Medical Director

Job Description | October 2024Account Director (Petcare)OverviewFWD People is a full-service strategic marketing agency delivering meaningful and measurable results in the health and non-profit sectors. We take pride in being our clients' trusted strategic partner - staying ahead of the curve, and leveraging our expertise and foresight to help them navigate change and seize opportunities. We approach every challenge with a commitment to innovation, excellence, and empathy and we seek the same qualities in our leaders. As a fast-growing, senior team, we're excited to welcome more forward-thinking individuals who will help us drive growth, foster positive change within our client's industries, and have fun along the way.As Director, Medical Strategy you will bring scientific depth, strategic clarity, and storytelling finesse to help shape brand-defining work in healthcare. In this client-facing role, you'll lead medical strategy across two accounts, partnering closely with internal and client teams to ensure everything we create is scientifically grounded, emotionally resonant, and strategically sharp.What You'll DoServe as medical strategy lead across two healthcare clients, translating complex science into clear, compelling narratives that drive brand differentiation and customer engagement.Act as a subject matter expert and strategic advisor to internal cross-functional teams and client stakeholders, ensuring alignment with the clinical, regulatory, and scientific context at all times.Lead development of foundational strategic deliverables, including scientific platforms, medical narratives, lexicon and language guides, annotated creative materials, launch support tools, and field resources.Collaborate seamlessly across strategy, creative, and account to integrate clinical insight into positioning, messaging, concept development, and tactical execution.Interpret and distill data from clinical trials, treatment paradigms, and competitive intelligence to inform brand planning and provoke smarter thinking.Support content creation and regulatory review for promotional assets, field materials, and launch deliverables, ensuring FDA-compliant messaging.Build trusted partnerships with client-side medical affairs, KOLs, and advisory board members to guide strategy and explore partnership opportunities.Contribute to new business pitches and proposal development, bringing medical rigor and a clear point of view to help win and grow business.What You'll BringA background in life sciences (PharmD, PhD, or MD preferred; Master's-level candidates with deep experience considered).7+ years in medical strategy or medical writing, ideally in a healthcare agency setting.Proven experience supporting brand launches and/or new indications.Comfortable navigating FDA guidance and promotional review processes (e.g., MLR/OPDP).Ability to distill complex science into clear, actionable insights for cross-functional teams.Confident, composed client presence-able to read a room, lead a discussion, and guide decision-making.Skilled at identifying competitive gaps, clinical opportunities, and pressure points that shape brand strategy.Familiarity with rare, complex, or specialty diseases.Adaptable, collaborative, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial agency environment.Nice-to-HavesExperience in immunology, oncology, neurology, or rare disease categories.Background in biotech or small-to-mid-sized pharma.Global marketing or regulatory experience.Strong slide storytelling skills-can build a compelling narrative, even if not a designer.Comfortable participating in and facilitating brand planning workshops.Ability to help shape the future of the medical strategy offering at FWD.Who You AreA clear thinker who can connect the dots between science, strategy, and story.A trusted advisor who brings calm, confidence, and clinical credibility to every room.A collaborative partner who inspires great work-and great working relationships.A strategic leader who sees both the forest and the trees, helping teams move smartly and swiftly toward impact.Working at FWD PeopleWe are a senior team that champions integrity, adaptability, excellence, and growth. Here, you'll collaborate with solution-focused colleagues to advance both our clients and our teams.Our office is located in Brooklyn Heights, and we offer a flexible hybrid work schedule. We value in-person collaboration and connection but also understand the importance of offering the flexibility to work from home. We are dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. As an equal-opportunity employer, we welcome differences in race, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, and more. We believe that diversity drives innovation and success, and we are committed to ensuring equal opportunities and fostering a culture of respect and collaboration.Interviewing at FWD PeopleWe believe in transparency and respect for your time. Our hiring process is designed to be open, fair, and as straightforward as possible, giving you a clear picture of what to expect while also giving us a chance to get to know you. Here's how it works:Initial Conversation: A friendly chat to learn about your background, goals, and what excites you about this opportunity (and in general).In-Depth Interview: A deeper discussion about your skills, experiences, and how you envision contributing to our team.Scenario Conversation: A collaborative discussion where we'll walk through a few real-world scenarios together. This is an opportunity to show us how you think through challenges, make decisions, and approach problem-solving.Final Interview: An onsite conversation with some additional folks on our team and leadership to explore how your unique talents align with our mission and values.We know that interviewing can sometimes feel overwhelming, which is why we're committed to keeping the process clear and communicative every step of the way. We're excited to learn more about you and appreciate you taking the time to get to know us!Benefits & CompAt FWD, we believe in supporting our team both personally and professionally. We offer excellent benefits, including 25 days off per year +16 paid holidays, matching 401(k), medical, dental & vision, paid maternity & paternity leave, home office setup, yearly team retreats, and a comprehensive professional development program including executive coaching and a yearly professional development stipend. As we continue to grow, we enhance our benefits package to meet the needs of our team.The salary range for this role is $130,000-$160,000. This role is based in NYC (Brooklyn) with a flexible hybrid work schedule.