Position Summary:

The Director, reporting to the Senior Director of Regional Marketing, will be responsible for informing brand strategy, proactively engaging key external experts (KEEs) to increase advocacy, and supporting the educational effectiveness of KEEs through engagement and collaboration on Vera’s US Speaker Bureau. This person will be a key member of a national team of Regional Marketing Directors (RMDs) that support the commercialization of Atacicept, a biologic novel designed to treat IgA nephropathy (IgAN). The RMD team directly engages Key External Experts (KEEs) and customers in the Nephrology patient ecosystem, while acting as a disease state and on-label therapy expert. This role will build relationships with emerging thought leaders, serving as the primary liaison between these customers and the commercial organization. RMD’s will act as the interface between HCP and market access to drive the awareness of IgAN, the role of BAFF/APRIL and Atacicept, build HCP advocacy for this and drive connection with KEEs and the company.

Responsibilities:

Insights

• Solicits disease state and brand insights through field-based, 1:1 KEE engagements and gathers and shares these insights with internal partners to inform brand strategy.
• Organize and moderate regional and national advisory boards to fully understand the customer and patient perspective.
• Actively collect, analyze, and synthesize information on KEE sentiments, competitor activities, and broader market trends from diverse sources (1:1 meeting, advisory boards, congresses).
• Aid in the development and execution of commercial-led advisory boards and other third-party insight gathering tactics.

Advocacy

• Track KEE beliefs over time on Vera, the IgAN treatment landscape, unmet clinical needs, and patient management based on podium presentations, social media activity, scientific publications, and 3^rd party educational programs.
• Creates and executes an objective based KEE advocacy building plan to include the identification and curation of relationships with established and emerging KEEs in the academic and community-based settings to support development of US KEE champions within IgAN.
• Responsible for cultivating and developing KEEs over time who are experts in IgAN.
• Act as the face of Vera’s commercial organization and drive impact through personalized 1:1 interactions and focused small group meetings.

Educational Effectiveness

• Identify, recruit and train members of Vera’s inaugural US Speaker Bureau.
• Develop and execute comprehensive Congress plans to include international, national, and regional conferences, and society meetings within an assigned geographic area.
• Build out peer-to-peer education platform with unique offerings that will drive awareness of IgAN, the role of BAFF/APRIL and Atacicept.

Qualifications:

• BS/BA degree, MBA and/or an advanced science degree preferred.
• 8+ years of diverse commercial experience (marketing, sales, TLL, Regional Marketing) in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry with 3-5 years of field experience preferred.
• Experience in biologics, gene therapies or specialty drugs; Nephrology expertise preferred.
• Experience in developing and implementing KEE strategies through appropriate, compliant, and engaging interactions.
• Proven success in developing insight-driven strategic plans and business cases to evolve/adapt current approaches with demonstrated positive impact.
• Thorough understanding of the regulatory environment and compliance considerations.
• Proven ability to influence without authority and work with cross-functional teams in the development and delivery of brand strategic imperatives.
• Thrives in a highly entrepreneurial biotech environment and embraces Vera’s culture of science, passion, and urgency.
• Comfortable adapting and leading in ambiguous and changing enviornments.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and executive presence.