Scientific Lead (UK Healthcare Communications)

Role overview

We’re looking for an experienced Scientific Lead to join a well‑established and growing global medical affairs account, working across respiratory medicine and immunology. This scientific/editorial role offers the opportunity to shape high‑impact programmes, influence strategic direction, and work closely with global clients and leading external experts.

As Scientific Lead, you’ll take ownership of the scientific and editorial excellence across key projects and workstreams: leading, developing and reviewing content development, providing strategic input, and acting as a trusted scientific partner to clients. You’ll also play a key role in mentoring and developing junior team members, helping to set standards, building capability and supporting team growth.

This role suits someone who thrives in a fast‑paced environment, enjoys balancing hands‑on scientific delivery with leadership, and wants to make a meaningful contribution to practice‑changing healthcare communications.

Key responsibilities

Oversee scientific workstreams and projects, ensuring consistency, quality and timely delivery
Lead the development, review and approval of high‑quality scientific content, ensuring accuracy, clarity and scientific rigour
Provide strategic input into project planning and longer‑term account direction
Act as a senior scientific contact for global clients, building trusted partnerships and engaging confidently with external experts
Mentor, review and support the development of junior team members; contribute to line management where appropriate
Support internal resourcing and ways of working to ensure efficient, collaborative delivery across teams

About you

Essential requirements

PhD or MSc in a biological, biomedical, pharmacological or medical discipline
Approximately 5+ years’ experience in healthcare communications, medical writing and/or scientific editorial roles
Extensive experience writing, briefing, reviewing and approving scientific content
Proven experience leading the scientific/editorial aspects of accounts, workstreams or complex projects
Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to see both detail and the bigger picture
Confidence building and maintaining client relationships
Experience mentoring and/or line managing colleagues

Desirable requirements

Experience working on practice change programmes or large, strategically driven medical affairs initiatives

About Helios Global Group

Helios Global Group brings together four specialist agencies – Helios, Selene, Apollo and Cogentia – united by a shared purpose: to deliver outstanding healthcare communications and programmes that educate, inspire and help improve the future of patient care.

With over 300 sector experts across five sites in Alderley Edge, Manchester, Cambridge and Oxford (UK) and Guilford, Connecticut (US), we combine scientific and strategic rigour with a genuinely supportive and inclusive work culture. Our group is guided by a simple ethos: aim for excellence and be a great place to work.

We invest heavily in learning, career development and progression, empowering our people to do their best work and deliver exceptional results for our clients.

Explore our websites to learn more:

https://heliosglobalgroup.com/

https://apollomedcomms.com/

https://cogentia.co.uk/