Assoc Director, Medical Affairs

As an Associate Director, Medical Affairs, BENELUX you have both field-based as well as office-based responsibilities and will lead a team of Medical Managers. You will be key in leading Medical Affairs initiatives in the Benelux Cluster and provide medical support to cross-functional teams in the affiliate within the therapeutic area of interest. You will report to the country Medical Director.

This role is characterized by strategic thinking, leading medical affairs activities of the TA, cross-functional collaboration, all for which communication skills, leadership skills & business acumen are indispensable.

You are responsible for liaising with key opinion leaders and healthcare professionals in academic and clinical centers for scientific exchange and data generation to ensure appropriate use of and preparing the landscape for Gilead innovations.

The role is responsible for ensuring Gilead’s medical affairs activities comply with pharmaceutical regulations and laws and providing expertise on drug safety and medical topics. Provides medical expert advice to ensure accuracy of data to support existing products or new product launches. Develops medical product information and stays informed on scientific trends and competition.

The exact split of time between field and office-based activities is agreed with the supervisor annually but this role is expected that at least 50% of time will be dedicated to customer-facing activities.

Field-Based Responsibilities

• Dedicates a significant percentage of time (≥50%) to field activities, meetings, presentations, and congresses. Field activities may include support for the preparation of scientific presentations and speaker’s briefing during scientific meetings/ medical education events.
• Establishes relationships with opinion leaders, payers, clinical investigators, providers at academic and non-academic settings and relevant non-governmental organizations.
• Is responsible for establishing and maintaining appropriate scientific interactions with TA experts/opinion leaders (OLs). Maintains a country OL (opinion leaders) list and updates it twice yearly.
• Drives discussions and projects with the aim to integrate scientific data in clinical decision making for the benefit of patients.
• Identify and collaborate with local experts on local data generation activities.
• Assists with pipeline activities and liaises with Clin Ops. May assist site selection for both Phase IV and other clinical trials. Works on Gilead Phase IV program that includes collaboration with investigators and internal Gilead personnel.
• May represent the company to various groups of experts, medical professional groups, scientific societies, regulatory, payer groups or patient organizations at local and international scientific meetings (examples may include presentation of key scientific data to payers and clinical guideline committees).
• Owns a medical engagement plan for participation in scientific conferences and for the discussion of key scientific data with HCPs/stakeholders.
• Engages health care providers in one-on-one scientific interactions, supports medical responses by having scientific discussions or attending medical meetings and provides scientific data to opinion leaders.
• Responds to medical information inquiries on marketed or developmental Gilead products.
• Generates and communicates insights as a result of field interactions: identification of data gaps; customer needs and wants; patients’ needs and wants and knowledge gaps.
• Assist physician driven compassionate use or early access requests for Gilead products.

Office-Based Responsibilities

• Leads a team of Medical Manager in Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg.
• Accountable for the development of the local medical plan of action (POA) in line with global strategic planning and contributes to the local affiliate brand/ cross-functional POA. Develops and executes projects and tactics according to the national strategic plan.
• Organizes and participates at medical advisory boards.
• Is responsible for the review and approval of the medical content of Gilead organized medical education events and promotional and non-promotional activities of the TA. Gives input in promotional material. Ensures appropriate medical quality of promotional materials and activities within approval process.
• Works collaboratively with Gilead personnel from all relevant local and global functions.
• Close collaboration with the regional and global medical team. Active participation in relevant medical meetings and teleconferences.
• Participation in required training initiatives that includes therapeutic area training as well as internal trainings on standard operating procedures and regulations.
• Documents field interactions and medical activities in internal systems timely according to guidance.
• Supports the development of local clinical data through clinical trials, investigator initiated research (IIRs) and local sponsored studies (LSS).
• Scientific input in HTA (Health Technology Assessment) dossiers and payer negotiations.
• Designs and implements Gilead medical education events on relevant therapeutic areas and medicine.
• Analyses trial data and provides interpretation to marketing and sales departments.

Skills & Knowledge

• High willingness for continuous training and personal development.
• Team worker showing high social skills including conflict management.
• Proven ability to support cross functional teams in a medical role showing business acumen.
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills including active listening.
• Strategic thinking and open mindset.
• Ability to build and maintain sound relationships with external and internal stakeholders.
• Ability of transferring complex scientific/medical data into understandable medical communication and education.
• Knowledge and adherence to external and company-related regulations.
• Excellent communication, presentation and negotiation skills are required along with the ability to provide clear and concise analysis of quantitative and qualitative concepts.
• Good negotiation skills.
• Knowledge in project management.
• In-depth knowledge of the respective therapeutic area, the national healthcare system, and the medical environment.
• Business fluency in English.
• Computer literacy.
• High willingness to travel.

Professional Training

• Degree in Medicine, Pharmacy or Life Sciences is required (PhD is desirable).

Experience

• Relevant experience must include at least 8 years in pharmaceutical industry and/or relevant clinical/scientific experience.
• Experience within therapeutic area of interest is desirable.
• Experience in preparing and delivering scientific presentations is required.
• Professional, clinical or research experience in a scientific or related field is desirable (minimum of 2 years preferred).