ABPI Logo
  • Developing medicines
    • Responding to COVID-19
    • Clinical trials and research
    • Building a thriving environment for medicine discovery
    • UK-EU Future Relationship
    • Life Sciences Industrial Strategy
    • ABPI Medical Representatives Exam
  • Accessing medicines
    • How medicines are priced in the UK
    • Working with the NHS
    • Supply chain
    • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
    • Vaccines
    • What is the NICE Methods Review?
    • Rare diseases: Facing three challenges
  • Our ethics
    • ABPI Code of Practice
    • Disclosure UK
    • Appropriate prescribing
    • Patient & public involvement
  • Member representation
    • Events
    • Full membership
    • Working with our members​
    • ABPI Members List
    • Membership benefits
  • Who We Are
  • Media
  • Publications
  • Facts and Figures
  • Contact Us
MY ABPI LOGIN
 
  • The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
  • Developing medicines
  • Academic collaboration, education & skills
  • Careers in the pharmaceutical industry
  • Case studies
  • Medical Director UK and Ireland

Medical Director UK and Ireland

Working across multiple medical, regulatory, compliance and drug safety disciplines.

​Matthew, Medical Director

What do you do?

Lead a broad team of expert medical, pharmacist and scientifically qualified colleagues in medical affairs, clinical operations, drug safety, regulatory and quality departments to ensure the safe provision of specialist medicines.

What qualifications and experience do you have?

MSC, BSc, BM, Dip Pharm Med & MRCPM

What does your typical day involve?

Every day is different! Early start (to avoid traffic); team meetings; travelling to meet scientific leaders / coach team members – flexible working pattern – work approximately 2 days a week from home.

How has your career developed since you entered the industry?

I have owned my own career: 4 companies, 6 roles over 10 years in research, early clinical development, medical affairs and senior leadership.

When did you decide on a career in the pharmaceutical industry?

08/2007: why: looking for something different! Trained as a pathologist; but realised this career didn't match my core strengths.

Do you work mostly on your own or as part of team?

100% teamwork.

What is it like socially where you work?

Fast, fun, challenging, every day is different.

What are you most proud of in your career?

Leading successful teams achieve significant outcomes often with very short timelines. Seeing my team(s) be recognised locally and  globally – company awards.

Do you think additional qualifications or experience would be an advantage for someone entering the industry now?

Yes

What possibilities are there for your career in the future?

Limitless to my own needs and desires (likely geography and work / life balance for international roles).

What do you think the most important skills are for someone in your role?

Negotiating, communicating, decision making, leading teams to success rather to individually succeeding. Credible medical / technical expertise.

What's the biggest difference between working in academia and the pharmaceutical industry?

Academia is often measured by publication outcomes; working in the pharmaceutical industry is not publication driven and metrics of success vary from company to company depending on their size / structure / portfolio.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone seeking a career in the pharmaceutical industry?

Don't give up (I joined at a time when no-one wanted to recruit a pathologist)

Case studies

  • Analytical Chemist
  • Analytical Chemist (Discovery)
  • Animal Technologist
  • Apprentice - Higher Laboratory Scientist
  • Biologist (biomarkers)
  • Biologist (DPMK)
  • Biologist (imaging)
  • BioPharmaceutical Scientist
  • Biostatistics Manager
  • Business Engagement Director
  • Chemical Biologist
  • Chemical Engineer
  • Chemist (manufacturing)
  • Chemist (process)
  • Chemistry (discovery)
  • Chemistry Outsourcing Manager and Synthetic Chemist
  • Clinical Data Manager
  • Clinical Quality Assurance Advisor
  • Clinical Research Analyst
  • Clinical Research Associate
  • Clinical Research Manager
  • Clinical Research Project Manager
  • Clinical Safety Scientist
  • Clinical Safety Scientist 2
  • Clinical Scientist
  • Clinical trials supplies
  • Commercial Account Manager
  • Commercial Director
  • Compliance Director
  • Contract Manager
  • Data Sciences Manager
  • Director Medical Affairs
  • Drug Safety Associate – Video
  • Drug Safety Officer
  • Epidemiologist
  • Executive Sales Representative
  • Geneticist
  • Graduate Trainee Biologist
  • Graduate Trainee Chemist
  • Graduate Trainee In Vivo Scientist
  • Head of Drug Safety and Local Safety Officer
  • Head of Health Economics
  • Head of Market Access
  • Healthcare Manager
  • Human Resources Manager
  • Industrial Placement (Medicinal Chemist)
  • Industrial Placement (Medicinal Chemistry)
  • Industrial Placement (Regulatory Policy)
  • Industrial Placement Biologist
  • Industrial Placement Chemist
  • Industrial Placement Pharmacologist
  • Industrial Placement Pharmacologist - Respiratory
  • Industrial placement student – biologist
  • Industry Accountant
  • IT Project Manager
  • Laboratory Technician (biology)
  • Laboratory Technician (chemistry)
  • Lean Coach
  • Learning and Development Business Practice Lead
  • Legal Coordinator
  • Manufacturing Operative
  • Market Access Director
  • Mathematical Modeller
  • Medical department intern
  • Medical Director and Managing Director UK & Ireland
  • Medical Director UK and Ireland
  • Medical Director UK and Republic of Ireland
  • Medical Information Scientist
  • Medical Physicist
  • Medical Writer
  • Medical writer (freelance)
  • Medicinal Chemist
  • Medicinal Chemist – Video
  • Medicinal Chemistry Director
  • Occupational Health Manager
  • Patent Attorney
  • Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist
  • Pharmaceutical Technologist
  • Pharmacist (formulation)
  • Pharmacist (pre-registration)
  • Pharmacokineticist (DMPK) – Video
  • Pharmacologist
  • Pharmacovigilance Scientist
  • Policy and Public Affairs Manager
  • Product Manager
  • Production Coordinator
  • Project Manager / Director
  • Public Relations Executive
  • Public Relations Officer
  • Quality and Compliance Vice President
  • Regulatory Affairs and Qualified Person
  • Regulatory Affairs Associate
  • Regulatory Affairs Consultant (Freelance)
  • Regulatory Affairs Executive
  • Regulatory Associate
  • Research Project Leader
  • Research Scientist – Video
  • Sales Representative
  • Scientific Affairs Manager (Nutrition)
  • Senior statistician
  • Specialist Medical Representative
  • Statistician
  • Summer placement student
  • Synthetic Medicinal Chemist – Video
  • Toxicologist
  • Toxicologist (Contract Research)
  • Toxicology Study Director
  • Training Director
  • Training Instructor
  • UK and Ireland Medical Director
  • Veterinary Surgeon

ABPI

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales 
(registered number 09826787) and its registered office is at 7th Floor Southside,105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT.
Telephone +44 (0) 207 9303477

© ABPI 2021
  • Twitter Logo
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube Logo

Devolved Nations

  • Cymru Wales
  • Northern Ireland
  • Scotland

Quick Links

  • ABPI Exam
  • Disclosure UK
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Careers
  • Schools
  • Acronym buster

Website Info

  • Terms and conditions
  • Accessibility
  • Cookie Policy

Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA)

The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) was established by The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry to operate the ABPI Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry independently of the ABPI. The PMCPA is a division of ABPI which is a company registered in England and Wales (registered number 09826787) with its registered office at 7th Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QT.

Office of Health Economics (OHE)

The Office of Health Economics (OHE) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (registered number 09848965) and its registered office is at 7th Floor Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT. OHE provides independent research, advisory and consultancy services on policy implications and economic issues within the pharmaceutical, health care and biotechnology sectors.