Academic Writer / Editor, Per Diem

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Academic Writer / Editor, Per Diem

🔹 Company: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

🔹 Location: Boston, MA

🔹 Job Type: Per Diem

🔹 Category: Communications & Marketing

🔹 Date Posted: July 10, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 2-5 years

🔹 Remote Status: Fully remote with occasional on-campus time in Boston, MA. The selected candidate may only work remotely from a New England state (ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, RI).

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Managing content, timelines, and resources for faculty promotions in Medical Oncology
• Acting as the primary point of contact between faculty members and the Department of Medicine
• Writing, formatting, and editing faculty CVs and promotion documents according to specific style guidelines
• Researching and verifying CV entries using resources like NIH/NCI sites and PubMed
• Simplifying complex clinical and research data for a broader audience
• Ensuring high-quality outputs that meet or exceed institutional standards
• Developing strategies to streamline the editorial process and improve efficiency

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of attention to detail, strong communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. It also assumes a strong commitment to maintaining the high standards of the Department of Medical Oncology, the Department of Medicine, and Harvard Medical School.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Liaison and Coordination: Act as the primary point of contact between faculty members and the Department of Medicine, ensuring clear communication and alignment with institutional standards.

✅ Content Creation and Verification: Write, format, and edit faculty CVs and promotion documents according to specific style guidelines, using critical thinking to verify and accurately represent information.

✅ Research and Data Collection: Research and verify CV entries using resources like NIH/NCI sites and PubMed, requiring expertise in grants and clinical trials and collaboration with faculty to identify potential CV content.

✅ Simplifying Scientific Information: Summarize and simplify complex clinical and research data, ensuring that scientific and medical information is communicated clearly and accessible to a broader audience.

✅ Quality Assurance: Ensure that all documents meet or exceed the standards set by the Department of Medicine and Medical Oncology, maintaining high-quality outputs crucial for successful faculty promotions.

✅ Process Optimization: Develop strategies to streamline the editorial process, such as creating templates and guidelines, and train faculty and administrative staff to improve efficiency and consistency in document preparation.

✅ Document Management and Faculty Support: Stay updated with revisions to CV templates and promotion documents, adapt to new policies, draft sections of nominating letters, and organize meetings with faculty to refine CVs, supporting their academic and professional development.

ASSUMPTION: The responsibilities listed above are subject to change based on the specific needs of the Department of Medical Oncology and the institution.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in journalism, English, or life sciences.

Experience: Minimum of 1-3 years of experience in writing or editorial work, preferably in an academic setting.

Required Skills:

• Medical and Scientific Terminology: Essential familiarity with medical and scientific terms for accurate interpretation and communication of complex information, supported by relevant courses or certifications.
• Grants and Clinical Trials Knowledge: Understanding the components of grants and clinical trials to accurately represent research activities in academic documents.
• Writing and Communication Skills: Exemplary skills in writing, communication, and proofreading to produce clear, concise, and error-free documents, with strong grammatical abilities.
• Professionalism and Deadline Management: High professionalism and ability to meet deadlines, ensuring quality and timeliness in work that reflects institutional standards.
• Simplifying Complex Information: Ability to organize and translate complex clinical information for lay audiences, making scientific content accessible and understandable.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced skills with editorial tools and software, such as Microsoft Office Suite, PubMed, and CV generators, to enhance efficiency and document quality.
• Customer Service and Communication: Excellent customer service skills and effective communication with faculty and staff at all levels to foster positive relationships.
• Understanding of Academic Processes: Knowledge of academic promotion processes and scientific communication principles to align documents with institutional priorities.
• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical abilities to assess and improve the quality of promotion documents, ensuring alignment with institutional goals.
• Attention to Detail and Organizational Skills: Great attention to detail and competence in organizing tasks and managing multiple projects to maintain productivity and meet deadlines.

Preferred Skills:

• Master's degree in life sciences, biology, medical science, or a related medical field
• Experience in the healthcare or pharmaceutical industry
• Experience with grants management platforms

ASSUMPTION: The preferred skills listed above are not required for the position but would be beneficial for the candidate to possess.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $50,000 - $70,000 per year (AI estimated based on similar roles in the Boston area)

Benefits:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement savings plan with employer contribution
• Tuition reimbursement
• Generous paid time off
• Employee assistance program

Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week) with flexible scheduling to accommodate the needs of the department and faculty members.

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market research and may vary depending on the candidate's qualifications and experience. Benefits are subject to change and may be based on the candidate's employment status.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leading cancer treatment and research center, focusing on adult and pediatric cancer treatment, AIDS research, and innovation in patient services and technology.

Company Size: With 1,001-5,000 employees, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a mid-sized organization, offering a range of career opportunities and a diverse work environment.

Founded: Established in 1947, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has a rich history of innovation and commitment to cancer research and patient care.

Company Description:

• Dedicated to providing expert, compassionate care to children and adults with cancer
• Committed to advancing the understanding, treatment, cure, and prevention of cancer and related diseases
• Focused on fostering an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong

Company Specialties:

• Cancer research
• Adult cancer treatment
• AIDS research
• Pediatric cancer treatment
• Innovation
• Research
• Patient Services
• and Technology

Company Website: https://www.dana-farber.org/

ASSUMPTION: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a well-established organization with a strong reputation in the medical field, offering a supportive work environment and opportunities for professional growth.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is suited for an early to mid-career professional with 2-5 years of experience in writing or editorial work, preferably in an academic setting.

Reporting Structure: The Academic Writer/Editor reports directly to the Department of Medical Oncology and works closely with faculty members, administrators, and institutional leaders.

Work Arrangement: This is a fully remote position with occasional on-campus time in Boston, MA. The selected candidate may only work remotely from a New England state (ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, RI).

Growth Opportunities:

• Expanding knowledge of medical and scientific terminology
• Developing expertise in grants and clinical trials
• Gaining experience in academic promotion processes and scientific communication principles
• Potential for career advancement within the Department of Medical Oncology or other departments within the institution

ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development, as well as the chance to work in a dynamic and collaborative environment.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has a physical office location in Boston, MA, with remote work options available for this position.

Office Location(s): 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, US

Geographic Context:

• Boston, MA, is a vibrant and historic city with a diverse population and a strong sense of community
• The city is known for its rich cultural scene, including museums, theaters, and music venues
• Boston offers a variety of neighborhoods with different housing options and amenities

Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week) with flexible scheduling to accommodate the needs of the department and faculty members.

ASSUMPTION: Working remotely with occasional on-campus time in Boston, MA, allows for a flexible work-life balance while still providing opportunities for collaboration and professional development.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screening with the hiring manager
• In-person or virtual interview with the hiring manager and a panel of faculty members
• Background check and reference check
• Job offer and onboarding

Key Assessment Areas:

• Writing and communication skills
• Attention to detail and organizational skills
• Understanding of academic promotion processes and scientific communication principles
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Customer service skills and effective communication with faculty and staff at all levels

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant skills and experiences
• Provide specific examples of your writing and editing work, demonstrating your ability to simplify complex information
• Demonstrate your understanding of academic promotion processes and scientific communication principles in your application materials

ATS Keywords: Academic Writer, Editor, Medical Oncology, Faculty Promotions, Scientific Writing, Grants, Clinical Trials, Document Management, Quality Assurance, Process Optimization, Customer Service, Communication, Attention to Detail, Organizational Skills, Analytical Skills, Medical Terminology, Grants Knowledge, Clinical Trials Knowledge, Technical Proficiency

ASSUMPTION: Tailoring your application materials to include relevant keywords and demonstrating your understanding of the role's requirements will increase your chances of being selected for an interview.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office Suite
• PubMed
• CV generators
• Grants management platforms (if applicable)

ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with the tools and technologies listed above is required for this role, as they are essential for efficient and effective document management and communication.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Expertise: Providing expert, compassionate care to children and adults with cancer
• Collaboration: Working together to advance the understanding, treatment, cure, and prevention of cancer and related diseases
• Innovation: Fostering an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong

Work Style:

• Collaborative: Working closely with faculty members, administrators, and institutional leaders to ensure that CVs and promotion documents meet high standards
• Independent: Managing multiple projects simultaneously and working independently to meet deadlines
• Adaptable: Adapting to new policies and processes as needed to maintain high-quality outputs

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you have a strong commitment to maintaining the high standards of the Department of Medical Oncology, the Department of Medicine, and Harvard Medical School?
• Are you comfortable working remotely with occasional on-campus time in Boston, MA, and managing multiple projects simultaneously?
• Do you have excellent customer service skills and the ability to communicate effectively with faculty and staff at all levels?

ASSUMPTION: Assessing your fit with the company's values and work style will help you determine if this role is the right fit for you and increase your chances of success in the application process.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing multiple projects simultaneously and meeting tight deadlines
• Working with complex scientific and medical information and communicating it clearly to a broader audience
• Adapting to new policies and processes as needed to maintain high-quality outputs
• Balancing the needs of faculty members, administrators, and institutional leaders while maintaining clear communication and alignment with institutional standards

ASSUMPTION: The challenges listed above are inherent to the role and require strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role is unique in its focus on faculty promotions within the Department of Medical Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
• Similar roles in academic institutions may have different focuses, such as research support, curriculum development, or student services
• Career paths in academic writing and editing can lead to roles in publishing, communications, or administration, depending on the individual's interests and skills

ASSUMPTION: Understanding the unique aspects of this role and how it compares to similar roles in the field will help you determine if this is the right fit for your career goals.

📝 Sample Projects

• Editing and formatting a faculty CV to meet the Harvard Medical School CV format
• Researching and verifying CV entries using resources like NIH/NCI sites and PubMed
• Simplifying complex clinical and research data for a broader audience in a nominating letter

ASSUMPTION: Familiarizing yourself with the types of projects you may encounter in this role will help you prepare for the responsibilities and expectations of the position.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• How does this role fit into the broader academic promotion process at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute?
• What are the most challenging aspects of this role, and how can I best prepare to succeed in them?
• How does this role contribute to the institution's mission and values?
• What opportunities are there for professional growth and development within the Department of Medical Oncology or other departments within the institution?
• How does the remote work arrangement for this role support a healthy work-life balance?

ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful and relevant questions during the interview process will demonstrate your interest in the role and help you make an informed decision about your career prospects.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant skills and experiences, demonstrating your ability to simplify complex information and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Prepare examples of your writing and editing work, showcasing your ability to communicate clearly and effectively with faculty members, administrators, and institutional leaders
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to inquire about the status of your application and express your continued interest in the role

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.