Job Order: 5548
Staff Representative: Tim Jadwin
Position: Medical Writer/HIV
Location: New Jersey
Company Summary:
International healthcare communications company providing a wide range of research and marketing support services to clients in the healthcare industry.
Description:
Position Summary:
Research specialized areas of medical science in order to write, edit, and proof-read text for products as well as work with design and production teams to produce a range of printed and computer-based materials to meet the needs of clients.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The medical writer will received guidance on all projects from Senior Writers, Editorial Managers and/or the Director of Editorial Services on an ongoing basis.
- Research and Information Management
- Research medical and scientific topics utilizing various information services including in-house reference system, on-line journal subscriptions, libraries, and literature search databases (i.e. Pub Med)
- Assist with tracking and maintaining in-house references within the internal reference database system, Reference Manager
- Source appropriate information for editorial projects and proposals, including reference retrieval and photocopying of references
- General Writing
- Attend client briefing meetings and clarify briefs with line manager or senior editorial colleagues
- Assist with the development of concepts for editorial projects
- Write or edit publication manuscripts, slide kits, monographs, newsletters, meeting reports, posters, and other materials that utilize assimilated knowledge of specialized therapeutic area
- Draft and edit work in different writing styles and targeted at different audiences (including internal audiences) in different therapy areas. On all editorial projects, incorporate feedback from editorial colleagues, project team colleagues, clients and independent clinicians.
- Proof-read all editorial work to comply with company and AMA style
- Refine an accurate, thorough, and scientific copy-editing and proof-reading approach based on feedback of senior editorial colleagues and according to company and AMA style
- Develop an in-depth understanding of at least one of company’s key therapeutic areas, defined by the individual’s line manager, according to projects allocated
- Assist in the creative development and writing detailed introductions to proposals for new business
- Attend client meetings for new business pitches accompanied by one or more senior editorial colleagues
- Seek additional opportunities to develop skills in research, writing, and IT as well as knowledge of specialized therapeutic areas
- On-Site Meeting Attendance
- Attend conferences, scientific symposia, and advisory boards and participate in on-site activities as deemed appropriate (e.g. erecting posters, leafleting delegates)
- Take comprehensive notes, and record advisory board or symposia sessions (using a camcorder, tape recorder, or mini-disk recorder)
- Assist in the preparation of rapid turnaround newsletters from conference sessions in various formats and styles. This may include writing, editing, working with designers, proof-reading, or liaising with speakers and clients to gain copy approval prior to publication
- Collect any relevant information available at on-site conferences (e.g. competitor information from exhibition stands)
- Editorial Project Management
- Project management of one or more editorial projects
- Determine deadlines and budgeted editorial hours for each project undertaken, either from the relevant client service representative or senior editorial colleague
- Ensure assigned tasks are completed on time and within the time allocated in the project estimate
- Communicate or warn, when timelines are not likely to be met, as well as suggest an alternative arrangement if necessary
- Coordinate with client services and other colleagues to reach a consensus on content and style for assigned editorial projects
- Coordinate with design and production teams, sourcing graphical representations, and contribute ideas for optimizing design and layout of assigned editorial projects
- Provide informal support and guidance to other Medical Writers where deemed appropriate
- Coordinate with external parties such as clients, speakers, opinion leaders, CME accreditation bodies etc., (e.g. obtaining speaker approval on newsletter copy, e-mailing clients with proofs for approval)
- Commission articles
- Ensure that all quality control procedures are followed, including approval and sign-offs from client, authors, editorial, and client services
- A bachelor’s degree in the life sciences from an accredited college or university required, ideally combined with a MD, PhD, PharmD or Master’s degree.
- Experience in the medical or pharmaceutical field a plus
- Three to five year’s relevant medical information, communications, or marketing writing experience required (agency or pharmaceutical), or an appropriate combination of education and experience
- Computer Skills:
- General computer literacy required
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications including PowerPoint, and Microsoft Word
- Proficiency in online medical resource searching (i.e., Ovid, Medline, Pub Med, etc.)
- Commitment to Quality
- Team Player
- Written and Verbal Communication Skills
- Listening Skills
- Time Management
