Associate Vice President, Medical & Scientific Services

Associate Vice President, Scientific Services

Reports to Senior Vice President, MSS

Job Summary

The Associate Vice President (AVP) Medical & Scientific Services (MSS) is accountable for leading a portfolio of accounts/business unit(s) and provides clients with high-level scientific and strategic insight, in partnership with senior Client Service (CS) colleagues. Through effective team leadership, coaching, and line management, the AVP MSS ensures excellence in medical content delivery and client counsel across the medical communications spectrum, and actively participates in business development and continuous improvement initiatives.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Team leadership

• Leadership of MSS teams across assigned accounts/business unit(s) in the delivery of efficient, high-quality, impactful, scientifically accurate outputs aligned with client strategic imperatives
• Motivation and inspiration of the MSS team via promotion of a positive solutions-focused approach, open and timely communication, encouragement of feedback, consideration of ideas, and best practices sharing
• Leadership of brainstorms, internal and external meetings, and discussions
• Contribution to business decisions through active discussion with the Division Management Team
• Leadership of assigned division initiatives
• Building of positive partnerships with key stakeholders across OPEN Health – specifically other leaders across the Centers of Excellence

Team management

• Ensuring appropriate structure is in place to deliver excellence in medical content delivery and client counsel across the entire portfolio of assigned accounts
• Oversight of MSS team workflow and advising VP/SVP MSS of resource needs, as required
• Participation in staff mobilization and recruitment initiatives; monitoring of staff utilization and maximization of staff engagement
• Establishment of best practices across assigned accounts to ensure the highest possible standards in content, levels of consistency, efficiencies, and cost-effectiveness, while suggesting adjustments to working practices and team structure, as required and providing strategic guidance to wider account teams in this regard
• Provision of accurate estimates of budgeted hours and proactively informing CS colleagues when projects are at risk of going over budget or out of scope

Line management and people development

• Effective line management to drive high performance standards across the team and support the career and personal development goals of assigned line reports, including performance reviews, objective setting, succession planning, and management of under-performance
• Development of close working relationships with team members to guide, coach, and motivate them, providing support as required and offering regular feedback on performance, both directly and to line managers (MSS or CS)
• Participation in the development and delivery of training initiatives to ensure the highest possible team caliber and standards

Medical and scientific content

• Responsibility for ensuring MSS teams deliver the highest levels of strategic and scientific rigor throughout medical communications materials across assigned accounts
• Accurate interpretation of client briefs; high standard of reviewing and incorporating amendments from all relevant stakeholders
• Professional and effective liaison with clients and all external stakeholders, service providers, and external bodies
• Proactive provision of product/therapy area expertise, strategic counsel, insights, recommendations, and solutions to clients on their projects and programs
• Expert understanding of healthcare industry laws, policies, and guidelines pertinent to medical communications, as well as client MSAs and SOPs, and proactive promotion of team adherence
• Understanding of different scientific communications specialties and ensuring appropriate skill sets are being engaged to deliver the best possible outcome for the client

Business development and growth

• Identification of new opportunities within existing accounts; supporting the wider team to pursue organic growth opportunities across the business unit via building strong long-term trusted advisor client relationships
• Provision of support for new business activities, leading MSS elements of proposals and pitches, demonstrating a clear understanding of client objectives, therapy area and product, and ensuring effective delivery and high conversion rate

Experience, Skills, and Qualifications

• Prior experience as Principal Medical Writer or Scientif