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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Medical Affairs Manager

💰 $150,000 - $220,000

Medical AffairsPharmaceuticalsBiotechnologyHealthcareClinical Development

🎯 Role Definition

As a Medical Affairs Manager, you will be the scientific anchor for our therapeutic portfolio. You will bridge the gap between our clinical development programs and the medical community, ensuring that healthcare professionals have the most accurate and up-to-date information to optimize patient care. This role involves developing and executing a comprehensive medical affairs plan, fostering strong relationships with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), and collaborating seamlessly with internal cross-functional partners like Marketing, Sales, and R&D. You are a scientific expert, a strategic thinker, and a compelling communicator, dedicated to upholding the highest standards of scientific integrity and ethics.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Medical Science Liaison (MSL)
  • Clinical Scientist or Clinical Research Scientist
  • Medical Information Specialist/Manager
  • Pharmacist or Physician with relevant clinical experience

Advancement To:

  • Senior Medical Affairs Manager
  • Associate Medical Director / Medical Director
  • Head of Medical Affairs (Therapeutic Area)
  • Global Medical Affairs Lead

Lateral Moves:

  • Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR)
  • Clinical Development Lead
  • Regulatory Affairs Strategy
  • Marketing (as a Product Manager with a scientific focus)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Cultivate and maintain robust, long-term professional relationships with national and regional Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), investigators, and healthcare professionals to gain deep insights into therapeutic area trends, clinical practice, and unmet medical needs.
  • Develop and execute the local or regional Medical Affairs strategy and tactical plan, ensuring tight alignment with global medical objectives and commercial brand strategy.
  • Lead the strategic planning, execution, and synthesis of insights from scientific advisory boards, steering committees, and expert panels to inform clinical development and life cycle management.
  • Serve as the primary internal scientific expert for the assigned therapeutic area, providing in-depth medical and clinical knowledge to support cross-functional teams including Marketing, Sales, Market Access, and Regulatory Affairs.
  • Drive the generation and dissemination of clinical data through a comprehensive publication plan, overseeing the development of manuscripts, abstracts, and posters for scientific congresses and peer-reviewed journals.
  • Deliver scientifically rigorous, balanced, and engaging presentations on clinical data, disease state, and therapeutic landscape to both internal and external audiences.
  • Critically evaluate and support Investigator-Initiated Studies (IISs) by managing the proposal process, ensuring scientific merit, and overseeing study progress in line with company strategy and compliance standards.
  • Act as the medical lead for the review and approval of promotional and educational materials, ensuring all content is scientifically accurate, balanced, and compliant with local regulations and industry codes of practice.
  • Develop and deliver high-impact scientific training programs for internal teams, including Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) and commercial field forces, to enhance their product and disease state expertise.
  • Provide medical and scientific support at key national and international medical congresses, including manning the medical information booth, gathering competitive intelligence, and summarizing key scientific findings.
  • Collaborate with the clinical development team to provide medical input on the design of company-sponsored trials, support site identification, and facilitate investigator engagement.
  • Manage the Medical Affairs budget for the assigned products, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to execute the strategic medical plan.
  • Synthesize complex clinical insights and competitive intelligence gathered from field interactions and scientific meetings into actionable recommendations for senior leadership and brand teams.
    s- Partner with Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) teams to develop and communicate the clinical and economic value proposition of the company's assets.
  • Ensure all medical affairs activities are conducted with the highest level of integrity and in strict compliance with GCP, legal, regulatory, and company-specific guidelines.
  • Lead the development of and response to complex, off-label medical information inquiries from healthcare providers, ensuring timely, accurate, and evidence-based communication.
  • Identify and articulate local data gaps and lead data generation initiatives, such as real-world evidence (RWE) studies or registries, to address unmet needs.
  • Build strong, collaborative relationships with medical societies, patient advocacy groups, and other external stakeholders to support medical education and patient-centric initiatives.
    s- Provide strategic input into the product lifecycle management plan, including new indications, formulations, and market access strategies.
  • Act as a key medical resource for crisis management and issue resolution related to the company's products, providing a calm, evidence-based perspective.

Secondary Functions

  • Review and approve promotional and educational materials to ensure scientific accuracy, objectivity, and compliance with all relevant codes and regulations.
  • Provide timely and accurate responses to complex medical information inquiries escalated from Medical Information teams or MSLs.
  • Monitor the competitive landscape, congress proceedings, and scientific literature to provide a continuous stream of scientific and clinical intelligence to internal stakeholders.
  • Assist in the development and delivery of scientific training programs and materials for internal teams, including sales representatives and MSLs.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Deep Therapeutic Area Expertise
  • Clinical Trial Design and Interpretation
  • Scientific and Medical Writing (Publications, Abstracts)
  • Data Analysis and Biostatistics Fundamentals
  • Knowledge of GCP, ICH, and other Regulatory Guidelines
  • Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) Principles
  • Medical Information Systems (e.g., Veeva, IRMS)
  • Literature Synthesis and Critical Appraisal
  • KOL Engagement and Management Strategies
  • Advisory Board Planning and Execution
  • Budget and Vendor Management

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional Communication (Verbal, Written, Presentation)
  • Strategic and Analytical Thinking
  • Cross-Functional Leadership and Collaboration
  • Relationship Building and Networking
  • Business Acumen and Commercial Awareness
  • Adaptability and Agility in a Fast-Paced Environment
  • Problem-Solving and Decision-Making
  • Influence and Negotiation
  • High Ethical Standards and Integrity
  • Project Management and Organization

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Advanced scientific or clinical degree (MD, PhD, PharmD, DNP, or equivalent).

Preferred Education:

  • MD or PharmD is often highly preferred, particularly for roles requiring extensive interaction with physician specialists.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Medicine
  • Pharmacy
  • Pharmacology
  • Biology or other Life Sciences

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-7 years of relevant experience within the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry or a clinical setting.

Preferred:

  • 2+ years of experience as a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) is highly desirable.
  • Prior experience in the specific therapeutic area (e.g., Oncology, Immunology, Cardiology) is strongly preferred.
  • Experience with a product launch is a significant asset.
  • Demonstrated experience in a medical affairs or clinical development role.
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