Editor 1 - Job Opportunity at IQVIA

Remote, GB
Full-time
Entry-level
Posted: June 7, 2025
Remote
£28,000 - £35,000 per year based on entry-level medical communications roles in the UK market, with potential for rapid progression given IQVIA's global scale and the specialized nature of clinical trial communications

Key Responsibilities

Drive the creation of high-quality patient recruitment materials that directly impact clinical trial success rates and accelerate drug development timelines for pharmaceutical sponsors
Execute comprehensive editorial oversight across diverse patient-facing materials including digital campaigns, informed consent documentation, and educational platforms that shape patient understanding and trial participation
Lead cross-functional project coordination from conception to delivery, ensuring seamless integration between editorial, design, and production teams while maintaining strict regulatory compliance
Orchestrate complex amendment cycles with internal stakeholders and external vendors, managing multiple revision streams while preserving project timelines and budget constraints
Implement strategic quality assurance processes across print and digital workflows, ensuring materials meet pharmaceutical industry standards and regulatory requirements
Facilitate critical project milestone discussions and timeline negotiations, serving as the editorial voice in strategic project planning and resource allocation decisions
Execute specialized translation quality control processes for global clinical trials, ensuring linguistic accuracy and cultural appropriateness across diverse patient populations
Manage high-pressure production cycles with tight turnarounds, demonstrating agility in responding to urgent sponsor requests and regulatory changes

Requirements

Education

A science (or relevant) degree, and a minimum of 1-2 year's editorial experience in a medical communications agency or publishing company, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience

Experience

1-2 years editorial experience in a medical communications agency or publishing company

Required Skills

Good computer skills, including MS Office, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and web/cloud-based programs Strong communication skills (written and verbal) Excellent command of English language and attention to detail Good eye for design and layout Excellent copy-editing and proofreading skills Sufficient knowledge of life sciences for critical review of copy Knowledge of print production procedures would be an advantage Ability to work both independently and in a team environment Ability to perform multiple tasks and prioritise work effectively Ability to work to tight timelines Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, managers, clients and suppliers
Advertisement
Ad Space

Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The clinical research industry is experiencing unprecedented growth driven by accelerated drug development timelines post-COVID-19, creating substantial demand for patient recruitment specialists who can navigate complex regulatory environments while maintaining quality standards. Digital transformation in clinical trials has fundamentally shifted how patient materials are created and distributed, requiring editors who understand both traditional medical writing and modern digital marketing approaches. Patient-centric trial design has become a regulatory imperative, with agencies like FDA and EMA emphasizing the importance of clear, accessible patient communications. This trend is driving demand for editors who can balance scientific accuracy with health literacy requirements, making complex medical information accessible to diverse patient populations. The globalization of clinical trials has created a critical need for editors who understand translation workflows and cultural adaptation processes. With trials increasingly conducted across multiple countries simultaneously, the ability to manage multilingual content production has become a core competency rather than a nice-to-have skill.

Role Significance

Typically works within a 5-8 person editorial team as part of a larger 15-25 person Patient Recruitment and Enablement department, collaborating closely with project managers, designers, and external vendor networks
This is a junior-to-mid level specialist role that serves as a critical quality gateway in the clinical trial process, with responsibilities that directly impact patient recruitment success and regulatory compliance. While positioned as an 'Editor 1' level, the role carries significant responsibility for managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects with tight deadlines and regulatory implications.

Key Projects

Development of comprehensive patient recruitment campaigns for Phase II and III clinical trials across therapeutic areas including oncology, cardiology, and rare diseases Creation of multilingual informed consent materials requiring coordination with translation vendors, regulatory teams, and clinical operations Production of digital patient education platforms including interactive eLearning modules and responsive recruitment websites optimized for diverse patient demographics

Success Factors

Mastery of medical writing principles combined with understanding of patient psychology and health literacy requirements, enabling creation of materials that are both scientifically accurate and accessible to target patient populations Development of strong project management capabilities to coordinate complex workflows involving multiple internal teams, external vendors, and pharmaceutical sponsors while maintaining strict timeline adherence Building expertise in regulatory requirements across different therapeutic areas and geographical regions, understanding how FDA, EMA, and other agency guidelines impact patient-facing materials Cultivation of quality assurance mindset with attention to detail that prevents costly errors in materials that directly impact patient safety and trial integrity

Market Demand

High demand driven by pharmaceutical industry growth, digital transformation of clinical trials, and increasing regulatory focus on patient-centric trial design requiring specialized editorial expertise

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Scientific writing and editing capabilities are absolutely essential as they form the foundation for creating materials that must satisfy both regulatory scrutiny and patient comprehension requirements. The ability to translate complex medical concepts into accessible language while maintaining scientific accuracy directly impacts trial recruitment success and patient safety. Project management and coordination skills are critical given the multi-stakeholder nature of clinical trial communications, where delays in editorial processes can cascade into significant trial timeline impacts. The ability to manage competing priorities and tight deadlines while maintaining quality standards is essential for success in this high-pressure environment. Attention to detail and quality assurance mindset are paramount because errors in patient-facing materials can have serious regulatory and safety implications. The cost of corrections after materials have been printed or launched digitally can be substantial, making prevention through careful editing essential.

Beneficial Skills

Advanced knowledge of digital marketing and user experience principles would be highly beneficial as clinical trials increasingly rely on digital recruitment strategies and patient-facing technologies Understanding of data privacy regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA would be valuable given the sensitive nature of patient recruitment communications and the global scope of clinical trials Familiarity with clinical trial regulations and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines would accelerate professional development and enable more strategic contributions to trial planning discussions

Unique Aspects

This role offers rare exposure to the complete lifecycle of patient recruitment materials from initial concept through final production, providing comprehensive understanding of how editorial decisions impact clinical trial success rates
Opportunity to work with IQVIA's proprietary patient identification and recruitment technologies, gaining insight into data-driven approaches to clinical trial optimization that smaller agencies cannot provide
Direct involvement in translation and localization processes for global trials, developing specialized expertise in cross-cultural patient communication that is increasingly valuable in the international pharmaceutical market
Access to IQVIA's extensive therapeutic area expertise and regulatory intelligence, enabling development of deep knowledge across multiple disease areas and regulatory environments

Career Growth

Progression to senior editorial roles typically occurs within 18-24 months given the high demand for experienced medical communications professionals, with potential for management track positions within 3-4 years

Potential Next Roles

Senior Medical Editor or Editor 2 positions within 2-3 years, leading larger projects and mentoring junior staff Project Management roles in clinical operations, leveraging editorial experience to oversee broader aspects of trial execution Medical Writing Manager positions overseeing editorial teams and developing departmental standards and procedures Regulatory Affairs Associate roles focusing on patient communication aspects of regulatory submissions

Company Overview

IQVIA

IQVIA stands as the world's largest contract research organization, formed through the merger of IMS Health and Quintiles in 2016, serving as a critical intermediary between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare systems. The company processes over 1 billion healthcare transactions annually and supports more than 70% of all clinical trials globally, making it an essential partner for virtually every major pharmaceutical company.

Market leader in clinical research services with approximately $14 billion in annual revenue and operations in over 100 countries, competing primarily with other large CROs like Labcorp Drug Development, PPD (now part of Thermo Fisher), and ICON plc
IQVIA's UK operations represent a significant portion of their European business, with major offices in London and Reading supporting both domestic and international clinical trials, particularly given the UK's continued importance in global pharmaceutical research despite Brexit considerations
Large corporate environment with established processes and career development programs, offering exposure to cutting-edge clinical research methodologies and global pharmaceutical partnerships, though potentially less agile than smaller specialized medical communications agencies
Advertisement
Ad Space
Apply Now

Data Sources & Analysis Information

Job Listings Data

The job listings displayed on this platform are sourced through BrightData's comprehensive API, ensuring up-to-date and accurate job market information.

Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Our advanced AI system analyzes each job listing to provide valuable insights including:

  • Industry trends and market dynamics
  • Salary estimates and market demand analysis
  • Role significance and career growth potential
  • Critical success factors and key skills
  • Unique aspects of each position

This integration of reliable job data with AI-powered analysis helps provide you with comprehensive insights for making informed career decisions.