styles targeted at different audiences (including internal audiences) in different therapy areas. On all editorial projects, incorporate feedback from editorial colleagues, project team colleagues, clients and independent clinicians.
- Proof-read all editorial work to comply with company and AMA Style
- Refine an accurate, thorough, and scientific copy-editing and proof-reading approach based on feedback of senior editorial colleagues and according to company and AMA Style
- Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of at least one of company’s key therapeutic areas, defined by the individual’s line manager, according to projects allocated
- Seek additional opportunities to develop skills in research, writing, and IT as well as knowledge of specialized therapeutic areas
- Devise interview questions and interview key opinion leaders
- Business Development
- Assist or take the lead in creative development, and writing detailed proposals for new business
- Attend and present at client meetings for new business where appropriate
- Seize opportunities for organic growth of business and advising senior strategic colleagues of any potential opportunities for new business
- On-Site Meeting Attendance
- Attend conferences, scientific symposia, and advisory boards
- Participate in on-site activities as deemed appropriate (e.g. front-of-house duties, printing and duplicating slide-sets, running pre-meeting slide review with client or key opinion leaders)
- Take comprehensive notes and record advisory board or symposia sessions (using a camcorder, tape recorder, or mini-disk recorder)
- Assist in the preparation of newsletters from conference sessions in various formats and styles. This may include writing, editing, working with designers, proof-reading, or liaising with speakers and clients to gain copy approval prior to publication
- Collect any relevant information available at on-site conferences (e.g. competitor information from exhibition stands)
- Editorial Project Management
- Project management of one or more editorial projects
- Determine deadlines and budgeted editorial hours for each project undertaken, either from the relevant client service representative or senior editorial colleague
- Ensure assigned tasks are completed on time and within the time allocated in the project estimate
- Communicate or warn when timelines are not likely to be met as well as suggest an alternative arrangement if necessary
- Coordinate with client services and other colleagues to reach a consensus on content and style for assigned editorial projects
- Coordinate with design and production teams, sourcing graphical representations, and contributing ideas for optimizing design and layout of assigned editorial projects
- Contribute ideas to senior management to enhance productivity/competitive edge
- By drawing on working knowledge of the different tools available for communicating messages in the pharmaceutical industry, support project teams, contribute ideas, and share experiences. Play an active role in establishing a cohesive and dynamic relationship between the client services team, other editorial colleagues, and the client.
- Communicate regularly with editorial teams in other offices in order to share best practice ideas to achieve great efficiency
- Coordinate at an appropriate level with external parties such as clients and key opinion leaders (e.g. liasing with speakers in the preparation of briefing notes and slide presentations)
- Commissioning of articles
- Management and Supervision
- Conduct semi-annual performance appraisals for all direct reports in coordination with HR and the Editorial Director
- Provide ongoing guidance and consultation to medical writers
- Make recommendations and collaborates with HR on the training and development of medical writers
- A bachelor’s degree in the life sciences from an accredited college or university required, ideally combined with a Master’s degree, PhD or PharmD
- PharmD with residency and publication/writing experience or experience in medical or pharmaceutical field strongly preferred
- At least five year’s relevant medical information, communications, or marketing writing experience required (agency or pharmaceutical), or an appropriate combination of education and experience
- Experience in mentoring and managing staff required
- Computer Skills:
- General computer literacy required
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications including PowerPoint, and Microsoft Word
- Proficiency in online medical resource searching (i.e., Ovid, Medline, Pub Med, etc.)
- Commitment to Quality
- Management
- Team Player
- Written and Verbal Communication Skills
- Listening Skills
- Time Management
