Cactus Life Sciences
Senior Scientific Director
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Overview
Cactus Life Sciences partners with the global biopharma industry to drive innovation and elevate patient outcomes through agile, science-driven medical communications. We transform complex data into actionable insights, bridging the critical gaps between research, decision-making, and real-world healthcare impact. As a growing scientific communications agency, we are seeking a self-motivated, strategy-oriented Senior Scientific Director to add to our scientific services team.
Please note: This is a fully remote position within the US, with a preference for candidates who can align with East Coast working hours. The role also involves periodic travel to client locations and meetings as required.
Job Responsibilities
Scientific Strategy & Organic Growth (35% of the role)
- Partner with the Account Director to shape and drive organic growth plans for key accounts, translating scientific insight and evolving client priorities into forward-looking growth opportunities.
- Bring strategic thinking to account planning — anticipating client and therapeutic-area needs and proactively identifying where Cactus Life Sciences can add scientific value.
- Develop and execute scientific communications strategy, including scientific communications platforms, communications plans, KOL engagement plans, and integrated evidence generation and publication planning approaches aligned to client medical affairs objectives.
- Serve as the scientific lead on client pitches and business development activities, including RFPs/RFIs and new opportunity development.
- Drive the integration of AI and emerging approaches into scientific strategy and delivery for client accounts.
Key Customer Relationships (25% of the role)
- Develop deep, trusted relationships with key customers, acting as a senior scientific point of contact across assigned accounts.
- Cultivate and leverage these relationships over time to build client confidence, anticipate needs, and support sustained, organic account growth.
- Act as a trusted scientific advisor, bringing credibility and continuity to long-term client partnerships.
- Ensure compliance and consistency with client SOPs, messaging, and scientific communications objectives, and lead the resolution of client concerns.
Scientific Delivery & Quality Oversight (25% of the role)
- Oversee and be accountable for the scientific quality of deliverables developed across assigned accounts, including publications, medical communications tactics, congress materials, and MSL field materials.
- Provide high-level scientific review to ensure strategic alignment, scientific accuracy, and regulatory compliance in deliverables sent to the client.
- Develop and execute both publications and medical communication tactics — manuscripts, abstracts, posters, review articles, symposia decks, literature searches, gap analyses, and strategic publication plans — for both investigational and mature products.
- Partner with in-house technology and creative teams to build innovative digital solutions for Medical Affairs and Scientific Communications clients.
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Leadership & Team Development (15% of the role)
- Train and mentor scientific writers and junior directors through detailed reviews and training sessions, contributing to the skill development of the wider scientific team.
- Model scientific rigor and editorial standards across the team.
- Build and lead a team as the role establishes, taking on direct reports and formal people-leadership responsibilities over time.
Qualifications and Prerequisites
- MD, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent advanced degree required.
- 7–10 years of medical communications, medical affairs, or pharmaceutical industry experience, including demonstrated success at Scientific Director level or equivalent.
- Integrated scientific communications experience, with demonstrated success across both medical communications and publications accounts.
- Proven strategic capability — developing scientific and account strategy and translating it into organic account growth in partnership with commercial/account leadership.
- Demonstrated ability to build, sustain, and leverage senior client and KOL relationships over time.
- Demonstrated expertise developing and executing deliverables for both investigational and mature products, with experience across several therapy areas preferred.
- Experience acting as scientific lead on client pitches and business development.
- Strong attention to detail and editorial skills, with the ability to provide quality oversight of others’ work.
- Willingness and ability to mentor and develop team members, and to build and lead a team over time.
- Experience providing congress support and conducting/facilitating advisory board meetings a plus.
- Understanding of AI applications in medical communications and emerging healthcare technologies.
Benefits of this Role
- Flexible 40-hour working week.
- 30 days paid holiday annually.
- Group Private Medical Insurance with Flu vaccination and free eye tests.
- Holistic wellness support with access to fitness club and sportive activities.
- Financial security through life assurance and income protection.
- Pension plan with employer contributions.
Application Process
Before applying, please ensure you meet the role requirements listed above and have legal authorization to work in the country where this role is advertised. The selection process for this role includes an initial recruiter screening, two Technical Interviews with the Hiring Manager and peers, and a Technical Assessment, where candidates will have agreed upon timeline to complete the task. The final round will be the HR Interview. All interactions will be conducted virtually via MS Teams.
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AI at Cactus Life Sciences
The life sciences industry is undergoing a fundamental shift in how scientific knowledge is created, communicated, and delivered. We are building our work around it.
AI is embedded meaningfully across everything we do, through proprietary platforms purpose-built for life sciences and generative tools that deliver measurable value to our clients. It is core to how we operate, and an expected way of working for everyone who joins us.
We believe in Human-Anchored AI™: whatever your discipline - science, communications, strategy, or operations, you will work in an environment where AI augments your expertise rather than replaces it.
You will build skills that are in genuine demand and still taking shape across the industry. If you are curious and focused on building capabilities for the world where human intelligence meets artificial intelligence, this is where you belong.
Equal Opportunity
Our hiring practices reflect our commitment to providing equal opportunities and creating an environment where everyone can thrive, develop, and succeed. We celebrate the uniqueness of our team members and prohibit discrimination of any kind, based on race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or any other protected characteristic.
About Us
At Cactus Life Sciences (cactuslifesciences.com), we believe the future of medical communications lies at the intersection of science, technology, and human connection. Headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, with teams in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, India, and Japan, we help biopharmaceutical organizations redefine scientific exchange - leveraging AI, automation, and innovation while keeping patients at the heart of everything we do.
Our expertise spans medical strategy, scientific content development, and medical education across therapeutic areas and the product lifecycle. By blending scientific rigor, agile operational models, and future-ready technologies, we partner with medical affairs teams to catalyze their transformation, adapt to a changing landscape, and drive meaningful outcomes for healthcare communities worldwide.
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