Principal Promotional Medical Writer

About Ogilvy

Ogilvy, part of WPP, was founded in 1948 by David Ogilvy. David created a culture that deeply respects and cares about its people and clients. Our mission is to inspire people and brands to make an impact and we are committed to attracting, growing, and retaining the best talent in the industry. 

Ogilvy Health UK is made up of healthcare communication specialists across the disciplines of medical education and communications; brain sciences; brand promotion; digital and social; strategic planning; public relations; and creative/design. We believe we are like no other: we blaze new trails; we encourage a culture of creativity and innovation; we challenge, and we change; and we recognise and reward our team. 

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.

 

 

About the Role

Are you an exceptional scientific leader with a passion for shaping compelling healthcare communications? We're seeking a Principal Promotional Medical Writer to join us in Ogilvy Health. This is a unique opportunity to provide expert scientific and editorial leadership across multiple commercial accounts, drive strategic content, foster account growth, and mentor a talented editorial team.

This is a senior and influential position on the advertising side of our business, where you will be the driving force behind scientific accuracy, strategic relevance, and editorial excellence. You'll not only design and oversee the delivery of high-impact commercial branded materials but also play a critical role in shaping scientific strategy, identifying growth opportunities, and inspiring the development of our editorial talent.

What You'll Do

• Lead the design and development of a diverse range of commercial branded materials, overseeing their successful implementation from concept to delivery.
• Direct the creation of high-quality, scientifically accurate, and strategically relevant content, ensuring full compliance with industry regulations.
• Serve as a key scientific and editorial leader, guiding and inspiring cross-functional teams across multiple accounts.
• Act as a trusted scientific advisor, leading engaging discussions with clients and external experts, both in-person and remotely.
• Develop and execute robust scientific strategies that inform tactical planning and drive impactful communications.
• Optimally manage editorial resources, ensuring efficient project delivery and resource allocation.
• Champion organic account growth by proactively identifying and pursuing new opportunities.
• Be the scientific voice for new business proposals and pitches, providing strategic direction and expert insight.
• Shape the next generation of talent by providing exceptional line management, mentoring, coaching, and training to both junior and senior team members.

What You'll Need

• A minimum of 5 years' experience within a commercial healthcare communications agency, demonstrating a robust understanding of the sector.
• A proven track record of providing significant scientific and editorial leadership on large, complex accounts.
• Success in driving organic account growth and providing critical scientific input for new business pitches and proposals.
• Experience collaborating with global clients on impactful campaigns.
• Expertise in leading product and/or indication launches, including the development of key commercial materials (e.g., CVAs, DSAs, branded websites, congress booths).
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills, with the ability to translate intricate scientific concepts into clear, concise, and compelling narratives.
• High emotional intelligence to navigate complex client relationships and foster positive team dynamics.
• Strong adaptability, flexibility, and a proactive approach to managing evolving challenges and opportunities.
• Impeccable project management and organizational skills, capable of overseeing multiple priorities with a keen eye for detail.
• A comprehensive and current understanding of pharmaceutical industry regulations and guidelines (e.g., ABPI Code of Practice, GPP3, ICMJE).
• Experience in genetics, endocrinology, and/or rare disease is a definite plus, but certainly not essential.

  

 

Our Culture & Benefits

Join a friendly, non-hierarchical, and eclectic team united by a shared commitment to doing the best work of our lives (it's one of our values!). Beyond client work, you'll have opportunities to engage with our vibrant culture and social teams, and contribute to our fantastic DEI initiatives, championing diversity across our agency and industry.

We offer a flexible working hybrid model: 2 days in the office (all-agency anchor days for collaboration and socialising) and 3 days working remotely from wherever you work best.

• 25 days holiday + your birthday off and a paid volunteering day - after 2 years service you can purchase up to an additional 5 days per year
• Enhanced parental leave 
• A generous pension scheme - you pay in 4% we pay 6%, following probation contributions are matched up to 10.5% (17.5% in total)
• Choose from either Private Medical Cover (Bupa from day one) OR Dental cover OR a monthly leisure allowance of £45 to spend on your health & wellbeing 
• A fantastic Employee Assistance Programme provided by Telus which offers brilliant support, expert advice and specialist counselling
• Help at Hand - quick free access to a remote GP, mental health support, physio or a medical 2nd opinion
• Free 1-2-1 Coaching - online coaching for your professional or personal growth provided by Thrive Partners
• A comprehensive Learning & Development programme 

 

 

Our ambition is to attract the very best diverse talent to Ogilvy, and to be the employer of choice in the UK. We want everyone to feel welcome when they join us, and once they’re here, for them to want to stay with us, grow their career, and to feel they belong with us.

We are an equal opportunity employer and we’re committed to creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for everyone who wants to work at Ogilvy. For us, diversity, equity and inclusion is integrated into everything that we do. We believe that for creativity to flourish, everything about how we work must have diversity at its core. Your race, colour, ethnic, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, have no bearing on our hiring decisions, but we encourage everyone to feel free to express their true selves in an environment we are consistently striving to make as inclusive as possible.

We aim to facilitate an accessible and positive application experience for all candidates. If you require any adjustments from us to support you through the process or expect to require any adjustments to working conditions to be able to best perform in the role, please let us know. We are happy to consider all reasonable adjustments.

If you live with a disability and you would like to take advantage of our offer of a guaranteed interview under the Disability Confident Scheme, please ensure you fill out our voluntary Equal Opportunities Questionnaire when applying.