Principal Medical Writer

MJH Life Sciences

$95K — $105K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 3+ years of experience in medical communications with a robust portfolio across various therapeutic areas.
  • Advanced degree (MD, DO, PharmD, PhD, or MS) in a healthcare-related field is preferred.
  • Proficiency in AMA style and editorial standards, with superior communication skills.
  • Ability to conduct comprehensive literature reviews efficiently and accurately across diverse therapeutic areas.
  • Experience navigating pharmaceutical promotional compliance and MLR review processes.
  • Strong organizational skills to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
  • A natural mentor who supports the growth of junior medical writers and editors.

Responsibilities

  • Develop high-quality scientific content for print and event deliverables aimed at healthcare professionals.
  • Leverage AI tools to enhance literature reviews, drafting, and compliance workflows while ensuring quality standards.
  • Perform extensive literature reviews and maintain adherence to reference and annotation standards.
  • Review and edit content for accuracy and compliance across multiple stages of development.
  • Incorporate and adapt feedback from clients and experts throughout the content lifecycle.
  • Prepare materials that adhere to MLR submission requirements for pharmaceutical review processes.
  • Manage internal writers and freelancers, ensuring timely project delivery and workflow efficiency.

Benefits

  • Health insurance with medical and dental coverage through Cigna.
  • Vision coverage via VSP and pharmacy benefits through OptumRx.
  • Flexible spending accounts (FSA) and health savings account (HSA) options.
  • 401(k) and Roth 401(k) plans with company matching.
  • Employee Assistance Program provided by NYLGBS and fertility benefits through Progyny.
  • Commuter benefits and pet discount programs available.
  • Company-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability insurance.
Full Job Description
Role Overview

We are seeking a Principal Medical Writer to lead the development of high-quality scientific content across a range of therapeutic areas for print, digital, and live event deliverables. You will serve as a content expert and senior contributor on the Clinical Communications team - conducting literature reviews, managing writers and freelancers, interfacing with clients and key opinion leaders, and ensuring every piece of content meets the highest standards of accuracy, relevance, and compliance. This role is for an experienced medical communications professional who writes with precision, leads with authority, and uses AI tools to work more efficiently without compromising scientific rigor.

What You'll Do
  • Develop high-quality scientific content for print and event deliverables targeted toward healthcare professionals, aligned with the strategic objectives of each educational activity
  • Use AI tools to accelerate literature review synthesis, content drafting, fact-check workflows, and document management - improving speed and output quality without compromising accuracy or compliance
  • Perform extensive literature reviews across disease states, therapeutic advancements, and clinical data, adhering to appropriate reference and annotation standards
  • Review and edit content at multiple stages for consistency, accuracy, relevance, and adherence to AMA style and in-house editorial standards
  • Independently address and incorporate feedback from clients, peer reviewers, and faculty authors throughout the content development lifecycle
  • Prepare materials for pharmaceutical promotional review processes, ensuring full compliance with MLR submission requirements and revising content as needed through internal and external review cycles
  • Assign tasks to internal writers and freelancers, managing workflow and reassigning as needed to keep projects on track and on time
  • Collaborate with project management and creative services teams to ensure revisions and scope changes are addressed accurately and efficiently
  • Attend live events including consensus meetings and professional conferences to capture key content, producing high-quality executive summaries and manuscripts based on event coverage
  • Provide mentorship, training, and editorial guidance to junior Medical Writers and Editors, supporting their development and helping the team consistently deliver high-quality work
  • Assist team members with workload prioritization across concurrent projects, ensuring timely delivery without sacrificing quality

What Sets You Apart
  • Minimum of 3 years of experience at a medical communications agency or company, with a strong portfolio of scientific content across multiple therapeutic areas
  • Advanced degree (MD, DO, PharmD, PhD, or MS) in a healthcare-related field including life sciences or biomedical sciences preferred
  • An AI-native mindset. You actively use tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, or AI-assisted research and writing platforms to improve how you work and can clearly articulate how they enhance output quality and efficiency - while maintaining scientific integrity and compliance
  • Superior verbal and written communication skills, with deep proficiency in AMA style and in-house editorial standards
  • Proven ability to conduct and synthesize complex literature reviews across diverse therapeutic areas with accuracy and speed
  • Experience preparing content for MLR review processes and working within pharmaceutical promotional compliance requirements
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, and competing priorities simultaneously
  • Collaborative and collegial approach, with experience working across cross-functional teams including clients, KOLs, project management, and creative services
  • Natural mentor who invests in the development of junior writers and elevates the quality of the team around them
  • Ability to travel for events and meetings approximately one to three days per quarter

AI Capability Expectation

Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they are currently using AI in their medical writing or scientific communications work. This includes:
  • Specific tools in active use and how they support literature review, content drafting, editing, or compliance workflows
  • Measurable impact such as improved turnaround times, enhanced content quality, or increased capacity to manage concurrent projects
  • How you use AI responsibly in a regulated medical communications environment, including maintaining scientific accuracy and MLR compliance
  • Bonus: examples of AI-assisted writing workflows, review processes, or documentation systems that improved output quality or team efficiency

Compensation Range

$95,000 to $105,000 per year, depending on qualifications. Eligible for annual company bonus program or commission incentive based on role. Compensation will depend on factors including educational background, skills, and professional experience.

Benefits Overview

We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:
  • Health insurance through Cigna (medical and dental)
  • Vision coverage through VSP
  • Pharmacy benefits through OptumRx
  • FSA, HSA, Dependent Care FSA, and Limited Purpose FSA options
  • 401(k) and Roth 401(k) with company match
  • Pet discount program with PetAssure
  • Norton LifeLock identity theft protection
  • Employee Assistance Program through NYLGBS
  • Fertility benefits through Progyny
  • Commuter benefits
  • Company-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
  • Voluntary Term Life and AD&D Insurance, plus Universal Life options
  • Supplemental Aflac coverage: Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity
  • Discounts and rewards through BenefitHub

Our Operating Standard

We operate with discipline, clarity, and accountability. The ability to effectively leverage AI to improve speed, quality, and output is an expectation in this role, not a preference.

#LI-Remote

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