Medical Director

About JPA Health

JPA Health is a fully integrated marketing, communications and medical communications agency for clients ranging from emerging biotech to established pharmaceutical companies and public health organizations. We work exclusively within the health sector. We share our clients’ commitment to making people healthier. In fact, some might say we are obsessed with improving and protecting lives. Check out our sizzle reel!

The Role

The Medical Director operates as a highly visible scientific and strategic leader who actively executes core deliverables, ensuring scientific rigor and innovative delivery, in addition to leading the account and guiding client strategy. This role requires blending deep scientific expertise and integrity with digital fluency and roll-up-your-sleeves creativity to drive scientific intelligence, flawless execution, and superior clinical outcomes for clients.

The Medical Director is expected to shift medical communications from simply delivering information to actively shaping strategy and outcomes.

This position is a full-time, hybrid role reporting to any JPA office (i.e., Boston, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, New York City) 2 days per week and working remotely 3 days per week.  

The Responsibilities

Hands-On Content Creation and Scientific Execution

• Directly develop and write content on all project components, including, but not limited to, manuscripts, abstracts, posters, slide presentations (P2P decks, symposia), brochures, scripts, storyboards, newsletters, and interactive digital programs.
• Actively distill complex concepts such as disease pathophysiology, drug mechanisms, and clinical trial analysis into digestible content that drives audience behavior change and maximizes knowledge retention.
• Ensure clinical and medical accuracy of all project components, graphics, animations, tables, graphs, and charts.
• Arbitrate and apply comments and strategic direction from client teams and external experts on project-related materials.
• Lead by example, bringing the same rigor and dedication to communicating science as is brought to creating it.
• Manage and mentor freelance/staff writers assigned to account projects, setting quality standards for execution.

Strategic Scientific Leadership and Insight Generation

• Provide comprehensive strategic analysis for client initiatives, ensuring careful strategic foresight and positioning to reach and mobilize desired audiences.
• Conduct deep dives into the science surrounding client innovations to create the strategy to communicate the scientific story.
• Lead the planning and onsite execution of Medical Affairs activities, including Advisory Board Meetings and other engagements with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs).
• Serve as a primary scientific leader and strategic partner to clients, advising on brand planning and moving beyond focusing solely on deliverables.
• Lead discussions for planning calls and meetings with external experts and thought leaders.
• Provide strategic insights on internal initiatives to help ensure that the agency remains competitive and forward-thinking in a rapidly evolving industry. This includes providing high-level guidance and driving innovation across internal operations, client service offerings, and technological adoption.

Innovative Delivery and Digital Execution

• Lead the creation and tactical implementation of innovative content formats designed for enhanced learning, such as applications, custom digital solutions, and simulation training.
• Translate scientific needs into AI-enabled use cases (e.g., content acceleration, insight mining, audience personalization, congress summaries).
• Assist with presentations, meeting preparation, and meeting execution, exhibiting professionalism and demonstrating an ability to solve problems proactively.
• Maintain continuous learning and show willingness and ability to quickly master new therapeutic categories and/or disease states.

Collaboration and Business Development 

• Partner with the Client Services Lead to provide scientific content on assigned accounts
• Accurately manage timelines and budgets effectively.
• Support business development activities by providing strategic direction and analysis for sales initiatives.
• Participate in sales presentations and pitches and assist with developing proposals.

About You

Our ideal candidate must have:

• Advanced degree (PharmD, PhD, or MD) in Biomedical Sciences
• 5+ years’ experience as a medical director at a medical communications agency is required
• Hands-on Content Expertise: Strong medical writing ability and hands-on experience developing content for promotional, disease awareness, and training programs, including slide kits and interactive digital programs.
• Digital and Innovation Fluency: Comfort working with AI, analytics, or digital engagement platforms, and the ability to translate innovation into practical client applications (e.g., Custom Digital Solutions).
• Proven ability to deliver flawless execution of programs and assets

We would be thrilled if you also have:

• Experience in a clinical setting is helpful

What Makes Us Different

JPA Health offers you the opportunity to work with purpose as you achieve extraordinary results for our clients. You will elevate your career in an environment that thrives at the intersection of wellness, connection, and compassion. Our mission to help people live healthier lives begins with you.

Our approach prioritizes compassion to ensure you and your family flourish. We promote flexibility with adaptable work arrangements for a balanced personal and professional life. Our Collaboration Days are designed to strengthen relationships and enhance well-being. Respect, inclusion, camaraderie, and connection – this is the heart of our agency’s ethos. We elevate each other. We work collaboratively. And we push ourselves to think bigger.

In addition, JPA Health offers:

• Paid time off when you need it most: 20+ days PTO, 10 holidays, Sabbatical, bereavement & compassion leave, parental leave, civic duty, volunteer time and year-end office closure.
• Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning, internal webinars through JPA’s Elevate Institute, tuition reimbursement, paid professional development, and paid learning and development time.
• An impressive and comprehensive benefits package that supports you and your family’s physical, mental and financial well-being.
• Competitive pay and opportunities to advance. The anticipated starting pay for this role is between $143,000 - $155,000 annually, based on a variety of factors including but not limited to experience, qualifications, and location. You may also be eligible for performance-based bonuses. We review compensation annually and evaluate readiness for promotions every quarter.

At JPA Health, we are committed to fostering a culture of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). We believe that our strength lies in the diversity of our team, and we strive to create an environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and heard. We are dedicated to promoting equity in all aspects of our work, ensuring that all employees have equal access to opportunities and resources. We are inclusive, welcoming individuals of all races, genders, sexual orientations, religions, national origins, disabilities, and ages. Our commitment to DEI extends beyond our organization, influencing the work we do and the partnerships we build. We believe that by embracing DEI, we can drive innovation, enhance our services, and contribute to a healthier society.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. If you require an accommodation in order to apply for a position with JPA Health, please contact us for assistance at Recruiting@jpa.com.