Associate Medical Director – Freelance

Associate Medical Director – Freelance

Location: Remote

Summary

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 encompasses more than 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, including communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in transformative work.

Who We Are Looking For

VML is seeking a Freelance Associate Medical Director to support a major North American pharmaceutical client.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced medical writer to join a growing team focused on developing medical manuscripts and high-science, long-form content for scientific, medical, and healthcare professional audiences. Content will support publications, journals, and digital destinations for a leading global pharmaceutical client.

The ideal candidate will bring an innate curiosity about evolving medical therapies, treatment approaches, and scientific advances, along with demonstrated expertise in developing manuscripts and publication-focused tactics that leverage therapeutic-area and target-audience insights.

This role will focus primarily on non-promotional, project-based scientific communications, including manuscripts and other long-form content designed to communicate and contextualize advances in oncology therapies for the broader medical community.

As a member of the Medical Strategy and Publications team, the Freelance Associate Medical Director will be responsible for developing, writing, reviewing, and editing medical communications deliverables based on a thorough understanding of the client's products, therapeutic areas, scientific literature, and competitive landscape.

What You’ll Do

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of oncology-focused products, therapies, disease states, and the evolving treatment landscape.

• Develop, write, edit, and scientifically review medical manuscripts and other long-form scientific content for publications and HCP-focused audiences.

• Bring a portfolio of published work, including peer-reviewed or advanced medical manuscripts and other relevant scientific communications.

• Partner with internal teams—including Account, Project Management, Editorial, Creative, and Strategy—as well as client stakeholders to develop scientifically rigorous content that supports program objectives.

• Work closely with the Senior Medical Director to oversee multiple projects from a scientific and strategic perspective, including the development and execution of medical communication tactics, manuscripts, and publications.

• Participate in strategic planning, scientific reviews, status meetings, and project discussions with internal and client teams as needed.

• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of assigned products, disease areas, treatment paradigms, scientific literature, and competitive activity.

• Conduct literature reviews and scientific research as needed to support accurate, evidence-based content development.

• Identify and communicate important scientific, medical, publication, and regulatory developments that may affect assigned programs.

• Provide scientific and strategic recommendations to strengthen existing programs and identify opportunities for new or expanded work.

• Collaborate with Editorial to resolve grammatical, stylistic, scientific, and editorial issues and ensure content meets established quality standards.

• Apply a proactive, solutions-oriented approach to assignments, anticipating challenges and helping teams develop effective solutions.

• Ensure all deliverables are scientifically accurate, appropriately referenced, audience-relevant, and aligned with project objectives and applicable industry standards.

• Skills and Qualifications

• Advanced scientific degree preferred (PhD, MD, PharmD, or equivalent).

• 3+ years of experience in medical communications, medical writing, publication development, or a related field; oncology experience strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated experience developing medical manuscripts and other long-form scientific communications.

• A portfolio demonstrating published work, preferably including peer-reviewed manuscripts or other advanced medical publications.

• Strong understanding of medical terminology, scientific literature, clinical research, and evidence-based communication.

• Excellent scientific writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with meticulous attention to detail.

• Ability to translate complex scientific and medical information into clear, accurate, and compelling content for sophisticated medical and HCP audiences.

• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines while maintaining a high level of scientific and editorial quality.

• Ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.

• Strong self-motivation, initiative, and adaptability, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and highly detail-oriented environment.

• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate scientific concepts and recommendations to both internal teams and clients.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other relevant digital, research, reference-management, and collaboration platforms.

• Who You Are

• A Builder | An innovator who brings people together and creates momentum around ideas. You have an innate ability to build relationships, connect perspectives, and move projects forward.

• Open and Collaborative | Our team is close-knit and supportive, and we frequently work through complex and evolving challenges. You embrace collaboration and contribute to an environment that is inclusive, constructive, and encouraging across disciplines.

• An Experimenter | You are comfortable exploring new ideas and approaches rather than relying solely on established paradigms. You see technology as an opportunity to enhance creativity, efficiency, and scientific communication.

• Optimistic and Resilient | You approach challenges with curiosity and determination, finding practical solutions and maintaining a positive, constructive mindset when navigating ambiguity or changing priorities.

• A Team Player | You understand that successful teams require flexibility and a willingness to contribute wherever needed. You are comfortable wearing multiple hats, supporting colleagues, and doing what is necessary to deliver high-quality work.

• The compensation for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package. Click WPP Benefits for more details.

• We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

• WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.