Strategic Science Director

Are you passionate about creating communications that not only informs but also transform lives within the healthcare sector?

At Havas Lynx, a global agency at the forefront of healthcare communications, we combine unmatched creativity, extensive expertise, and a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical and healthcare field with excellence in scientific knowledge and patient understanding . Our communications resonate deeply with audiences and adhere to the highest standards of healthcare advertising.

Committed to driving meaningful change—a change built on a foundation of rich experience, inspired by innovation, and confirmed through our proven track record—we work in close partnership with healthcare professionals, patients, carers, and leading pharmaceutical brands to navigate the complex challenges of today's healthcare landscape. Our approach blends strategic insights and deep scientific acumen with cutting-edge creativity and digital innovation, crafting campaigns and solutions that significantly improve people's lives.

We’re a team of over 400+ people in Manchester and London, with a history spanning over 35 years and an ever-evolving future. You can get a feel for the #LYNXLife through our YouTube #LYNXLife playlist, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Everything this company achieves—every life it saves, every penny it makes, every policy it changes, every award it wins—is down to everyone who works here.

Please note that this role is based in Manchester in our medical communications team, and our current hybrid working arrangement requires office attendance on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

Our Role:

We are seeking an exceptional and visionary Scientific Strategic Lead to join our med comms agency team. This pivotal role is designed for a highly experienced individual who can combine the key skills of scientific rigor, strategic insight and client partnership. Reporting directly to senior leadership (e.g. MD), the Scientific Strategic Lead will sit above and seamlessly integrate our medical and strategic planning teams, providing an overarching scientific and strategic vision. This individual will be instrumental in fostering deep, long-term pharmaceutical client partnerships by leveraging a profound understanding of scientific data, brand objectives, the evolving therapeutic landscape, and the holistic business needs of our clients.

What you can expect to be doing:

• Provide high-level scientific and strategic direction across multiple accounts, ensuring alignment between medical content, strategic objectives, and client business goals.
• Act as a unifying force, guiding and empowering both medical and strategy teams to collaborate effectively, fostering a cohesive and innovative approach to client challenges.
• Develop and champion innovative scientific communication strategies that translate complex data into compelling and actionable narratives for diverse audiences.
• Cultivate and expand strategic relationships with senior pharmaceutical clients, acting as a trusted advisor who understands their commercial imperatives, product pipelines, and long-term vision.
• Proactively identify client needs and opportunities for growth, developing bespoke solutions that drive value and enhance partnership longevity.
• Lead strategic discussions and workshops with clients, translating their business challenges into clear medical communications objectives.
• Possess a deep, nuanced understanding of scientific data across various therapeutic areas, clinical development phases, and regulatory environments.
• Demonstrate acute awareness of the pharmaceutical market landscape, competitive dynamics, emerging trends, and the lifecycle management of brands.
• Possess a deep, nuanced understanding of scientific data across various therapeutic areas, clinical development phases, and regulatory environments.
• Demonstrate acute awareness of the pharmaceutical market landscape, competitive dynamics, emerging trends, and the lifecycle management of brands.
• Possess a deep, nuanced understanding of scientific data across various therapeutic areas, clinical development phases, and regulatory environments.
• Demonstrate acute awareness of the pharmaceutical market landscape, competitive dynamics, emerging trends, and the lifecycle management of brands.

This role could be a great fit for you if you have:

• Advanced degree in a life science discipline (PhD, PharmD, MD highly preferred).
• Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in medical communications, with a significant portion in a strategic leadership or client-facing role within an agency setting. This is a pivitol need for the role due to this being a new area of the business. We cannot consider applicants from a non agency background
• Proven ability to develop sophisticated, insight-driven strategies that address complex pharmaceutical client challenges and achieve measurable outcomes.
• Exceptional ability to interpret, synthesize, and communicate complex scientific and clinical data across a range of therapeutic areas.
• Demonstrated success in building and nurturing senior-level client relationships, with a strong understanding of pharmaceutical business drivers and commercial objectives.
• Outstanding leadership skills with the ability to inspire, guide, and integrate multi-disciplinary teams. Strong influencing and negotiation skills.

What you can expect from us

A supportive and challenging environment in which you will have the opportunity to learn, grow, and make an impact that matters. We put a huge investment into #LYNXLife and our #LXAcademy internal programmes. It’s a unique initiative that aims to reward hard work, reduce pressures, and ensure that we can all enjoy our time at Lynx. Our strategy is to build capabilities internally and inspire the best talent, so we can continue to deliver on our mission.

You can also expect a whole host of benefits, including:

• Hybrid Working – 3 days in the office (flexible working options are available for in-office days)
• Starting holiday allowance of 28 days annual leave + Bank Holidays, with increasing allowance connected to length of service
• Option to buy, carry or sell holidays
• Early Friday finish throughout the year
• Seasonal working hours
• Enhanced family leave, pay and return to work benefit scheme
• Extensive L&D support
• Sabbatical opportunities
• Season ticket interest free loans for travel
• Cycle to work scheme
• Life insurance (4x salary)
• Company pension scheme
• Fully compensated company events
• Volunteer days
• Wellbeing programme including sports clubs, discounted gym memberships, free onsite flu vaccinations, extended lunch breaks on Wellness Wednesdays and much more
• +Medicash healthcare benefit
• 24/7 access to a free, confidential and independent Employee Assistance Programme

Get in touch to find out how we can make an impact that matters together.