External Engagement and Medical Operations Director

Overview

In this role, you will lead the global Medical and Scientific Operations, driving a Centre of Excellence and delivering scientific content, external engagement, supported studies, and medical information services. You will simplify processes, align teams across functions, and enable high‑value scientific priorities. You’ll partner with R&D, operations, and external suppliers to ensure compliant, data‑driven support for Medical & Scientific Affairs. This is a pivotal role for shaping medical operations at scale within a regulated life sciences environment.

Responsibilities

• Set direction and priorities for Medical & Scientific Operations, translating business needs into simple services and capabilities
• Lead and develop a global, high‑performing team with clear accountability
• Head the Medical & Scientific Affairs Centre of Excellence to promote collaboration and best practices
• Own the operations performance framework and use data to identify risks and opportunities
• Build trusted partnerships across Medical & Scientific Affairs, R&D and support functions, plus external suppliers
• Influence senior stakeholders to align priorities and drive simplification and improvements across global teams
• Serve as senior escalation point for operational, service, compliance and stakeholder issues with timely resolution

Key requirements

• Significant leadership experience in Medical Affairs, scientific operations, R&D operations, or related function within a regulated life sciences organization
• Strong understanding of how Medical & Scientific Affairs operates in a regulated, science-led setting
• Experience in creating medical affairs strategy at local and global levels
• Strong change leadership across organizational, process, or operating-model transformations
• Extensive experience in global matrix organizations and influencing senior stakeholders
• Experience in Pharmaceutical or Healthcare industry, preferably in Medical and Scientific Affairs

• Stakeholder influencing
• Change leadership
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Centre of Excellence operations
• External expert engagement
• Scientific content development

…