Where to begin when looking for a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) role?
Breaking into the role of a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the industry. The medical affairs landscape is vast, and searching for the right opportunities can be daunting.
One of the biggest challenges? Different companies use different job titles for MSL roles. If you’re only searching for “Medical Science Liaison,” you might be missing out on key opportunities!
To help, we’ve put together a guide to alternative MSL titles that you should include in your job search. Additionally, setting up Google and LinkedIn job alerts for these variations can ensure you never miss an opportunity in your area:
General MSL Titles:
- Medical Liaison
- Medical Affairs Manager
- Medical Affairs Specialist
- Medical Affairs Liaison
- Medical Science Manager
- Medical Advisor
- Medical Affairs Advisor
- Regional Scientific Liaison
- Scientific Liaison
- Scientific Affairs Liaison
- Scientific Affairs Manager
Therapeutic Area-Specific Titles:
- Oncology Medical Science Liaison (or any specialty: Neurology, Immunology, Cardiology, etc.)
- Rare Disease Medical Science Liaison
- Clinical Oncology Liaison
- Immunology Scientific Liaison
- Pharmaceutical Science Liaison
Senior & Leadership MSL Titles:
- Senior Medical Science Liaison
- Lead Medical Science Liaison
- MSL Director
- MSL Manager
- Head of Medical Science Liaisons
- Associate Director, Medical Science Liaison
- Associate Director, Field Medical
- Field Medical Director
Medical & Scientific Affairs-Related Titles:
- Medical Science Associate
- Scientific Communications Liaison
- Medical Education Liaison
- Medical Information Liaison
- Scientific Affairs Manager
- Clinical Science Liaison
- Clinical Liaison
We’ll continue updating this list as we discover new MSL titles or as the industry evolves with new relevant roles. If you know of any additional titles that should be included, drop them in the comments- we’d love to add them to our updates!
If you’re still learning the basic functions of the MSL role and want some additional info before starting your search, feel free to check out our previous blog that’s focused on breaking into industry from a hiring manager’s perspective.
Our website is also full of additional blogs and resources that are specialized in medical affairs and free to our readers!
We hope this list helps in your search for industry roles- happy job hunting!
-Ashley