Associate Medical Director - Freelance

Associate Medical Director – Freelance

Location: Remote

Summary

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family encompasses more than 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, including communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in transformative work.

Who We Are Looking For

VML is seeking a Freelance Associate Medical Director to support a major North American pharmaceutical client.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced medical writer to join a growing team focused on developing medical manuscripts and high-science, long-form content for scientific, medical, and healthcare professional (HCP) audiences. Content will support publications, journals, and digital destinations for a leading global pharmaceutical client.

The ideal candidate will bring an innate curiosity about evolving medical therapies, treatment approaches, and scientific advances, along with demonstrated expertise in developing manuscripts and publication-focused tactics that leverage therapeutic-area and target-audience insights.

This role will focus primarily on non-promotional, project-based scientific communications, including manuscripts and other long-form content designed to communicate and contextualize advances in oncology therapies for the broader medical community.

As a member of the Medical Strategy and Publications team, the Freelance Associate Medical Director will be responsible for developing, writing, reviewing, and editing medical communications deliverables based on a thorough understanding of the client's products, therapeutic areas, scientific literature, and competitive landscape.

What You’ll Do

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of oncology-focused products, therapies, disease states, and the evolving treatment landscape.
• Develop, write, edit, and scientifically review medical manuscripts and other long-form scientific content for publications and HCP-focused audiences.
• Bring a portfolio of published work, including peer-reviewed or advanced medical manuscripts and other relevant scientific communications.
• Partner with internal teams—including Account, Project Management, Editorial, Creative, and Strategy—as well as client stakeholders to develop scientifically rigorous content that supports program objectives.
• Work closely with the Senior Medical Director to oversee multiple projects from a scientific and strategic perspective, including the development and execution of medical communication tactics, manuscripts, and publications.
• Participate in strategic planning, scientific reviews, status meetings, and project discussions with internal and client teams as needed.
• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of assigned products, disease areas, treatment paradigms, scientific literature, and competitive activity.
• Conduct literature reviews and scientific research as needed to support accurate, evidence-based content development.
• Identify and communicate important scientific, medical, publication, and regulatory developments that may affect assigned programs.
• Provide scientific and strategic recommendations to strengthen existing programs and identify opportunities for new or expanded work.
• Collaborate with Editorial to resolve grammatical, stylistic, scientific, and editorial issues and ensure content meets established quality standards.
• Apply a proactive, solutions-oriented approach to assignments, anticipating challenges and helping teams develop effective solutions.
• Ensure all deliverables are scientifically accurate, appropriately referenced, audience-relevant, and aligned with project objectives and applicable industry standards.

Skills and Qualifications

• Advanced scientific degree preferred (PhD, MD, PharmD, or equivalent).
• 3+ years of experience in medical communications, medical writing, publication development, or a related field; oncology experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience developing medical manuscripts and other long-form scientific communications.
• A portfolio demonstrating published work, preferably including peer-reviewed manuscripts or other advanced medical publications.
• Strong understanding of medical terminology, scientific literature, clinical research, and evidence-based communication.
• Excellent scientific writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to translate complex scientific and medical information into clear, accurate, and compelling content for sophisticated medical and HCP audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines while maintaining a high level of scientific and editorial quality.
• Ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.
• Strong self-motivation, initiative, and adaptability, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and highly detail-oriented environment.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate scientific concepts and recommendations to both internal teams and clients.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other relevant digital, research, reference-management, and collaboration platforms.

Who You Are

A Builder | An innovator who brings people together and creates momentum around ideas. You have an innate ability to build relationships, connect perspectives, and move projects forward.

Open and Collaborative | Our team is close-knit and supportive, and we frequently work through complex and evolving challenges. You embrace collaboration and contribute to an environment that is inclusive, constructive, and encouraging across disciplines.

An Experimenter | You are comfortable exploring new ideas and approaches rather than relying solely on established paradigms. You see technology as an opportunity to enhance creativity, efficiency, and scientific communication.

Optimistic and Resilient | You approach challenges with curiosity and determination, finding practical solutions and maintaining a positive, constructive mindset when navigating ambiguity or changing priorities.

A Team Player | You understand that successful teams require flexibility and a willingness to contribute wherever needed. You are comfortable wearing multiple hats, supporting colleagues, and doing what is necessary to deliver high-quality work.