Director Medical Science Liaison, Rare Disease - West

Seeking talent near: Los Angeles, CA; Denver, CO; Seattle, WA; Phoenix, AZ

Position Summary

The Director, Medical Science Liaisons (MSL), Rare Diseases is responsible for leading a regional field team of high performing MSLs. This role is responsible for ensuring the implementation and execution of strategies through a field-based rare disease MSL team.  They will work with the VP Medical Affairs, Rare Disease to define the Medical Affairs field strategy and align it with overall scientific platforms. This is a highly visibility leadership role with ultimate accountability for the effectiveness and compliance of scientific exchange conducted by the MSL team to meet the needs of researchers, advocacy groups, clinicians, and other external and internal stakeholders.  This position is geographically based.

Primary Responsibilities

• Recruits, trains, develops and motivates a high-performing MSL team rare disease team.
• Provides oversight and leadership that ensures effective and compliant interactions between MSLs and external stakeholders; and medically/scientifically balanced and robust communications on Acadia products, development programs, and disease states.
• Observing with the overall medical strategy, develops and implements Field Medical Affairs strategy in collaboration with the East MSL Director, tactical implementation plans, and reporting mechanisms and infrastructure to appropriately assess impact of activities.
• Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with key internal stakeholders and field commercial leadership teams to meet shared goals and create a platform for working together to improve team and company performance.
• Serves a key interface between field medical and the internal organization, representing and leading critical cross-functional workstreams.
• Ensures effective overall plan for thought leader engagement in collaboration with the East, MSL Director
• Develops and maintains scientific, clinical and therapeutic expertise for Acadia’s rare disease portfolio, including potential treatment for Rett Syndrome and Prader Willi Syndrome.
• Develops, organizes and communicates to cross-functional stakeholders the insights the MSL team gains about the competitive landscape, unmet needs of researchers, physicians and advocacy groups; develops actionable plans to address these insights.
• Identifies continuous learning opportunities to ensure a highly trained and sophisticated MSL team.
• Directs MSL attendance and planning for relevant medical congresses and related events.
• Develop individual talent within the MSL team, including training, career evaluation, coaching, mentoring, performance management and talent review.
• Oversees the creation & dissemination of effective, compliant, medically sound information tools for use by MSLs to support the safe & effective use of company-marketed products.
• Manages travel and expense budget in keeping with corporate guidelines.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Advanced degree (MD, PharmD, PhD) in a scientific discipline or related field.  Targeting 10 years of progressively-responsible experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, including a minimum of 5 years’ experience leading a field medical group.  Five years’ experience as a Field-based Medical Liaison required.  Rare diseases, epilepsy and/or pediatric neurology experience preferred.

Key Skills:

• Experience in preparation of materials for use by Medical Affairs, including review/editing Promotional materials; Scientific, clinical and therapeutic area expertise.
• Knowledge of regulatory, compliance, commercial, and clinical issues affecting the pharmaceutical and managed care industries.
• Skilled as a poised and knowledgeable presenter of scientific information. This includes excellent writing capabilities and strong presentation skills, including presentations within external formats such as physician gatherings, medical congresses, etc.
• Ability to interact easily with all levels within the organization; tactful; mature; and flexible.
• Skilled at negotiating with business partners or management and influencing senior-level leaders regarding matters of significance to the organization.
• Proficient at creating and communicating a clear vision among team members effectively aligning resources and activities to achieve functional area and/or organizational goals.
• High level of aptitude for relevant PC and software programs, including MS Office skills (Outlook, Word, Excel, and Power Point).
• Ability to travel up to 60%, with primary residence within the geographical area.

Scope

Establishes strategic plans for designated function(s) and may participate with others in management to align objectives across the organization. Works on complex issues where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth knowledge of functional area(s) and related organizational objectives. Erroneous decisions will have a serious impact on the overall success of functional, or company operations.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, see, talk or hear in a standard office environment and independently from remote locations. Employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds.  Ability to travel independently overnight and work after hours if required by travel schedule or business issues.

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