The posting
Job Description
About the Role
The Senior Director, Thought Leadership puts Novotech's global delivery record in front of sponsors in the United States and Europe, in the words of the experts who did the work. That record is Novotech's strongest proof point, and this role is how it reaches the market.
This is a writing and editorial leadership role, not a coordination role. You interview the expert, do the research, and return a draft they can react to. Experts should spend their time on the idea and the review, never on the first draft.
You will build and run the thought leadership program across therapeutic areas, channels and regions. That includes the editorial calendar, the expert bench, media relations, podcasts, bylines and speaking. Every piece has a job. It gives sponsors evidence they can use when choosing a partner for a global program.
The role reports to the Chief Marketing Officer and works day to day with the Chief Medical Office and the Global Project Management organization.
Responsibilities
Proof from the delivery record
- Maintain and extend the evidence base behind the questions sponsors ask when they choose a partner for a global program.
- Turn that evidence into case studies, data-led articles and reference stories written for US and European sponsors. Named teams, enrollment results and submission history carry more weight than claims.
- Work with Sales and Business Development to turn satisfied clients into references and co-authored content.
- Document programs Novotech has carried across phases and regions.
Expert-led content
- Run 30-to-45-minute interviews with medical, scientific and delivery experts. Draft the piece. Bring it back about 90 percent right so the expert only has to refine it.
- Research each topic before the interview. Use survey data, the expert's view and, where possible, a short client perspective.
- Write practical content that sponsors can act on. Playbooks, pitfalls to avoid, and lessons from trials Novotech has run. Lead with evidence, not adjectives.
- Hold a high bar on draft quality. Generative AI can speed up research and first passes. The finished work must read as the expert's own thinking.
Program and editorial leadership
- Build the editorial calendar with the Chief Medical Office and the therapeutic delivery units. Cover the range of areas Novotech works in, from oncology and immunology to CNS, infectious disease and general medicine.
- Run content as campaigns with a defined start and end, not as one-off pieces.
- Turn industry insight into content. Mine Novotech's own market research, commercial insight, regulatory shifts and conference themes for points of view Novotech can defend. Then publish them where sponsors look. LinkedIn posts for executives and experts, byline articles, playbooks, webinars and podcast episodes.
- Set the planning standard for executive content. Topics, talking points and timing are agreed in advance of every executive appearance.
Expert bench and external profile
- Identify and develop the experts who will be the scientific face of Novotech. They sit in Medical Strategy and Science, Drug Development Consulting, the medical team and the therapeutic delivery units.
- Arrange media training for experts who need it.
- Bring experts into the program as they join or take on new remits.
- Support scientific advisory boards where marketing input helps.
Media, channels and speaking
- Develop and maintain relationships with trade, business and scientific media. Secure placements in print, broadcast and online outlets.
- Write press releases, byline articles and keynote content.
- Open new channels, including podcasts, and match each piece to the channel where it will reach sponsors.
- Shape the thought leadership presence at priority events, including JP Morgan in January and the major therapeutic congresses.
Measurement and reporting
- Track readership, engagement and use by Sales and Business Development. Over time, track shifts in how sponsors in the US and Europe describe Novotech.
- Report results in plain terms to the Chief Marketing Officer and the executive team.
- Keep a simple way of sharing what the program produces, internally and externally.
Qualifications and Experience
- 10 to 12 years in marketing communications, content or editorial roles, with at least five years leading thought leadership programs.
- Clinical development industry experience is required. CRO experience is strongly preferred. You should be able to hold a credible conversation with a Chief Medical Officer about trial design, therapeutic areas and the sponsor's point of view.
- A record of interviewing scientific or medical experts and writing in their voice. Please be ready to share published examples and explain how much of the draft was yours.
- Experience placing stories with trade and business media and preparing executives for interviews and keynotes.
- Experience running an editorial calendar across several therapeutic areas and regions.
Expected Salary Range – Senior Director, Thought Leadership: $190,000 to $210,000 USD – Salary offered will be based on candidate’s experience level.
Find out more about working at Novotech at: www.novotech-cro.com/careers
Novotech is proud to offer a great workplace. We are committed to being an employer of choice for gender equality and providing an inclusive work environment where everyone is treated fairly and with respect.
Our team members are passionate about what we do, but we understand work is only of the things that is important to them. We support our team members with flexible working options, paid parental leave for both parents, flexible leave entitlements, wellness programs and ongoing development programs.
We are looking for people who are passionate about working clinical research and biotech, including people who identify as LGBTIQ+, have a disability or have caring responsibilities.
We are a Circle Back Initiative Employer and commit to respond to every application. We look forward to contacting you regarding your application.
About Us
Novotech is a global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO).
At Novotech, ambition meets opportunity. As a globally recognized leader in clinical research and scientific advisory services, we are proud to combine our position at the forefront of the industry with an award-winning workplace culture that values ambition, innovation, and growth. Named Employer of Choice, Great Place to Work and Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE), we are committed to fostering an environment that reflects the life-changing work we do.
Since 1997, we have expanded our global footprint, now with 30+ offices across Asia-Pacific, the United States, and Europe. This growing network unites professionals from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to advance therapies that improve patient outcomes worldwide.
At Novotech, our employees are at the heart of our success. By offering trust, flexibility, and autonomy through programs like NovoLife, our flexible benefits framework, we empower team members to create an effective work-life balance that delivers professional satisfaction and maximum results for clients.
With access to mentorship opportunities, professional development programs, and a dynamic community, Novotech offers a platform for driven individuals to achieve personal growth while shaping the future of healthcare. Join us to be a part of a team that values your contributions and supports your ambition to make a global impact.
At Novotech we have advanced therapeutic and regulatory expertise, the ability to execute across markets and a client-centric service model, so that our clients get a trusted, long-term partner and an accelerated path to bring their life-changing advances to market. This gives our employees the opportunity to develop their careers by joining a diverse and supportive global organization with a collaborative culture, whilst working with clients on the cutting-edge of life sciences.
At Novotech you will work alongside empowered teams with a shared commitment to success.
- Strategic vs transactional mindset.
- Ability to gain insights and make proactive decisions quickly.
- Culture that fosters partnership and collaboration, where every voice is heard and valued.
- Ongoing support from senior stakeholders and leadership team.
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