Associate Director, Real World Evidence (RWE) / Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR)

At Kailera, we are bold, authentic and committed to our mission of developing therapies that give people the power to transform their lives and elevate their overall health. Rooted in an entrepreneurial spirit and a team-oriented culture, we are working together to advance Kailera’s mission to advance novel therapies for obesity and related conditions.
 
We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes collaboration, integrity, and excellence. As we expand, we seek the most talented individuals with diverse backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and experiences to join our team.

What You’ll Do:

The Associate Director will be responsible for the end-to-end execution of real-world evidence (RWE) and health economics outcomes research (HEOR) initiatives to support our Obesity and Metabolic Disease portfolio. Reporting to the Senior Director, this role focuses on translating the overarching evidence strategy into high-quality, actionable research. The Associate Director will lead the day-to-day management of observational studies, economic models, and value-based dossiers to ensure our innovations are effectively positioned for payers, providers, and healthcare stakeholders.

Required location: Waltham, MA (hub-based, onsite 3-4 days per week)

Responsibilities:

• Lead the strategic identification and prioritization of evidence-generating activities; develop comprehensive research roadmaps that address evolving payer requirements and clinical evidence needs to ensure long-term product differentiation
• Support the Senior Director in the execution of integrated RWE and HEOR plans across the product lifecycle, from early-stage development through launch
• Contribute technical expertise to the development of value-based narratives that articulate the clinical and economic impact of our therapies
• Foster high-impact partnerships within the Medical Affairs team and across the broader matrix to drive positive collaboration; manage complex workstreams that integrate diverse perspectives to ensure the delivery of innovative and scientifically robust evidence
• Drive the day-to-day management and operational leadership of research initiatives with external vendors, CROs, and academic collaborators; serve as the primary point of contact to ensure the seamless execution of high-quality evidence generation that aligns with corporate scientific standards
• Direct the design and execution of real-world studies, including (but not limited to) clinical unmet need, cost-effectiveness, health outcomes, and comparative effectiveness research
• Support Scientific Communications with the publication pipeline, ensuring study findings are presented at major scientific congresses and published in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals
• Apply hands-on expertise with EMR, claims databases, and prospective observational platforms to generate insights specific to Obesity
• Support the development and technical maintenance of Global Value Dossiers (GVDs), AMCP dossiers, and other core evidence materials for HTA and payer submissions
• Partner closely with Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Regulatory, Market Access, and Commercial teams to ensure RWE/HEOR activities are aligned with broader corporate milestones
• Act as a technical subject matter expert during engagements with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), health economists, and academic collaborators
• Lead the selection, onboarding, and day-to-day management of external research vendors to ensure studies are delivered on time and within budget
• Develop and provide technical resources for field-based teams to support evidence-driven conversations with population-based decision-makers
• Implement internal best practices and standardized operating procedures for RWE/HEOR to enhance efficiency in a fast-paced startup environment
• Ensure all research activities adhere to ethical, regulatory, and privacy standards, including GVP, GCP, GDPR, and HIPAA
• Provide technical input for medical affairs planning and launch readiness activities to ensure successful evidence-based market entry

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors with 10+ years or Masters with 5+ years of experience in RWE/HEOR within the biopharmaceutical industry, academic setting, or specialized consultancy
• Proven track record of executing real-world research that has successfully informed regulatory or payer decision-making
• Consistent history of peer-reviewed publications and presentations at scientific congresses
• Hands-on experience with analytic tools (e.g., R, SAS, STATA) and a deep understanding of health economic modeling (Budget Impact and Cost-Effectiveness)
• Solid understanding of U.S. and Global pay