Scientific Services Director

We’re looking for a proactive individual, keen to take on the integral role of Scientific Services Director within our expanding operation in the UK, working with some of the biggest names in the pharmaceutical industry.

To find out more about us visit our website at https://springerhealthplus.com/

Responsibilities

Leadership

Work with the other members of the Medical Communications management team to lead and drive the business forward to meet/exceed the expectations of the Global Medical Communications leadership, and the broader Springer Health+ leadership

• Lead the strategic direction of the business unit from a Scientific Services perspective

• Develop all Scientific Services staff within the Medical Communications business unit to their full potential and to meet customer and business needs:

  • Identify and fill skill gaps, especially in strategic communications, new communications media and specific writing skills

  • Provide coaching, mentoring and training where required

  • Encourage and provide constructive feedback

  • Develop writing skills by identifying projects that match learning and development requirements of new and existing writers

  • Develop business planning and commercial skills of new and existing writers, including proposal writing, pitching and recommendations for growth within organic accounts

  • Implement performance management systems for Scientific Services

  • Develop writers’ objectives and personal development plans

  • Conduct learning & development analysis and performance reviews

  • Monitor progress of objectives and personal development plans

Financial

• Accurately forecast sales, revenue and costs and identify risks and opportunities

• Drive to revenue targets by optimizing editorial resource to minimize delay in revenue uptake

• Drive profit, by managing costs

• Reconcile freelance costs with budget

• Monitor and approve editorial-related budgeted costs within the team

• Provide recommendations to the –VP Global Medical Communications for unbudgeted expenditure

• Provide recommendations to the budget and latest estimate process

• Provide recommendations to the VP Global Medical Communications for salary reviews and promotions

• Record and monitor actual time spent on a project against budgeted time, and ensure timesheets are completed in a timely manner

• Monitor writers’ adherence to budget and utilization rates and take remedial action if required

Organisational

• Organise adequate editorial resource to meet current and projected workload within the business unit:

  • Manage recruitment and selection of Scientific Services staff (contract and permanent in line with agreed budget/forecast, terms and conditions and skill requirements

  • Utilise the most appropriate editorial resource (in-house or out-sourced) to achieve project goals Liaise with New Zealand Editorial management  to ensure appropriate use of resource . - Liaise with appropriate Commercial Services/business development representatives to agree on commercial priority of projects to guide effective resource allocation, if necessary

  • Work with the other Scientific Services Directors to improve editorial efficiency and standards to meet the business needs of the team. - Work with other Scientific Services Directors to ensure key editorial processes have SOPs, and monitor writers’ compliance with SOPs and standards

  • Work with other Scientific Services Directors to ensure  job descriptions, job standards and training modules/courses for editorial staff are available and up to date

Project delivery

• Review scientific content for a range of outputs according to client needs, internal quality standards and agreed specifications, budgets and timeframes:

  • Monitor quality, style and accuracy and provide timely, consistent and constructive feedback

  • Take remedial action, when required

  • Ensure that projects reflect a thorough understanding of clients’ marketing objectives and that key messages are supported appropriately

  • Liaise with clients (with Commercial Services) to ensure that client expectations are being met

  • Manage all aspects of delivery of scientific content that meets client needs, internal quality standards and timelines:

  • Ensure that new products and services are offered to clients as appropriate

  • Delegate work as appropriate

Business Planning

• Apply in depth knowledge of the medical communications industry, and the therapeutic use and strategic marketing of pharmaceuticals to account plans, strategic publication plans, strategic communication programs, proposals and pitches:

  • Contribute significantly to briefing and brainstorming meetings

  • Ensure that proposals, pitches and business development activities are based on highest quality scientific and editorial services and provide appropriate senior Scientific Services support to client interactions (including pitches)

  • Maintain broad awareness of developments in relevant therapeutic areas and discipline, editorial issues within publishing and the PharmaSolutions product portfolio

  • Provide commercial, medical communications and strategic marketing expertise to complement Account Management in developing new opportunities

Teamwork

• Work with other members of the business unit management team to manage the business unit

• Support team working principles within Scientific Services, account teams, business development, medical communications, and other departments

• Attend and contribute to team and account meetings

• Collaborate with other teams regarding operational process optimization

Experience, skills and qualifications

Education: 

Life science degree (preferably pharmacy, pharmacology or medicine) or equivalent.

Higher degree preferred, but not essential.

Business qualification preferred, but not essential.

Experience: 

Extensive communications agency experience

Extensive management experience or equivalent

Competencies

Essential:

• Leadership skills

• Financial and business management skills

• Ability to coach and mentor

• Ability to interact effectively with clients

• Presentation skills

• Resource management and planning skills

• Ability to comply with SOPs and standards

• Recruitment, selection and interviewing skills

• Medical writing skills

• Critical reviewing skills

• Ability to delegate effectively

• Problem solving skills

• IT skills

• Sound scientific knowledge in a broad range of therapeutic areas

• Good understanding of products and services and business goals

• Working knowledge of and experience in the medical communications business

• Working knowledge of and experience in the strategic marketing of pharmaceuticals

• Working knowledge of and experience in budgets and costing procedures

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO APPLY, PLEASE UPLOAD YOUR CV AND COVER LETTER EXPLAINING YOUR MOTIVATIONS FOR THE ROLE

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Springer Nature is a Disability Confident Committed Employer and we encourage applications from candidates with disabilities. If you consider yourself to have a disability or learning difficulty and wish to submit your application in an alternative format or would like to discuss reasonable adjustments during the application and interview process, please get in touch either by phone on +44 (0)207 014 4020 or by email SpringerNatureUKCareers@springernature.com so we can make any necessary arrangements.

At Springer Nature we value the diversity of our teams. We recognize the many benefits of a diverse workforce with equitable opportunities for everyone. We strive for an inclusive workplace that empowers all our colleagues to thrive. Our search for the best talent fully encompasses and embraces these values and principles. Springer Nature was awarded Diversity Team of the Year at the 2022 British Diversity Awards.