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Global Head of Medical Affairs Strategic Capabilities and Scientific Exchange

Toronto, Canada

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 translate science into smiles by delivering therapies 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, North Carolina, and Mississauga, Ontario.

Job Summary: 

The Global Head of Medical Affairs Strategic Capabilities and Scientific Exchange is a pivotal leadership role responsible for architecting and driving the transformation of the global medical affairs organization. Leveraging deep expertise in medical affairs strategy, capability building, and change leadership, this role will establish world-class frameworks for scientific exchange, talent development, and operational excellence. The position ensures consistent, high-quality scientific engagement and measurable strategic impact across all markets, building on a strong track record of delivering sustainable change through digital enablement and innovative solutions.

Reporting to the Global Medical Affairs Head, this position is  a unique blend of strategic vision and operational excellence to build and drive the infrastructure, capabilities, and culture that will position our medical affairs organization as a trusted, insightful, and digitally forward partner to the scientific and medical community. As both an architect and a proven change agent, the role will  design the systems and develop the people who will deliver our mission of advancing patient care through rigorous scientific exchange, fostering a culture of continuous learning and data-driven impact.

Essential Functions:

  1. Strategic Capability Building and Talent Development
  • Design and support the implementation of comprehensive talent development programs that build advanced technical, scientific, and leadership capabilities across the global medical affairs organization.
  • Establish and lead next-generation Medical Affairs leadership programs, identifying, developing, and preparing high-potential talent for expanded global responsibilities.
  • Create dynamic career pathways and robust competency frameworks to support individual professional growth and organizational succession planning.
  • Partner with HR and leadership to embed a culture of continuous improvement, enabling corporate values, and leadership principles throughout all medical affairs activities, behaviors, and decision-making.

 

  1. Global Training Strategy and Execution
  • Develop and lead the execution of a global medical training strategy aligned with therapeutic area priorities, product lifecycle stages, and business objectives, incorporating dynamic training resources which drive engagement across medical affairs functions.
  • Lead the design and delivery of comprehensive onboarding programs that accelerate new hire productivity and integration into a global framework ensuring preparedness through assessment tools.
  • Build continuous learning curricula that maintain scientific acumen and develop advanced skills in Medical Science Liaison (MSL) and HQ Medical Affairs roles, optimizing processes and harmonizing effective ways of working across local and global teams.

 

  1. Scientific Exchange & Medical Affairs Effectiveness
  • Establish global standards, processes, and playbooks for scientific exchange and external engagement that can be adapted to local market requirements.
  • Design and implement a consistent global approach to planning, executing, and documenting interactions with key opinion leaders, medical stakeholders, and the broader scientific community, leveraging proven KOL Engagement models which support the scientific strategy.
  • Establish and monitor comprehensive medical affairs effectiveness frameworks encompassing performance metrics and outcome measurement driven by leveraging best practices, standard operating procedures, and enabling tools.
  • Develop robust Field and HQ Medical measurement systems that assess the quality and impact of both external stakeholder engagement and internal cross-functional collaboration and utilize benchmarking activities to identify areas for continuous improvement.

 

  1. Medical Insights and Data Strategy
  • Define and set organizational standards for systematic capture, synthesis, analysis, and dissemination of medical insights from scientific engagement.
  • Ensure medical insights infrastructure and processes enable data-driven strategic decision-making across medical affairs and cross-functional partners, translating insights into actionable intelligence to optimize effectiveness and deliver medical value.
  • Partner with data analytics and medical strategy teams to optimize processes that drive strategic impact from insights generation.

 

  1. Change Leadership and Innovation
  • Serve as a role model and change champion for new ways of working, including agile methodologies, digital enablement, and collaborative approaches.
  • Lead the adoption of new technologies, cutting edge tools, and approaches that enhance effectiveness and efficiency in medical affairs, by continuously monitoring industry trends, regulatory changes and new innovations which can be leveraged in medical affairs.
  • Foster a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and improvement within the global medical affairs organization.

Job Requirements:

Education

MD, PharmD, PhD, or other advanced terminal degree in a scientific or medical discipline required

 

Experience

  • Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in global medical affairs within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, including demonstrated effectiveness in senior leadership roles.
  • At least 10 years of people leadership experience, with a proven ability to build, develop, and lead high-performing, globally distributed teams.
  • Proven architect of implementing medical affairs capability building programs, including training curricula, competency frameworks and medical learning and development models.
  • Deep expertise in global medical affairs field operations, scientific engagement, and medical information functions, including KOL mapping, insights generation, and MSL strategic planning and deployment.
  • Proven success leading large-scale organizational change, including digital transformation, process optimization, and the adoption of new ways of working within complex, matrixed global environments.
  • Exceptional strategic thinking skills combined with operational execution capabilities, with a consistent record of delivering measurable outcomes and sustainable improvements.

 

Preferred:

  • Experience within mid-sized pharmaceutical or biotechnology organizations undergoing periods of growth and transformation.
  • Career experience spanning both global headquarters and field-based medical affairs roles across multiple geographies.
  • Therapeutic area experience in hematology/oncology, rare diseases, or other specialty care areas.
  • Extensive experience with learning management systems, digital training platforms, and data analytics tools
  • Formal certification or training in organizational development, change management, or related disciplines.
  • Track record of successful collaboration with regulatory affairs, compliance, and quality functions.
  • Experience presenting to executive leadership teams and boards, with the ability to translate complex strategies into clear, actionable recommendations.

 Technical Skills

  • Strong working knowledge of global regulatory and compliance requirements governing medical affairs activities across multiple regions, with demonstrated ability to embed compliant and efficient operating practices.
  • Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office Suite.

Non-Technical Skills

  • Demonstrated ability to organize, prioritize, meet deadlines, make decisions, and change course of action quickly. Strong interpersonal and communication skills. 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.
  • Strategic Vision: Ability to envision the future state of global medical affairs capabilities, integrating digital innovation and operational excellence, and creating clear roadmaps to achieve that vision.
  • Organizational Development: Expertise in designing talent development systems, learning programs, and novel competency frameworks that foster career growth and continuous learning.
  • Change Leadership: Proven ability to drive sustainable transformation, overcome resistance, and embed new behaviors and processes across diverse teams and regions.
  • Cultural Ambassador: Commitment to modeling and reinforcing organizational values and leadership principles, fostering an inclusive and high-performing global culture.
  • Excellence Orientation: Relentless focus on quality, continuous improvement, and raising performance standards across all medical affairs activities, including process optimization and impact measurement.
  • Global Mindset: Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to develop and implement solutions that work effectively across diverse markets and regions.
  • Collaboration: Highly skilled at building strategic partnerships across functions and fostering collective ownership and accountability for global success.
  • Data-Driven Decision Making: Expertly uses metrics, insights (e.g., from insights management systems), and evidence to inform strategy, measure impact, and drive continuous improvement.
  • Communication Excellence: Exceptional ability to articulate complex vision, engage diverse audiences, and influence outcomes at all levels, from field teams to executive leadership.

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

Working Conditions: Requires up to 20% domestic and international travel

The anticipated salary for this position will be $339,200 to $410,000.  The actual salary offered for this role at commencement of employment may vary based on several factors including but not limited to relevant experience, skill set, qualifications, education (including applicable licenses and certifications, job-based knowledge, location, and other business and organizational needs.

The listed salary is just one component of the overall compensation package. At Kyowa Kirin North America we provide a comprehensive range of benefits including:

  • 401K with company match
  • Annual Bonus Program (Sales Bonus for Sales Jobs)
  • Generous PTO and Holiday Schedule which includes Summer and Winter Shut-Downs, Sick Days and, Volunteer Days
  • Healthcare Benefits (Medical, Dental, Prescription Drugs and Vision)
  • HSA & FSA Programs
  • Well-Being and Work/Life Programs
  • Life & Disability Insurance
  • Concierge Services
  • Long Term Incentive Program (subject to job level and performance)
  • Pet Insurance
  • Tuition Assistance
  • Employee Referral Awards

The compensation and benefits information set forth in this posting applies to candidates hired in the United States. Candidates hired outside the United States will be eligible for compensation and benefits in accordance with their local market.

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 orientation or affection preference or citizenship status or any other category protected by law.

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