Senior Director, Kyowa Kirin North America (KKNA) Medical Science Liaison Head

Kyowa Kirin is a fast-growing global specialty pharmaceutical company that applies state-of-the-art biotechnologies to discover and deliver novel medicines in four disease areas: bone and mineral; intractable hematologic; hematology oncology; and rare disease.  A Japan-based company, our goal is to make people smile by delivering breakthroughs where no adequate treatments currently exist, working from drug discovery to product development and commercialization. In North America, we are headquartered in Princeton, NJ, with offices in California, Massachusetts, and Ontario.

Summary of Job:

The Sr Director, KKNA MSL Head plays a vital role in overseeing and shaping the strategic direction and operational management of the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) teams within Kyowa Kirin’s Medical Affairs therapeutic areas, leading standardization and driving excellence in the execution of MSL activities This position is pivotal in the development and delivery of a KKNA MSL strategic plan, including fostering and sustaining trust with healthcare professionals and academic institutions, all in support of the company's mission to provide high-quality medical information and educational resources.

Essential Functions:

Leadership and Management:
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of MSL Directors/Associate Directors and MSLs across therapeutic areas.
• Establish performance metrics and conduct regular evaluations of team performance.
• Foster a collaborative and motivated team environment.
• Define team and individual capability matrix and provide training and support to MSLs on product knowledge, clinical data, insights and effective communication strategies
• Ensure MSL teams are up to date with the latest product data, scientific literature, industry trends and regulations governing medical functions. Strategic Planning
• Oversee the development and execution of annual MSL strategic plans and associated budget in alignment with company objectives, including setting thought leader engagement strategies for MSLs. 

Stakeholder Engagement:

Provide leadership to MSL teams to build and maintain trust with thought leaders and healthcare providers to support scientific exchange and gather insights.
• Develop collaborative partnerships with therapeutic area internal stakeholders including Medical Directors, Global Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Research, Franchise and sales teams.
• Ensure all MSL activities are consistent with and aligned to the priorities of the organization.
• Accountable for implementation, tracking and reporting of MSL KPIs.
• Sets high ethical standards and ensure strict adherence to relevant SOPs, policies, processes and compliance guidelines.

Job Requirements:

Education: A doctorate level degree (e.g. MD, PharmD, PhD) in life sciences with relevant experience is preferred; however, a relevant life science bachelor’s degree (e.g. RN, MS) is required.

Experience: At least 7 years of experience in a medical affairs or medical science liaison role, with at least 3 years leading medical affairs teams.

Technical Skills: Proficient in MS Office Suite and Veeva.

Non-Technical Skills:
Strong management skills with demonstrated ability to plan for resourcing needs, set goals and objectives, establish and recalibrate priorities, provide feedback and appraise work. Ability to regularly assess individual’s skills, talents and career interests to ensure talent development. Demonstrated ability to organize, prioritize, meet deadlines, make decisions, and change course of action quickly. Strong interpersonal and communication skills. A strong work ethic is required. Detail-oriented and excellent follow-through. Has the ability to flex and deal with ambiguity in a dynamic, fast-paced, high-growth environment. Has a passion for personal learning and development to be able to grow with the company. Cultural sensitivity and ability to develop consensus within a multinational organization.

Physical Demands: Normal office environment with prolonged sitting and extensive computer work

Working Conditions: Requires up to 50% domestic and international travel, including some weekend commitments

KKNA and all of its employees have an obligation to act in accordance with the law and with integrity in all our operations and interactions

It is the policy of Kyowa Kirin North America, Inc. to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, religion, creed, color, pregnancy, sex, age, national origin, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, veteran status, marital status, sexual orie