Medical Science Liaison, UK & Ireland

Santen

3d

About The Position

Santen is hiring a Medical Science Liaison for the UK and Ireland. The role is field-based and serves as a scientific expert and trusted, non-promotional partner to healthcare professionals, scientific experts, and other healthcare stakeholders. The MSL facilitates balanced, evidence-based peer-to-peer scientific exchange, builds meaningful scientific relationships, and generates actionable medical insights that inform Medical Affairs strategy, evidence generation, and patient care.

The role supports Medical Affairs priorities throughout the product lifecycle, from pipeline and pre-launch through launch and lifecycle management. It includes external scientific engagement, insight generation, field strategy implementation, evidence generation and research support, congress participation, medical education, cross-functional collaboration, and compliant execution of field activities.

Santen describes itself as a specialized eye-health company with a 130-year heritage, originating in Japan and operating in more than 60 countries and regions. The company offers a market-aligned base salary starting from £62,140 to £85,440, depending on experience and location. Santen also states that it supports flexible ways of working and an inclusive work environment.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree in Life Sciences, Medicine, Pharmacy, or another relevant scientific discipline.
• At least 3 years of experience in an MSL or field-based Medical Affairs role within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Proven ability to interpret, critically evaluate, and communicate complex scientific and clinical information.
• Experience engaging with healthcare professionals, scientific experts, or other relevant healthcare stakeholders.
• Strong scientific knowledge and the ability to translate complex clinical evidence into clear, relevant scientific discussions.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including credibility to engage confidently with senior healthcare professionals and scientific experts.
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
• Analytical mindset and ability to identify meaningful medical insights and translate them into actionable recommendations.
• Strategic thinking, effective planning, and strong organisational skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage priorities, and take ownership of field activities.
• Fluent English.

Nice To Haves

• Ophthalmology experience is preferred or desirable.
• An MD, PharmD, PhD, or equivalent advanced scientific qualification.
• Candidates without ophthalmology experience may be considered if they have strong scientific backgrounds and the ability to develop therapeutic-area expertise.

Responsibilities

• Identify and engage relevant scientific experts and healthcare stakeholders, building trusted, sustainable relationships.
• Deliver balanced, evidence-based, non-promotional scientific exchange, including responding to unsolicited medical and scientific enquiries.
• Generate, capture, and communicate actionable medical and scientific insights from external engagements, congresses, and the healthcare environment.
• Identify unmet needs, evidence gaps, and emerging trends to inform Medical Affairs priorities and appropriate medical actions.
• Translate Medical Affairs priorities into effective field medical activities and prioritize stakeholder engagement according to scientific needs and potential medical impact.
• Contribute field insights to strategy development and monitor the effectiveness of field activities.
• Identify evidence gaps and research opportunities, support identification of investigators and research sites, and contribute to Santen-sponsored studies, observational research, Real-World Evidence initiatives, investigator-initiated research, and scientific publications within defined responsibilities.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of scientific literature, treatment guidelines, and clinical developments; participate in relevant scientific congresses and communicate key developments and stakeholder insights internally.
• Deliver scientific presentations and educational activities, support development and review of Medical Affairs materials, and contribute to internal scientific training and knowledge sharing.
• Collaborate with Medical Affairs and relevant cross-functional teams while maintaining clear boundaries between non-promotional Medical Affairs activities and Commercial activities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, industry codes, and Santen policies; maintain scientific independence; report adverse events and product quality complaints; complete required documentation and training; and responsibly manage territory activities and approved digital tools.
• Continuously develop therapeutic and scientific expertise.

Benefits

• Competitive, market-aligned base salary starting from £62,140 to £85,440, depending on experience and location.
• Flexible ways of working.
• Inclusive work environment.

What This Job Offers

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