Head of US Field Medical

Skyhawk Therapeutics • Waltham, MA

1d • $260,000 - $370,000 • Remote

About The Position

The Head of US Field Medical will build and lead Skyhawk’s US field medical organization in support of SKY-0515 and future pipeline assets, with direct accountability for field medical strategy, scientific engagement, insight generation, Medical Science Liaison (MSL) team development and management, and launch readiness. This is a hands-on, builder role. The successful candidate will have experience establishing or scaling a field medical organization and leading an MSL team through the pre-launch and launch phases of at least one orphan, rare disease, neurology, or other high-touch specialty product. The individual must be comfortable operating with the resourcing, pace, and ambiguity of a small biopharmaceutical company — not simply directing processes developed by larger organizations. This role sits at the center of Skyhawk’s Medical Affairs organization and requires close, day-to-day collaboration with Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Scientific Communications, Publications, Medical Information, HEOR and Real-World Evidence, Patient Advocacy, Regulatory, Drug Safety, Legal and Compliance, and appropriate Commercial partners.

Requirements

• 12 or more years of progressive experience in Medical Affairs, Field Medical, or a related biopharmaceutical function, including substantial direct MSL experience and at least five years of people leadership.
• Demonstrated experience building, expanding, or transforming a national MSL organization, including organizational design, recruitment, onboarding, training, coaching, and performance management.
• Experience leading field medical activities through pre-launch and launch for a neurology, orphan, rare disease, or similarly complex therapy.
• Experience in Huntington’s disease, movement disorders, neurology, neurodegenerative disease, or another high-touch central nervous system therapeutic area.
• Advanced scientific or clinical degree required, such as an MD, DO, PharmD, PhD, or equivalent degree in a relevant discipline.
• Strong scientific and clinical acumen, with the ability to interpret and communicate clinical trial results, biomarkers, statistical analyses, disease-progression data, and emerging evidence.
• Demonstrated ability to establish credible, peer-to-peer relationships with nationally recognized experts, investigators, and senior scientific stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of Medical Affairs compliance requirements, scientific exchange, medical insights, CRM systems, field analytics, and appropriate Medical–Commercial collaboration.
• Ability to operate effectively in a small or emerging biopharmaceutical company and travel approximately 40% to 65%.

Nice To Haves

• Direct experience building and leading a US MSL organization through a rare disease drug launch.
• Experience supporting a first commercial launch, first-in-class product, novel mechanism of action, or biomarker-driven development program.
• Established relationships within the US Huntington’s disease or movement-disorders community, including Centers of Excellence, multidisciplinary care teams, research networks, and patient organizations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the national US field medical strategy for SKY-0515 and future pipeline assets, aligned with the Medical Affairs strategy, scientific communications platform, clinical development plan, and lifecycle priorities.
• Design and build the US MSL organization, including team size, geographic deployment, territory structure, stakeholder prioritization, hiring sequence, and workload expectations.
• Recruit, onboard, coach, and develop a high-performing MSL team, establishing clear competencies, objectives, performance standards, and career-development pathways.
• Personally establish relationships with nationally recognized experts, investigators, treatment-center leaders, and professional organizations, participating directly in Skyhawk’s highest-priority scientific engagements.
• Ensure that MSLs conduct accurate, balanced, evidence-based, and non-promotional scientific exchange with healthcare professionals and other appropriate stakeholders.
• Lead field communication of emerging clinical, biomarker, translational, disease-state, and real-world evidence related to SKY-0515 and the evolving Huntington’s disease treatment landscape.
• Develop a coordinated engagement strategy for Huntington’s disease centers, movement-disorder specialists, genetic counselors, multidisciplinary care teams, investigators, and scientific organizations.
• Partner with Medical Affairs and Clinical colleagues to support advisory boards, congress activities, investigator interactions, scientific meetings, medical education, and appropriate research collaborations.
• Establish a structured process for capturing, documenting, analyzing, prioritizing, and communicating medical insights generated through field interactions.
• Translate insights into actionable recommendations for Medical Affairs strategy, evidence generation, clinical development, publications, scientific communications, education, and lifecycle planning.
• Identify evidence gaps, clinical-practice barriers, educational needs, patient-journey challenges, and stakeholder perceptions that could influence the development and appropriate use of SKY-0515.
• Serve as the field medical lead on the cross-functional launch team, ensuring that MSL hiring, deployment, training, systems, materials, and stakeholder engagement are appropriately sequenced ahead of potential approval.
• Develop and execute the US field medical launch-readiness plan, including disease-state education, pre-launch scientific engagement, stakeholder mapping, insight generation, and post-approval execution.
• Partner with Scientific Communications and Medical Information to provide the MSL team with current, appropriately approved scientific resources, response documents, data summaries, and frequently asked questions.
• Build a comprehensive scientific training and certification program addressing Huntington’s disease, SKY-0515’s mechanism of action, clinical and biomarker data, clinical trial methodology, the competitive landscape, and compliance requirements.
• Create a culture of scientific rigor, patient focus, accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and ethical decision-making across the US field medical organization.
• Conduct regular field coaching and performance reviews focused on scientific knowledge, quality of engagement, strategic execution, insight generation, and compliance.
• Establish consistent standards for field planning, documentation, CRM use, reporting, analytics, and performance measurement.
• Manage the US field medical budget, including headcount, travel, training, congress participation, technology, and external resources.
• Partner closely with Clinical Development and Clinical Operations to support appropriate scientific engagement with investigators and research sites while maintaining clearly defined functional boundaries.
• Collaborate with Scientific Communications, Publications, Medical Information, HEOR, Real-World Evidence, and Patient Advocacy to align field activities with broader Medical Affairs priorities.
• Work with Regulatory, Drug Safety, Legal, and Compliance to ensure that field medical plans, materials, training, and external engagements meet applicable requirements and company standards.
• Establish and maintain field medical policies, procedures, training, documentation practices, and governance processes consistent with applicable laws, regulations, industry codes, and Skyhawk standards.
• Ensure that all MSL activities remain scientific, balanced, non-promotional, appropriately documented, and responsive to legitimate medical and scientific needs.
• Ensure timely reporting of adverse events, product complaints, and other reportable safety or quality information identified through field interactions.
• Maintain clear and compliant standards governing interactions with healthcare professionals, investigators, patients, caregivers, advocacy organizations, and Commercial colleagues.

Benefits

• The base salary range for the Head of US Medical Science Liaisons is $260,000-$370,000 annually. Skyhawk Therapeutics will assess the appropriate level and compensation for a qualified candidate based on job-related skills, leadership experience, professional background, geographic location, and relevant education or training.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior