Canada
Remote only
This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Scientific Director (Med Comms) based in Canada.
This is a senior scientific leadership role within a global medical communications environment, with responsibility for shaping strategy across complex client accounts. You will act as a trusted scientific partner to clients, translating clinical and scientific evidence into clear, accurate, and impactful communications. The role combines scientific oversight, strategic planning, content excellence, and people leadership. You will guide publication and communication strategies while maintaining rigorous quality and compliance standards. You will also mentor scientific teams, strengthen workflows, and contribute to business development activities. The position offers a high degree of autonomy, meaningful client interaction, and the opportunity to influence how scientific information is communicated across the life sciences sector.
Lead one or more large or highly complex accounts, developing and executing integrated medical and scientific communication strategies, including publication planning and communication tactics.
Serve as the primary scientific contact for clients, clinical stakeholders, and other senior partners, ensuring scientific strategy remains aligned with business and brand priorities.
Establish and maintain scientific quality standards, best practices, and consistent approaches across assigned accounts and teams.
Oversee the scientific quality of manuscripts, congress materials, training content, digital assets, and materials subject to medical, legal, and regulatory review.
Conduct detailed scientific reviews for accuracy, evidence alignment, clarity, consistency, and compliance with relevant publication and industry standards.
Lead and support submissions through MLR systems, independently addressing and resolving scientific questions or issues.
Facilitate scientific discussions, workshops, speaker trainings, and advisory boards, representing the organization with clients and external stakeholders.
Provide scientific leadership for pitches and proposals while partnering with client services on project scope, resources, and forecasting.
Manage and develop approximately 3–5 direct reports, including writers and associate scientific directors, through goal setting, performance feedback, coaching, and career development.
Identify capability gaps and create structured development plans, training initiatives, and opportunities to strengthen scientific expertise.
Support project scoping, resource planning, risk management, recruitment, documentation, and adherence to internal procedures.
Optimize scientific workflows and processes to improve consistency, efficiency, quality, and delivery across accounts.
Monitor emerging therapeutic and industry developments and share relevant insights to strengthen team knowledge and client impact.
Advanced degree in a scientific or healthcare-related discipline, such as an MSc, PhD, PharmD, or MD, preferred; candidates with a relevant bachelor's or master's degree and extensive applicable experience may also be considered.
Approximately 6+ years of medical communications or medical writing experience, including leadership across multiple assets or accounts and oversight of scientific teams.
At least 2 years of people management, coaching, or team leadership experience.
Strong scientific writing, editing, data interpretation, and content-review capabilities, with a solid understanding of publication standards where applicable.
Strong knowledge of clinical research and the pharmaceutical or life sciences regulatory environment, with the ability to guide MLR submissions.
Demonstrated strategic thinking and confidence managing senior-level client relationships and scientific discussions.
Excellent facilitation, presentation, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.
Strong understanding of relevant standards and guidance, including Good Publication Practices, ICMJE recommendations, and PhRMA guidelines.
Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, complex projects, and competing deadlines.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, graphic and image-generation software, and modern collaboration platforms.
Ability to work autonomously while collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary and geographically distributed teams.
Willingness to travel occasionally, including overnight travel of up to approximately 20%.
Fully remote or hybrid working arrangement, depending on location.
Opportunity to work on strategic medical communications programs within the life sciences industry.
Senior-level scientific leadership responsibilities with significant client exposure and autonomy.
Opportunities to mentor and develop scientific professionals and contribute to capability-building initiatives.
Collaborative, globally distributed working environment focused on meaningful scientific and healthcare communications.
Exposure to complex therapeutic, publication, regulatory, and scientific communication projects.
Opportunities to contribute to innovative workflows and continuous process improvement.
Inclusive workplace culture that values diverse perspectives and equal opportunity.
Occasional business travel, with overnight travel of up to approximately 20% where required.
