Director, Medical Science Liaison

Summary

Join Acadia Pharmaceuticals as the Director, Medical Science Liaisons (MSL), Rare Diseases and lead a regional team of high-performing MSLs. You will be responsible for implementing and executing strategies, defining the Medical Affairs field strategy, and ensuring compliant scientific exchange. This highly visible leadership role requires strong collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. You will recruit, train, and develop the MSL team, manage budgets, and maintain scientific expertise in rare diseases. The position demands strategic planning, complex issue resolution, and significant travel.

Requirements

• 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
• 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

Responsibilities

• Recruit, train, develop, and motivate a high-performing MSL team rare disease team
• Provide 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, develop and implement 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
• Establish and maintain 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
• Serve as a key interface between field medical and the internal organization, representing and leading critical cross-functional workstreams
• Ensure an effective overall plan for thought leader engagement in collaboration with the East, MSL Director
• Develop and maintain scientific, clinical and therapeutic expertise for Acadia’s rare disease portfolio, including potential treatment for Rett Syndrome and Prader Willi Syndrome
• Develop, organize and communicate to cross-functional stakeholders the insights the MSL team gains about the competitive landscape, unmet needs of researchers, physicians and advocacy groups; develop actionable plans to address these insights
• Identify continuous learning opportunities to ensure a highly trained and sophisticated MSL team
• Direct 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
• Oversee the creation & dissemination of effective, compliant, medically sound information tools for use by MSLs to support the safe & effective use of company-marketed products
• Manage travel and expense budget in keeping with corporate guidelines
• Perform other duties as assigned

Preferred Qualifications

Rare diseases, epilepsy and/or pediatric neurology experience