Executive Director, NA Head of Medical Field Teams

Kyowa Kirin North America•Princeton, NJ

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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.
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
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.
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.

Responsibilities

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Benefits

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