Medical Affairs Scientist in Harare, Harare at American Friends of Mutala

Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN) is an African-led clinical research organization building the next generation of trial capacity across the continent. We work with existing hospitals, research units, and investigators to enable high-quality clinical research—from investigator-initiated studies to late-phase and registration trials—while strengthening local systems, skills, and infrastructure.

ACRN operates as a pan-African site management and research delivery platform, combining strong clinical operations, regulatory expertise, data and digital systems, and quality management. Our model is practical and embedded: we focus on making trials work in real settings, reducing friction for sites, sponsors, and regulators, and delivering reliable, audit-ready data.

We partner closely with governments, regulators, academic institutions, and industry to expand Africa’s role in global clinical research, while ensuring that studies generate local value—through workforce development, institutional strengthening, and improved patient care.

At ACRN, you’ll work on meaningful, complex projects with global impact, alongside a multidisciplinary team that values rigor, accountability, and innovation. We are building something durable, ambitious, and distinctly African—and we are looking for people who want to help shape it.

Application Deadline: 24 July 2026

About the role

The Medical Affairs Scientist is a mid-to-senior individual contributor role with delivery leadership and people-management responsibility across clinical documentation, medical writing, and regulated and non-regulated scientific communications. The role translates complex scientific and clinical concepts into high-quality, implementation-ready clinical protocols, study documents, and operational materials, while also overseeing content generation for patient materials, digital platforms, and external communications. In addition to leading medical writing workstreams and priority clinical operations projects, the role provides functional management and quality oversight of Communications & Content Associates. These associates generate content for regulated environments (e.g., participant facing materials) and non-regulated channels (e.g., website, social media, podcasts, and thought-leadership materials).

What you'll do

• Medical Writing and Clinical Documentation Leadership
• Document Review Cycles and Governance Coordination
• Clinical Communications and Content Oversight(Regulated & Non-Regulated)
• Line Management of Communications &Content Associates
• Clinical Project Leadership and Special Initiatives
• Cross-Functional Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement
• Compliance, Quality, and Inspection Readiness

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications
  •Masters degree in Medicine, Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Public Health, or a related discipline.
• Preferred Qualifications
  • Advanced degree (e.g., MSc, MPH, PhD) in a scientific or clinical field. • Formal training in medical writing, clinical research, or science communications
• Required Experience
  •5–8 years’ experience in clinical research, medical writing, clinical operations, or science communications roles.
  • Demonstrated experience leading development of clinical documentation and managing review cycles
  .Experience working in a CRO, SMO, pharmaceutical, or regulated research environment.
  • Experience managing or supervising staff producing regulated and non-regulated scientific content.
• Core Competencies
  • Advanced scientific writing and document governance capability.
  • Strong operational understanding of clinical trial delivery.
  • Ability to manage people, priorities, and multiple workstreams.
  • High ownership, accountability, and delivery discipline.
  • Clear, authoritative communication with senior and cross-functional stakeholders.