Senior Regional KOL Manager

ZEISS•Dublin, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Regional Manager of Key Opinion Leaders engages and manages ZEISS KOLs. This role involves developing and implementing strategies to build advocacy and engagement with key eye care providers to support the brand and commercial strategy. It also includes creating and implementing methods to train local SSCs to identify and recruit KOLs, and developing and maintaining strong working relationships with the ophthalmic medical community. The position requires conducting annual needs assessments for KOL activities, developing regional execution plans, and providing progress reports to organizational leadership. Additionally, the role involves helping to develop higher-level communications programs for KOLs, managing the regional KOL software database, updating KOL biographies and publications, and providing reports to the Global KOL Director. A key aspect is serving as the primary contact with the legal department for KOL contracts and service agreements, ensuring compliance. The role also includes planning and facilitating regional advisory boards, representing the company at medical congresses, acting as a disease state and product expert, and coordinating with internal teams (Marketing, R&D, and Professional Education) to address KOL needs.

Requirements

At least 10 years of experience working directly with Key Opinion Leaders, preferably in the ophthalmology or optometry industry.
College degree required.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Fluent and conversant in English.
Demonstrate strong business acumen and the ability to manage timelines, processes and procedures.

Nice To Haves

Experience with product launches, advisory boards and post-approval studies is helpful.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement strategies to build advocacy and engagement with key eye care providers to support the brand and commercial strategy.
Create and implement methods to train local SSCs to identify and recruit KOLs to strengthen relationships in their areas.
Develop and maintain strong working relationships with the ophthalmic medical community including teaching institutions and related physicians with a scientific approach focused on identifying needs and providing solutions.
Conduct annual needs assessment for KOL activities and develop regional execution plans in alignment with key internal stakeholders.
Provide ongoing progress reports to organizational leadership on impact of regional KOL activities.
Help develop higher level communications program so that KOLs are informed of latest updates to company, products and clinical data.
Manage and maintain the regional KOL software database to ensure completeness, accuracy and effective KOL engagements through to honorarium.
Update the biographies and publications of contracted HCPs annually and ensure that all supporting documentation is current.
Provide interval reports to the Global KOL Director regarding KOL utilization and associated budget.
Serve as primary contact with the legal department to develop and manage key opinion leader contracts and service agreements while following compliance guidelines.
Collect and process all necessary onboarding paperwork.
Plan and facilitate approved regional advisory boards in support of KOL Management/Chief Medical Officer activities.
Represent the company at regional medical congresses and scientific meetings in support of KOL strategy, supporting ongoing activities of KOL team and engaging new key influencers.
Act as disease state and product expert to internal and field stakeholders to enable better understanding of the disease and treatment of the disease to help drive KOL loyalty and adoption by the greater ophthalmic/optometric community.
Appropriately coordinate, support, and communicate with appropriate internal teams (Marketing, R&D, and Professional Education) personnel to address overall KOL needs.