Global Director Thought Leadership

Novotech Global•South San Francisco, CA

3d•$180,000 - $210,000

About The Position

Novotech, a globally recognized leader in clinical research and scientific advisory services, is seeking a Global Director of Thought Leadership to lead the development and execution of high-impact thought leadership initiatives that strengthen the company’s global brand, credibility, and market influence. Reporting to the Global Head of Marketing, this role is responsible for shaping Novotech’s voice in the market, translating complex scientific, clinical, and industry insights into compelling narratives that resonate with both scientific and commercial audiences. The role will be responsible for developing and articulating Novotech’s positions on key industry trends, ensuring the organization has a clear, differentiated, and credible voice across scientific, clinical, and commercial topics.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, healthcare, marketing, communications, or a related field; advanced degree (e.g., MSc, PhD, or MBA) preferred.
Must demonstrate the ability to translate scientific or technical expertise into strategic, market-facing thought leadership.
Proven ability to develop high-impact, insight-driven thought leadership programs.
Strong experience working with scientific or technical subject matter experts.
Demonstrated ability to build trust and credibility with SMEs and senior stakeholders.
Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to contribute directly when needed.
Ability to analyze and synthesize data and insights to inform content strategy and development.
Demonstrated experience guiding SMEs and executives in developing thought leadership content.
Experience managing external agencies and medical writers.
Strong hands-on capability—comfortable operating at both strategic and executional levels.
High level of adaptability and resilience.
Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple stakeholders and priorities.
Experience working across global or multi-regional teams.

Responsibilities

Define and lead Novotech’s global thought leadership strategy, aligned with brand and commercial priorities.
Develop Novotech’s point of view on key industry trends, including clinical development, regulatory dynamics, and market shifts.
Analyze internal and external data sources, including clinical trends, market dynamics, and industry developments, to inform thought leadership topics and narratives.
Identify emerging trends and insights that can be translated into high-value, forward-looking content.
Ensure all thought leadership is grounded in insight, evidence, and relevance, not just opinion.
Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with scientific leaders, therapeutic experts, and senior stakeholders.
Partner closely with SMEs to extract insights and shape content, creating an environment where expertise is shared openly and effectively.
Guide SMEs on thought leadership topics, positioning, and content development, helping them articulate clear and compelling perspectives.
Lead the development of a wide range of high-impact external thought leadership assets, including: White papers, reports, and industry insights; Executive bylines and POVs; Webinars and presentations; Conference content and speaking narratives; Blogs and digital content.
Ensure content is designed not only for engagement, but to establish authority and influence in the market.
Act as a hands-on editorial leader, shaping, refining, and elevating content quality.
Manage and direct external agency partners, including medical writers, to scale content development as needed.
Provide strategic and editorial direction, ensuring all externally developed content meets Novotech standards.
Partner with senior leaders, including executives and therapeutic experts, to develop their external voice and visibility.
Position Novotech’s experts as recognized voices on key industry topics, supporting media engagement, panels, webinars, and industry commentary.
Work closely with Brand, Digital, and Commercial Marketing teams to amplify thought leadership across channels.
Ensure content is effectively distributed through digital, social, PR, and events.
Align thought leadership initiatives with demand generation and brand-building activities.
Actively contribute to the creation and execution of high-priority thought leadership initiatives.
Step into writing, editing, and shaping content directly where needed.
Operate effectively in a lean environment, balancing strategy, execution, and prioritization.
Establish a metrics-driven approach to thought leadership performance, including weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual tracking of content engagement, reach, and influence.
Measure impact on brand perception, audience engagement, and commercial relevance.
Continuously refine strategy based on performance data and market feedback.
Manage multiple concurrent thought leadership initiatives across regions and stakeholders.
Ensure projects are delivered on time, at quality, and aligned with strategic objectives.
Bring strong project management discipline to a complex, cross-functional environment.
Partner closely with Brand & Digital, Commercial Marketing, and Business Development teams.
Ensure thought leadership supports broader marketing and commercial objectives.
Collaborate with regional teams to ensure global content is relevant and effectively localized.