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Senior Medical Science Outcomes Liaison - Northern California

California, USA
Nearly 37 million Americans are currently affected by Chronic Kidney Disease. 37 million. At Akebia we take that number very seriously and every day we come to work, with the purpose of bettering the lives of each person impacted by kidney disease and the renal community that serves them.
Our tenacious, passionate employees’ challenge the status quo and work to develop unique therapeutics that have the potential to set new standards of care for people living with kidney disease.
 
This is life-changing work, and we are all in, are you?
This position is currently based in our Cambridge, MA office. Please note that our offices will be relocating to Waltham, MA later this year, and this role will transition accordingly. We follow a flexible, “magnet not mandate” approach to in-office work, encouraging collaboration and onsite engagement while supporting hybrid flexibility based on role and business needs.

The Medical Science Outcomes Liaison (MSOL) is a field-based Medical Affairs professional responsible for providing scientific, clinical, health outcomes, and population health expertise regionally to key stakeholders across dialysis organizations, nephrology large group practices (LGPs), integrated delivery networks (IDNs), and other healthcare organizations involved in the care of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The MSOL serves as a Medical Affairs partner to the market access National Accounts team , and is the primary point of engagement for, and collaboration with National Account Managers (NAMs) to support Akebia's strategic account objectives through compliant scientific exchange and medical engagement. The MSOL develops and maintains relationships with regional healthcare decision makers, population health leaders, medical directors, quality leaders, pharmacy stakeholders, nephrology thought leaders, and executive leadership within nephrology large group practices and regional health systems.

Through scientific exchange, the MSOL translates clinical evidence, health economics and outcomes research (HEOR), real-world evidence (RWE), epidemiologic data, and healthcare quality metrics into relevant discussions that support evidence-based decision making and population health initiatives.

The MSOL identifies and communicates emerging trends, evidence gaps, customer insights, and unmet medical needs that inform Medical Affairs, Market Access, Clinical Development, and National Account strategies. In addition to supporting Akebia's commercial portfolio, the MSOL develops strategic scientific relationships with nephrology centers of excellence and key kidney disease experts to support future pipeline readiness initiatives, including rare kidney disease programs.

The MSOL operates as a trusted scientific partner within the healthcare ecosystem while maintaining the independence, objectivity, and compliance standards expected of Medical Affairs.

Essential Functions and Duties

National Account Medical Partnership

  • Serve as the designated Medical Affairs partner for assigned National Account Managers and regional strategic dialysis, nephrology, and health system accounts.
  • Collaborate with NAMs on account planning activities by providing scientific, clinical, outcomes, and healthcare ecosystem expertise.
  • Develop and execute Medical Account Plans (MAPs) aligned with Medical Affairs priorities and strategic account objectives.
  • Participate in account reviews and cross-functional planning discussions to identify scientific opportunities and customer needs.
  • Provide scientific support for strategic initiatives focused on improving clinical outcomes, quality metrics, patient experience, care delivery, and population health performance.
  • Facilitate evidence-based discussions with dialysis organizations, nephrology large group practices, integrated delivery networks, and other organized healthcare customers.
  • Establish and maintain scientific relationships with medical directors, chief medical officers, quality leaders, pharmacy leaders, population health executives, and nephrology clinical leadership.
  • Conduct scientific exchange with stakeholders responsible for clinical policy, treatment pathways, quality improvement initiatives, and value-based care programs.
  • Communicate to appropriate audiences clinical, HEOR, and real-world evidence related to CKD, dialysis-dependent CKD, anemia management, healthcare resource utilization, and patient outcomes.
  • Support scientific discussions involving quality measures, hospitalization reduction, treatment optimization, patient-centered outcomes, and health equity initiatives.
  • Insight Generation and Strategic Medical Support
  • Gather and communicate actionable customer insights regarding disease management, treatment pathways, healthcare delivery trends, population health priorities, and unmet medical needs.
  • Identify evidence gaps and opportunities for future outcomes research, real-world evidence generation, and scientific collaboration.
  • Provide medical and scientific insights that support Medical Affairs, HEOR, National Accounts, Clinical Development, and Market Access strategies.
  • Support scientific advisory boards, medical education initiatives, and evidence dissemination activities.

Rare Kidney Disease Pipeline Readiness

  • Develop and maintain scientific relationships with academic nephrology centers, kidney disease centers of excellence, and rare disease investigators.
  • Identify emerging scientific leaders, referral networks, and key stakeholders within rare kidney disease communities.
  • Provide field-based insights regarding diagnostic pathways, referral patterns, unmet needs, and evolving standards of care.
  • Support future Medical Affairs planning and launch readiness activities for pipeline assets.

Essential Functions and Duties

  • Serve as the medical lead for assigned dialysis organizations, nephrology large group practices, integrated delivery networks, and other organized healthcare customers.
  • Develop and maintain credible scientific relationships with medical, pharmacy, quality, and population health leaders within assigned accounts.
  • Conduct compliant scientific exchange with healthcare professionals, healthcare decision makers, and organized customer stakeholders.
  • Present clinical, HEOR, and real-world evidence in response to unsolicited requests and approved scientific exchange opportunities.
  • Support dissemination of scientific information related to approved products, disease states, and relevant pipeline programs.
  • Collaborate with Medical Affairs, Market Access, and National Accounts to ensure customer scientific needs are appropriately addressed.
  • Facilitate development of investigator-initiated studies, outcomes research initiatives, and evidence-generation opportunities consistent with company policies.
  • Participate in national and regional scientific meetings, nephrology congresses, dialysis organization meetings, and population health conferences.
  • Develop and execute Medical Account Plans for assigned accounts and customer segments.
  • Support scientific advisory boards, medical education programs, and healthcare system collaborations.
  • Maintain high standards of compliance, scientific integrity, and ethical conduct in all interactions.

Skills and Experience

Basic Qualifications

  • Advanced clinical or scientific degree required (MD, PharmD, PhD, DNP, NP, PA, or equivalent)
  • Minimum 3 years of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare, clinical research, or Medical Affairs experience
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate complex clinical and scientific information to diverse healthcare audiences
  • Strong understanding of evidence-based medicine, clinical research methodology, and interpretation of scientific literature
  • Experience working independently in a field-based role within a highly regulated environment
  • Excellent presentation, communication, and relationship-building skills
  • Proven ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams
  • Ability to travel up to 70% of the time

Preferred Qualifications

  • 5+ years of experience in Medical Affairs, Medical Science Liaison (MSL), Medical Science Outcomes Liaison (MSOL), Medical Outcomes Liaison (MOL), Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR), Market Access, or related healthcare roles
  • Experience within nephrology, chronic kidney disease (CKD), dialysis, anemia, cardiovascular-renal-metabolic disease, or other related therapeutic areas
  • Demonstrated understanding of the U.S. healthcare delivery system, including provider, payer, and population health stakeholders
  • Experience engaging organized healthcare customers, including dialysis organizations, integrated delivery networks (IDNs), accountable care organizations (ACOs), nephrology large group practices, and health systems
  • Knowledge of value-based care models, quality measurement frameworks, population health management, and healthcare performance improvement initiatives
  • Experience communicating health economics and outcomes research (HEOR), real-world evidence (RWE), epidemiology, healthcare resource utilization, and quality outcomes data
  • Understanding of formulary decision-making processes, healthcare quality metrics, and evidence requirements used by healthcare organizations
  • Experience supporting strategic account planning and collaborating with National Account Managers, Market Access teams, or organized customer-facing functions
  • Working knowledge of dialysis reimbursement, ESRD payment systems, CMS quality programs, and kidney care delivery models preferred
  • Familiarity with clinical practice guidelines and treatment pathways relevant to CKD and dialysis-dependent CKD
  • Rare Disease and Pipeline Readiness Experience Preferred
  • Experience engaging academic medical centers, nephrology centers of excellence, or clinical investigators
  • Familiarity with rare disease development, orphan drug commercialization, and rare disease patient journeys
  • Understanding of referral pathways, diagnostic challenges, and care coordination within rare kidney diseases
  • Experience supporting clinical trial awareness, site engagement, investigator identification, or evidence-generation activities

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

  • Strong scientific acumen with the ability to interpret and communicate clinical, economic, and outcomes evidence
  • Strategic thinker capable of connecting scientific insights to broader healthcare delivery and population health objectives
  • Strong business acumen and understanding of organized customer dynamics
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to build credibility across diverse stakeholder groups
  • Ability to engage both clinical and executive-level audiences, including physicians, medical directors, quality leaders, pharmacy leaders, and population health executives
  • Demonstrated ability to identify, analyze, and communicate actionable customer insights
  • Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
  • Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills
  • Ability to navigate ambiguity and thrive in a dynamic, growth-oriented biotechnology environment
  • High degree of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to compliance and ethical conduct
  • Passion for improving outcomes for patients with kidney disease and advancing innovative therapies in nephrology

Base Compensation for this role will depend on a number of factors including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience, and may fall outside of the range shown. Base pay is only one component of the company’s total rewards package, all regular employees are also eligible for the corporate bonus program or the incentive compensation program (if applicable), as well as equity. Additional benefits include health care, vision, dental, retirement, PTO, etc.

Targeted Base Salary

$174,680 - $215,781 USD

Are you an Akebian?
 
An Akebian is curious, empathetic, and values making connections to people and ideas. Akebian’s aren’t afraid of diving in and owning a process or a problem, because we all want to deliver a great solution. Akebian’s believe that we are better together because we are all working toward a common purpose – to better the life of each person impacted by kidney disease. Want to learn more about what it means to be an Akebian? Visit our website: www.akebia.com
 
Akebia is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all job applicants.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.

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