SVP, Medical Director (Medical Education)

VMLY&R•New York, NY

47d•Hybrid

About The Position

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 now encompasses over 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, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work. About VML Health: VML HEALTH is a global healthcare agency that partners with healthcare clients across a broad definition of health, from high science to wellness and everything in between. It operates fluidly within the VML agency, as a core group of health specialists (a 'vertical') that has the benefit of autonomy in management, but with support of non-health expertise. At the heart of health is the story of life - all the highs and lows, ambitions, and possibilities. But facing a health challenge can suddenly pull people away from these stories, knocking them off course. Our purpose is to bridge this gap, bringing people closer to life and all its meaning. We gain a deeper understanding of Healthcare Professionals' and patients' needs, behaviors and lived experiences through what we call 'radical empathy'. VML Health creates connected brands that get to the heart, bringing people closer to the lives they want to live. Get to the heart. Connect for life. International Meetings and Science (IMsci), a division of VML Health, works with companies to build world-class healthcare and pharmaceutical brands among medical professionals and consumers, with a transmedia storytelling approach that covers medical education strategies. What we're looking for: As Senior Vice President, Medical Director you will lead multiple science teams for various clients and brands and will champion the scientific integrity of our work product. You will have overall scientific accountability for all aspects of the finished products and must understand the strategy for the brand(s) and projects and ensure the science is used to support this strategic direction. As a senior member, you are accountable for client satisfaction, scientific rigor and accuracy, and strategic excellence of all projects for which you are responsible. Furthermore, you are part of the company management team, and thus will participate in management meetings and work with other senior managers to develop business opportunities, manage day-to-day functions related to operational procedures, and achieve company goals.

Requirements

Leadership skills
Passionate about the medical education/communication business
Strong scientific and medical communications acumen
Effective written and oral communications skills
Excellent supervisory skills
Excellent interpersonal and listening skills
Strong organizational skills
Attention to detail
Exercises sound judgment
Manages time effectively and good multi-tasker
Strong professional work ethic
Acts as a team member
Active role in agency recruitment
Displays a willingness to work overtime, travel, and attend off-hour events within reason
Advanced degree in biomedical sciences (MD, PhD)
7+ years previous experience in medical communications agency
Experience in multiple therapeutic areas
Experience managing multiple teams and client accounts
Multiple, successful new business pitches
Advanced skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, Pubmed

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for senior client medical officers
Provide scientific leadership on all projects for multiple accounts
Act as mentor to the individuals in the science group and identify opportunities for individual growth and experiences by setting goals and coaching, when appropriate
Share ideas and best practices across account teams
Understand, execute, and drive strategic direction in partnership with account services teams and identify and help resolve people/departmental conflicts with practical solutions
Keep management informed of client activity/issues/opportunities
Ensure your science teams are adhering to internal processes and working in the most efficient and fiscally responsible manner as content pieces are developed
Maintain a positive working relationship with all inter-departmental teams
Assist in recruitment of new team members when necessary
Be a steward of company culture and environment
Be a team player and help fellow senior managers when necessary
Structure, plan, resource, and lead new business team through the pitch process
Drive both new and organic business
Network and work in partnership across VML Health and WPP, when appropriate
Foster and maintain a wide network of valuable relationships in the medical education communications and pharma business sectors (ie, follow clients to new company, keep relationships ongoing with key opinion leaders [KOLs])
Be a brand champion by ensuring all agency efforts and projects are in the best interest of the brand and maximize scientific data to meet the overall strategic imperatives, positioning, and long-term vision
Be the scientific point-person for all matters relating to content and be skilled in the translation of basic and clinical science into strategic and educational content
Demonstrate scientific leadership at internal and external meetings
Possess an intimate knowledge of the therapeutic markets to which the brands belong and stay abreast of market trends and new product entries
Delegate, supervise, and review scientific pieces to ensure high-level deliverables (ie, provide references and direction, answer questions, review outlines, develop draft content, and review/critique drafts)
Review scientific content for accuracy
Actively participate in strategic development and ensure that communication plans have alignment between issues, strategies, and programming and challenge those that do not
Proactively suggest new and innovative ways to present data
Establish good working relationships with KOLs
Instill confidence in the client such that counsel on issues of content and strategy in educational and promotional materials is sought out and followed
Develop and maintain harmonious relationships with all levels of client teams
Demonstrate a knowledge of the therapeutic market and share timely information about changes in the market
Provide proactive written recommendations to client on a regular basis
Take responsibility for client satisfaction and identify new ways/solutions to strengthen relationships
Identify and resolves client conflicts quickly and efficiently
Engage in client interaction including running teleconferences and client meetings, answering questions regarding content, attend meetings, and demonstrate knowledge of content
Participate in the development of breakthrough creative and innovative programs founded in strong science
Ensure high-quality agency output, reflective of consistently superior creative and innovative products, and constructively reject materials that do not meet this standard
Ensure quality standards of medical writing freelancers

Benefits

Passionate, driven people | We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.
Consciously cultivated culture | We aim to embody the behaviors to build an inclusive community that is in it together, bringing both positivity and active listening into the workplace as we simultaneously strive to empower creative bravery.
Competitive benefits | What we offer full time hires ranges from the full spectrum of group health coverage options (medical, dental, vision) to a generous 401k match (100% dollar-for-dollar match, up to 5% of salary contribution), and a variety of paid time off offerings that reflect our investment in all aspects of your overall life balance and wellness.
Growth-minded opportunities | We aim to nurture a culture of real-time feedback, growth-oriented mindset, and plenty of training opportunities through VML and WPP, so you can continue to grow personally and professionally.

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