Executive Director, NA Head of Medical Field Teams

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.

Summary of Job:

The NA Head of Medical Field Teams is a senior Medical Affairs leadership role responsible for the strategic leadership, oversight, and performance of the North America Field Medical organization. This role plays a key part in building and evolving the North America Field Medical function, including shaping the operating model, core processes, governance, and standards of excellence for MSL and HEOR field activities as the organization continues to grow.

The role oversees several MSL teams across different therapeutic areas, as well as a Medical Value Outcome Liaison (MVOL)  team, ensuring high quality, compliant scientific and health economic exchange aligned with regional and global Medical Affairs strategy.

The NA Head of Medical Field Teams is accountable for defining the field medical and HEOR engagement vision, operating model, and standards of excellence across therapeutic areas, while enabling strong execution, insight generation, and cross-functional collaboration. The role partners closely with Therapeutic Area leadership, HEOR leadership, Medical Affairs Operations & Excellence, Scientific Communications, and Global Medical Affairs to ensure integrated scientific and value-based engagement across the product lifecycle and is responsible for effectively communicating the value of Field Medical and Medical Value and Outcomes Liaisons (MVOL) team to senior leadership and other stakeholders through advanced analytics and reporting of outcomes and impact.

Essential Functions:

Field Medical & HEOR Strategy and Leadership

• Define and own the North America Field Medical and Medical Value Outcome Liaison (MVOL) Field strategy across multiple therapeutic areas, aligned with regional and global Medical Affairs objectives.
• Provide strategic leadership and direction to several TA MSL teams and Medical Value Outcome Liaison (MVOL) team, ensuring clear role differentiation while maintaining consistency in standards, expectations, and ways of working.
• Translate medical and HEOR strategy into field engagement models, priorities, and annual plans across therapeutic areas and assets.
• Serve as the senior field medical and Medical Value Outcome Liaison (MVOL) voice within North America Medical Affairs leadership forums.

People Leadership & Talent Development

• Directly lead and develop MSL and Medical Value Outcome Liaison (MVOL) people managers across therapeutic areas.
• Build a high-performing, patient-centric Field Medical and Medical Value Outcome Liaison (MVOL) organization through coaching, performance management, and professional development.
• Oversee hiring, onboarding, training, and succession planning for MSL and Medical Value Outcome Liaison (MVOL) teams.
• Foster a culture of scientific excellence, value-based thinking, compliance, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Scientific, HEOR & External Engagement Excellence

• Ensure high quality, non-promotional scientific and health economic exchange with healthcare professionals, payers, decision makers, and other external stakeholders.
• Oversee field medical and HEOR engagement strategies, ensuring interactions are compliant, scientifically rigorous, and tailored to stakeholder needs.
• Guide MSL and Medical Value Outcome Liaison (MVOL) involvement in advisory boards, payer engagements, investigator meetings, congresses, and insight generation activities.

Insights Generation & Strategic Impact

• Provides strategic leadership and direction to the data innovation strategy utilizing systems and analytics to establish and oversee robust processes for collection, synthesis, and communication of scientific, clinical, and HEOR field-generated insights.
• Ensure insights inform medical strategy, evidence generation, value messaging, scientific communications, and development planning.
• Partner with Therapeutic Area Heads, HEOR leadership, and Asset Leads to translate insights into strategic actions.

Cross-Functional & Matrix Collaboration

• Partner closely with Therapeutic Area Heads, Regional Asset Leads, HEOR leadership, and Scientific Communications to ensure alignment between field execution and medical and value strategies.
• Collaborate with Medical Affairs Operations & Excellence on field medical and HEOR planning, resourcing, KPIs, and operational excellence.
• Work in close partnership with Clinical Development, Regulatory, Legal, and Compliance to support integrated and compliant execution.
• Serve as a key liaison between North America Field Medical/ Medical Value Outcome Liaison (MVOL) teams and Global Medical Affairs and Global HEOR leadership.

Governance, Compliance & Quality

• Ensure all MSL and Medical Value Outcome Liaison (MVOL) activities comply with internal SOPs, Medical Affairs governance, and external regulatory and industry standards.
• Oversee training and adherence to compliance requirements related to scientific exchange, health economic discussions, and non-promotional engagement.
• Identify and escalate scientific, compliance, or reputational risks related to field medical or Medical Value Outcome Liaison (MVOL) activities.

Key Interfaces

• Head of North America Medical Affairs
• Regional Therapeutic Area Heads
• Regional Asset Medical Leads
• Medical Affairs Operations & Excellence
• Scientific Communications Leadership
• Global HEOR, and Global Medical Affairs
• Clinical Development, Regulatory, Legal, and Compliance partners

Decision‑Making Authority

• Accountable for North America Field Medical and HEOR Field strategy, structure, and performance across therapeutic areas.
• Authority to define field engagement models, priorities, and resource allocation within approved plans.
• Input into Medical Affairs resourcing, organizational design, and capability development decisions.
• Escalation authority for field‑related scientific, HEOR, compliance, or operational risks.

Subordinates: MSL Directors

Job Requirements:

Education

Bachelor’s degree in life science, nursing or closely related discipline.  A doctorate level degree (e.g. MD, PharmD, PhD) in life sciences with relevant experience is highly preferred.

 Experience

• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in Medical Affairs, including significant leadership of Field Medical (MSL) organizations within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry
• Demonstrated success leading large, multi-therapeutic area Field Medical teams, including direct oversight of MSL leaders and HEOR/MVOL functions
• Proven track record of defining and executing Field Medical and HEOR strategies aligned with regional and global Medical Affairs objectives
• Extensive experience engaging with key external stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, payers, and decision-makers, through compliant scientific and health economic exchange
• Strong background in building and scaling high-performing teams, including organizational design, talent development, and succession planning
• Experience operating within complex, matrixed organizations with demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and drive strategic alignment across Medical Affairs, Clinical, Regulatory, and Commercial partners

 Technical Skills

• Proven expertise in leading Field Medical organizations, including MSL and HEOR/MVOL teams, across multiple therapeutic areas
• Strong command of Medical Affairs strategy, including field engagement models, insight generation, and evidence-based scientific exchange
• Advanced knowledge of health economics, outcomes research (HEOR), and value-based healthcare principles
• Ability to translate medical and HEOR strategies into operational plans, KPIs, and measurable field execution frameworks
• Experience with data analytics, insight platforms, and systems to capture, synthesize, and operationalize field-generated insights Deep understanding of compliance frameworks, including FDA regulations, industry guidelines, and non-promotional engagement standards
• Exceptional cross-functional leadership and matrix collaboration skills across Clinical Development, Regulatory, Legal, and Commercial interfaces
• 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. Ability to drive or fly to meetings.

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

 

The anticipated salary for this position will be $256,800 to $332,300.  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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