Senior Director, Global Medical Affairs

Centessa Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, is a clinical-stage company developing orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonists as a new class of medicines for the treatment of narcolepsy and potentially other sleep-wake disorders. Centessa’s lead investigational candidate – cleminorexton (formerly ORX750) – is being developed for narcolepsy type 1, narcolepsy type 2, and idiopathic hypersomnia. Centessa's OX2R agonist portfolio includes additional clinical and preclinical-stage assets with potential utility across a broader range of neurological, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric conditions.

 Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Centessa was recognized as a Great Place to Work® in 2026.

Description of Role

The Senior Director, Global Medical Affairs, will serve as the Global Medical Affairs Lead for Centessa's lead orexin receptor 2 agonist program. This strategic leadership role is responsible for developing and executing the global medical strategy across the product lifecycle, with a primary focus on launch readiness, scientific leadership, evidence generation, external engagement, and cross-functional partnership.

The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience leading global medical affairs activities for one or more successful product launches and possess a strong track record of partnering with commercial, market access, HEOR, clinical development, regulatory affairs, patient advocacy and regional medical teams to deliver integrated launch strategies. The individual will serve as the medical voice of the asset, ensuring that scientific evidence, stakeholder insights, and patient needs are incorporated into key business decisions.

This role reports to the Head of Medical Affairs and will partner closely with senior leadership across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Global Medical Strategy & Leadership

• Lead the global medical affairs strategy and tactical execution plan for cleminorexton
• Serve as the Global Medical Affairs Lead and core member of the cross-functional asset team
• Ensure alignment of medical strategy with corporate objectives, clinical development milestones, and commercialization plans
• Establish long-range medical affairs planning to support regulatory approvals, launch readiness, and lifecycle management
• Identify emerging scientific opportunities, evidence gaps, and stakeholder needs to inform future development

Global Launch Excellence

• Lead medical launch preparedness activities across major global markets
• Partner with commercial, market access, HEOR, regulatory affairs, and regional medical teams to develop integrated launch strategies
• Collaborate with medical affairs colleagues to ensure deliverables are aligned with strategy and launch timelines, including scientific platforms, training content, medical information resources, publications, congress activities, and insights generation
• Support pre-launch and launch planning activities, including collaborating with HEOR and market access for global payer engagement strategies and value communication

External Scientific Engagement

• Build and maintain relationships with global key opinion leaders, investigators, professional societies, and patient advocacy organizations.
• Lead scientific advisory boards, expert consultations, and other insight-gathering initiatives.
• Represent Centessa at major scientific congresses and industry meetings.
• Serve as a credible scientific ambassador and subject matter expert for orexin biology and sleep-wake disorders.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Act as a strategic partner to commercial, market access, HEOR, regulatory, clinical development, patient advocacy, and corporate affairs
• Contribute medical expertise to brand strategy, payer engagement, disease-state education, and scientific communication initiatives
• Strategic partner for development of scientific platforms, publication strategies, educational programs, and medical training
• Provide medical review and guidance for externally facing scientific materials in compliance with applicable regulations and company policies

Qualifications

• Advanced scientific or clinical degree (MD, PharmD, or PhD)
• Minimum 10 years of Medical Affairs leadership experience with 5 years global experience preferred
• Experience in neuroscience, sleep medicine, neurology, psychiatry, or rare disease
• Demonstrated experience leading at least one successful global product launch (North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific markets highly preferred)
• Experience serving as a global medical lead for late-stage development or commercial products
• Strong understanding of global medical affairs, evidence generation, payer evidence requirements, and commercialization readiness
• Proven ability to drive strategy in a matrix environment
• Proven track record of collaborating closely with commercial, market access, HEOR, regulatory affairs, and clinical development organizations
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills

Work Location

The Sr. Director, Global Medical Affairs role is remote, based in the US, with occasional travel (~20%).

Compensation

The annual base salary range for this position is $195,000.00 to $300,000.00. Individual compensation within this range will be determined based on a variety of factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge an location.

In addition to base pay, this role is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus. The Company also offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a 401(k) plan, company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, generous paid time off, and a health and wellness program.

POSITION: Full-Time, Exempt

 

EEOC Statement: Centessa Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subdisary of Eli Lilly and Company believes in a diverse environment and is committed to equal employment opportunity for all its employees and qualified applicants. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Please note: We will not assign referral rights for any unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies.