Medical Manager

Alternate Titles:

Medical Affairs Manager

General role description

Medical Managers lead the medical and scientific strategy for a product, portfolio, or therapeutic area within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or medical device companies.

They work cross-functionally to ensure that clinical and scientific evidence informs product development, marketing, and stakeholder engagement. This includes overseeing medical content, supporting external expert engagement, and ensuring all activities meet ethical and regulatory standards. 

The role suits individuals with strong clinical or scientific backgrounds, excellent communication skills, and experience working in cross-functional commercial and medical teams.

Key responsibilities

  • Lead the planning and delivery of medical activities that support the company’s goals for a product or therapeutic area, such as clinical education, scientific communications, and expert engagement
  • Provide scientific and clinical guidance across marketing, sales, regulatory, and market access functions
  • Support and review promotional and non-promotional materials for scientific accuracy and compliance with codes of conduct
  • Collaborate with external experts (e.g. clinicians, key opinion leaders) to gather insights, share evidence, and support education initiatives
  • Lead or contribute to scientific training for internal staff, particularly in the sales and commercial teams
  • Monitor and interpret relevant clinical data, guidelines, and competitor activity to inform business decisions
  • Oversee planning and execution of advisory boards, investigator meetings, and other scientific events
  • Ensure all medical activities follow local regulations, company policies, and industry codes (e.g. Medicines Australia Code of Conduct)

Workplace settings

  • Pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies

Required qualifications

  • A degree in medicine, pharmacy, biomedical science, or a related health discipline
  • Postgraduate qualifications (e.g. MPH, PhD) may be required or highly regarded depending on the role.

Other notable requirements

Medical Managers often need:

  • At least 5 years’ experience in medical affairs, clinical development, or related industry roles
  • Strong understanding of therapeutic area and product lifecycle management
  • Experience managing cross-functional teams or projects
  • Ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to both expert and non-expert audiences
  • Familiarity with local regulatory frameworks and the Medicines Australia Code of Conduct

Common entry points

Medical Affairs Specialist

Regulatory Affairs Manager

Common Next Roles

Head of Medical Affairs