The posting
Please note we have a separate job advert for candidates interested in joining our Value and Access or Evidence Development teams, which you can find here: Costello Medical - Current Openings. Please apply for one role at a time because assessment processes differ.
Role Summary
- Responsibilities: You will work on medical communications projects that involve the detailed analysis and presentation of data from clinical trials, which are instrumental to the successful uptake of novel therapies
- Salary: £39,000 per annum
- Benefits: Discretionary profit share bonuses paid twice per year, hybrid and flexible working options, generous holiday allowance, private medical insurance, critical illness cover, income protection, full funding for external training, and more
- Role Type: Full-time, permanent
- Start Date: We are currently recruiting for start dates throughout 2027. However, late 2026 start dates may also become available, subject to business needs, and you will be asked to state your availability on your application form
- Application Deadlines: Whilst there are no set application deadlines, we strongly recommend applying as early as possible. The role, or particular start dates, may close when suitable candidates are found
- Location: This role is available in our Cambridge, Manchester, Bristol, and Edinburgh offices. Although we will consider applicants across all four office locations, we strongly encourage candidates to consider Cambridge, which is home to our global headquarters
About the Role
Our Medical Writers work on a project‑by‑project basis, delivering medical communications materials that involve the detailed analysis and clear presentation of clinical trial data. These materials, including posters, slide decks and peer‑reviewed publications, are used directly by our clients to communicate with external stakeholders and play a key role in the successful uptake of novel therapies. Medical Writers typically work on several projects across different disease areas at any one time.
In this role, you will work within project teams alongside experienced colleagues, who provide one‑to‑one training on the technical aspects of the role, including project management and effective client communication. Delivering project work requires close collaboration with clients, and following a successful induction period, you will increasingly contribute to teleconferences and face‑to‑face meetings with external stakeholders.
Costello Medical is organised into service areas that each focus on specific medical communications and health economics services, or serve distinct sectors of the healthcare industry. In this role, you’ll join our Medical Communications service area, working within our Publications and/or Medical Affairs teams. When you join, you will be allocated a “home” team based on your interests, skills, as well as our current business needs.
Within the Publications team, you will collaborate closely with clients and leading opinion experts to develop materials that communicate scientific and clinical findings to a wide range of audiences. This includes creating abstracts, manuscripts, posters and oral presentations for major international conferences, as well as providing on‑site support during these events. You may also contribute to regulatory documents, plain‑language summaries and policy‑focused publications. This role is well suited to individuals who enjoy combining scientific writing with creativity, supported by tailored training in publication strategy and best practice to help you deliver high‑quality outputs for clients.
Within the Medical Affairs team, you will support projects that act as a vital link between clinical development and commercial functions within pharmaceutical and medical device companies. With a strong focus on patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs), these projects aim to educate, inform clinical decision-making, enhance patient care, and generate insights to support product development. You will work directly with clients to communicate the scientific foundation behind products through medical education events, advisory boards and medical information resources. Collaboration with expert advisors and event speakers is central to this work, and supporting events on‑site may offer opportunities for international travel. In this role, you will develop strong scientific, writing and creative skills, alongside in‑depth knowledge of specific therapy areas. The ability to present complex scientific information clearly to audiences with varying levels of expertise will be key to success.
You may also have opportunities to collaborate with teams outside Medical Communications, such as Health Policy, Rare Diseases or MedTech, if these align with your interests. Preferred teams can be noted on your application form.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Analysing clinical trial data and creating materials for a range of audiences and formats
- Working closely with clients, including participating in teleconferences and face‑to‑face meetings
- Supporting project management and client communication alongside experienced colleagues
- Managing multiple projects across different disease areas simultaneously
- Collaborating with teams across the company to develop a broad understanding of our service offerings and clients
Hybrid Working Policy: We believe that having face-to-face time in the office holds many benefits and is central to ensuring that the community we have created, where people have a workplace they belong to and feel part of, is never lost. At the same time, we recognise that homeworking can improve work life balance, reduce commuting times and costs, and provide the opportunity to juggle personal commitments.
Therefore, we offer flexible working arrangements that allow our colleagues who have passed probation to work from home up to half their time, measured across a 2-week rolling period. During your probationary period (normally the first 6 months of the role), you will be able to work from home 1 day per week.
A Day in the Life of a Medical Writer
Learn more about a typical day in the life of a Medical Writer at Costello Medical: https://www.costellomedical.com/careers/working-at-costello-medical/
About Costello Medical
Costello Medical is a rapidly growing global healthcare agency specialising in medical communications, market access, and health economic and outcomes research. We work with a wide range of clients, including the industry’s most successful pharmaceutical and medical technology companies, patient and public health bodies, and charitable organisations. We have been listed in the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For list since 2017 and were proud to receive B Corporation accreditation in 2022. Learn more about us, our work, and our mission on our website: https://www.costellomedical.com/
Requirements
About You
In addition to the scientific skills and experience required for the role, we have developed a framework that outlines the key skills, approaches and mindsets that all Medical Writers need to demonstrate in order to excel at Costello Medical. Embodying these will support your ongoing growth and development throughout your career with us.
Essential requirements for the role are:
- An undergraduate degree‑level qualification in a scientific discipline (minimum 2.1 or equivalent). Postgraduate qualifications are advantageous but not required. We welcome applications from candidates with a diverse range of specialisms, including but not limited to biology, chemistry, pharmacy and medicine
- An aptitude for, and experience of, planning and writing scientific documents, which could include lab reports, dissertations, poster or oral presentations, articles for websites or student magazines, peer-reviewed scientific publications, book chapters, grant applications, and regulatory documents
- A self-motivated and enthusiastic approach, with a genuine interest in healthcare and an eagerness to learn and develop your skills
- An exceptional level of attention to detail
- Strong analytical skills
- Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage your time to work across multiple projects at the same time and prioritise tasks appropriately to maximise productivity
- Exceptional written English, which you will use in including client work, email communication and internal messaging
- Effective verbal communication skills, which you will use when working with colleagues and clients
- The ability to tailor your communication style to a variety of audiences, including healthcare professionals, patient groups, suppliers, clients, non-scientific colleagues and governmental bodies
- A proactive mindset, including the ability to recognise challenges and suggest solutions with limited guidance
- A collaborative approach to working, where you share knowledge with others in your team to promote the attainment of a common objective, and work together to overcome obstacles to success
- The self-awareness to reflect on your own work and performance, alongside a willingness to take ownership of your work and the development of your career
- A willingness to get involved with, and contribute to, your wider team
- Embodying Costello Medical’s values, which includes being committed to delivering quality work, championing innovation in healthcare, acting with integrity and supporting your colleagues as they would support you
- Fluency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
Joining Costello Medical from Academia
At Costello Medical, we warmly welcome applicants from academia who are looking to transitioning into a role within a commercial, industry-based setting. We understand the unique perspectives and valuable skills that academic professionals bring to our team. To support your career change, we offer comprehensive training, mentorship programs, and a work culture that fosters collaboration, growth and innovation. We are committed to facilitating a smooth transition and helping you thrive in an industry-based setting.
Many of our team members have successfully made this transition, and they share how their expertise has been transformed into fulfilling, impactful careers with us. Learn more here: https://www.costellomedical.com/careers/working-at-costello-medical/joining-from-academia/
Benefits
What We Offer
Alongside our award-winning company culture, where every team member is celebrated, respected, and has their voice heard, we are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- A starting salary of £39,000 per annum, as well as a discretionary profit share bonus paid twice per year
- 25 days’ annual leave plus bank and public holidays, as well as a holiday buy and sell scheme
- Flexible working hours and the chance to work from home for up to half of your working time after passing probation
- Flexible benefits scheme offering cash payments, additional pension contributions and more
- Private Medical Insurance which offers comprehensive cover on a “medical history disregard” basis
- Paid study leave and funding for external qualifications
- Critical Illness Cover, Income Protection and Life Assurance
- Paid and unpaid sabbaticals based on length of service
Please click here to learn about our full reward package and the other benefits of working for Costello Medical: https://www.costellomedical.com/careers/benefits-package-in-the-uk/
The Application Process
You are required to submit your CV and a cover letter via our online application form. In your cover letter, you must explain why you think you would be suited to the role and why you would like to join Costello Medical, with examples to support both. Your CV should clearly state the dates of all qualifications and grades achieved where applicable.
Then, our recruitment process includes a proofreading and written assessment for you to complete in your own time. If successful, you will be invited to an interview which will include a short presentation you can prepare for in advance.
As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce and, throughout the recruitment process, there are a number of reasonable adjustments we can provide: https://www.costellomedical.com/reasonable-adjustments/
Please note that, whilst we embrace AI to innovate and improve processes, your role may involve confidential data that cannot be uploaded to AI. Therefore, it is important for us to assess your own skills and abilities, so we recommend that you do not rely solely on this technology to generate any application materials.
Visa Sponsorship
Due to the Skilled Worker visa regulations, you will only be eligible for visa sponsorship if you meet at least one of the following criteria:
- You are classified as a New Entrant, which includes applicants who are under the age of 26, currently studying in the UK or a recent graduate in the UK, amongst other qualifying criteria. Please read more about the New Entrant criteria: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-caseworker-guidance/skilled-worker-caseworker-guidance-accessible#bookmark63
- You have a PhD in a STEM subject
- You have a PhD in a subject that is relevant to the Medical Writer role
- You obtained your first Skilled Worker visa in the UK prior to 4th April 2024 and have continuously held a Skilled Worker visa since then (i.e., you will be switching employer)
You will be asked to provide details of your right to work in the UK within your application, which will be used to help assess your eligibility for visa sponsorship.
Please check the following link to read more about the criteria on the UK government website: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/when-you-can-be-paid-less. Please contact [email protected] should you have any questions.
