Senior Project Manager, Publications - Medical Communications

Location: Remote (United States)
Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Opportunity

Our client, a leading global medical communications agency, is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to oversee the successful delivery of publication-focused medical communications programs. This role serves as a key operational partner across scientific, editorial, account, and client teams, ensuring projects are executed efficiently, on time, and within budget.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience managing publications within a medical communications agency environment and possess a strong understanding of publication development, author management, congress deliverables, and publication planning processes. This is a high-volume, fast-paced role requiring exceptional organizational skills, strong client communication, and the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.

Key Responsibilities

Project Management & Delivery

• Lead the end-to-end management of publication and medical communications projects from initiation through final delivery.
• Develop, maintain, and oversee project timelines, milestones, budgets, and resource plans.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams including scientific services, editorial, account management, creative, production, and external vendors.
• Proactively identify project risks, troubleshoot challenges, and implement solutions to ensure successful delivery.
• Ensure all deliverables meet quality standards and client expectations.

Publications Management

• Manage publication deliverables including manuscripts, abstracts, posters, oral presentations, congress materials, and related communications.
• Oversee publication routing, review cycles, approvals, and submission processes.
• Maintain publication trackers and monitor key milestones to ensure adherence to publication plans.
• Support publication planning activities and ensure alignment with client objectives and timelines.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external authors throughout the publication development process.

Author Management

• Serve as a primary point of contact for project-related communications and updates.
• Coordinate interactions with authors, investigators, key opinion leaders (KOLs), and client stakeholders.
• Organize and lead project status meetings, publication planning meetings, and review calls.
• Prepare meeting agendas, document action items, and ensure timely follow-up on deliverables and decisions.

Client Facing Experience (preferred but not required)

• Build and maintain strong client relationships through proactive communication and reliable project execution.
• Provide regular project status reports and delivery updates.
• Manage project budgets, forecasts, and financial tracking.
• Monitor project scope and profitability, identifying and managing out-of-scope activities as needed.
• Support invoicing and financial reporting processes.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure compliance with internal processes, client requirements, and publication best practices.
• Maintain accurate and detailed project documentation.
• Contribute to process improvement initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and project delivery.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 4+ years of project management experience within a medical communications agency.
• Demonstrated experience managing publication-focused medical communications programs.
• Strong understanding of publication development processes, timelines, author engagement, and submission workflows.
• Experience managing publication routing, review cycles, and approval processes.
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects in a deadline-driven environment.
• Experience managing project budgets, forecasts, and financial performance.
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.

Preferred

• Experience supporting global publication programs.
• Familiarity with publication planning tools and project management software.
• Knowledge of GPP, ICMJE, and publication compliance guidelines.
• PMP certification or formal project management training.

Key Competencies

• Publication project leadership
• Client relationship management
• Cross-functional team coordination
• Budget and financial management
• Risk identification and mitigation
• Author and stakeholder management
• Strong communication skills
• Operational excellence and attention to detail
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment