Sr. Scientific Director, Rare Disease

Xeris Pharmaceuticals•Chicago, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Scientific Director, Rare Disease serves as a senior leader within the Medical Affairs team, responsible for driving scientific and medical strategy and execution across cross-functional teams. This role will focus on scientific communication, evidence generation, and publication strategy, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to support the rare disease portfolio. The Scientific Director will be responsible for leading key medical responsibilities such as Medical Strategy and Narrative, Scientific Communication Platform development and maintenance, Publication Strategy and Plans, Medical Communication and Content initiatives, and collaborate in evidence generation initiatives. The Scientific Director will partner and contribute to the cross-functional activities in evidence generation with Medical Affairs, Research & Development, and Clinical Operations. The incumbent is responsible for the timely delivery of high-quality, integrated, balanced medical and scientific information upon the requests of internal and external business partners, and the healthcare community, including health care professionals, decision makers, patients, and caretakers. The Scientific Director will regularly interact with internal and external key stakeholders on medical, clinical, and scientific activities as it pertains to identified projects and initiatives. Accountable for maintaining appropriate documentation and/or business systems utilized for assigned medical affairs projects. Leads assigned Medical Affairs, Leadership, and Cross-Functional meetings, special projects, and initiatives as assigned. Essential Job Functions Serve as the subject matter expert on assigned product(s) and disease area, applying medical and scientific expertise to guide strategic initiatives and effectively engage internal and external stakeholders. Develop deep knowledge and understanding of the Rare Disease Clinical Program and Lifecycle Management, Disease State, and understanding the evolving needs of both medical and patient communities. Translate complex clinical data into clear, compelling, and tailored messages to effectively engage and inform internal and external audiences. Lead the development and ongoing management of the rare disease scientific knowledge infrastructure, which may include the Scientific Communication Platform, medical narrative, lexicon, and internal resource library. Lead the cross-functional development of Rare Disease publication strategies and plans in collaboration with Publication Lead(s) Lead the development and implementation of medical content and related medical communication strategy in partnership with Medical Communications Lead(s) and/or other key internal partners to align with product timelines, strategic initiatives, and diverse stakeholder needs. Drive the development of scientifically rigorous, compliant, and stakeholder-focused content by collaborating cross-functionally within Medical Affairs, ensuring timely, high-quality project delivery with strong accountability and responsiveness. Proactively develop targeted communication materials and channel strategies. Serve as a key partner in evidence generation and/or pipeline initiatives, collaborating with R&D, Clinical, and Medical to align on data generation with strategic objectives. Identify and analyze healthcare community needs and educational gaps in close collaboration with the Medical Affairs Leadership and other internal stakeholders, Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create, execute, and monitor launch and/or other strategic readiness plans, aligning medical affairs content with commercial, clinical, and regulatory goals. Drive content excellence by mentoring Medical Affairs team members and providing strategic guidance throughout the content development process. Monitor, evaluate, and report on relevant disease state and industry trends/activity relevant to Xeris interest and activities Engage with key opinion leaders and HCPs in collaboration with Regional Medical Affairs through participation in congresses, symposiums, and advisory boards to gather insights and build strategic relationships. Ensure all medical content complies with company SOPs, regulatory requirements, and medical-legal review processes. Maintain subject matter expertise on relevant therapeutic areas and compounds, industry ongoings, benchmarks, and best practices to apply to assigned projects and initiatives. Ensure medical affairs related planning/workflow files, tools, and systems in partnership with Medical Operations are maintained, accurate, and adherent to relevant Xeris policies, SOPs, and compliance guidelines.

Requirements

Advanced degree, preferably in a scientific discipline, i.e., PhD, PharmD, or MD
12+ years of medical/scientific publications or medical communications experience in the pharmaceutical/health care industry, academia, or related experience (i.e., medical communication agency, clinical/scientific research) required
A minimum of 5 years of experience at a director level leading medical affairs/medical communications teams and responsibilities at a life science company
Recognized leader or expert in medical publications, scientific communications, and medical affairs practices
Demonstrated expertise in clinical/scientific publication structure, content, and quality
Demonstrated expertise in scientific publication regulations and best practices.
Expert-level pharmaceutical, biomedical, or scientific writing experience.
Working knowledge of statistical concepts and techniques required.
Ability to understand and interpret clinical data and strategic concepts.
Knowledge and experience with multi-channel scientific platforms and innovative communication tactics
Strategic and Functional Leadership
Teamwork and Cross-Functional Collaboration
Analytical & Research skills
Attention to Detail
Self-Starter
Excellent Written and Verbal Communication
Strong Presentation skills
Organizational skills
Project Management including Finance and Budget Management Experience
Adaptability
Professionalism

Nice To Haves

Relevant professional certification/credential (i.e., CMPP, AMWA) is a plus
Medical Affairs or Medical Communications pharmaceutical industry fellowship or residency is a preference

Responsibilities

Serve as the subject matter expert on assigned product(s) and disease area, applying medical and scientific expertise to guide strategic initiatives and effectively engage internal and external stakeholders.
Develop deep knowledge and understanding of the Rare Disease Clinical Program and Lifecycle Management, Disease State, and understanding the evolving needs of both medical and patient communities.
Translate complex clinical data into clear, compelling, and tailored messages to effectively engage and inform internal and external audiences.
Lead the development and ongoing management of the rare disease scientific knowledge infrastructure, which may include the Scientific Communication Platform, medical narrative, lexicon, and internal resource library.
Lead the cross-functional development of Rare Disease publication strategies and plans in collaboration with Publication Lead(s)
Lead the development and implementation of medical content and related medical communication strategy in partnership with Medical Communications Lead(s) and/or other key internal partners to align with product timelines, strategic initiatives, and diverse stakeholder needs.
Drive the development of scientifically rigorous, compliant, and stakeholder-focused content by collaborating cross-functionally within Medical Affairs, ensuring timely, high-quality project delivery with strong accountability and responsiveness.
Proactively develop targeted communication materials and channel strategies.
Serve as a key partner in evidence generation and/or pipeline initiatives, collaborating with R&D, Clinical, and Medical to align on data generation with strategic objectives.
Identify and analyze healthcare community needs and educational gaps in close collaboration with the Medical Affairs Leadership and other internal stakeholders.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create, execute, and monitor launch and/or other strategic readiness plans, aligning medical affairs content with commercial, clinical, and regulatory goals.
Drive content excellence by mentoring Medical Affairs team members and providing strategic guidance throughout the content development process.
Monitor, evaluate, and report on relevant disease state and industry trends/activity relevant to Xeris interest and activities
Engage with key opinion leaders and HCPs in collaboration with Regional Medical Affairs through participation in congresses, symposiums, and advisory boards to gather insights and build strategic relationships.
Ensure all medical content complies with company SOPs, regulatory requirements, and medical-legal review processes.
Maintain subject matter expertise on relevant therapeutic areas and compounds, industry ongoings, benchmarks, and best practices to apply to assigned projects and initiatives.
Ensure medical affairs related planning/workflow files, tools, and systems in partnership with Medical Operations are maintained, accurate, and adherent to relevant Xeris policies, SOPs, and compliance guidelines.