Area Director, Medical Science Liaisons

** This role is remote in the Western 2/3rds of the US and requires being near a major airport **

This is a 60% travel role leading Medical Science Liaisons including MI, N. IN, IL, MO, OK, TX and all states westward

Who We Are: Harvesting Hope with a Growing Family

At Merz Therapeutics, we take a nurturing approach to our organization – treating colleagues like family, embracing our whole selves and creating a company culture that encourages growth and decisive action. We are committed to caring for whole communities by focusing on individuals suffering from movement disorders and neurological conditions and the healthcare providers dedicated to helping them, while simultaneously bolstering our team members in a united effort to make a difference.

As a private, family-owned company, we have the liberty and support to make decisions for ourselves, our customers and the patients we serve. We pride ourselves on building an inclusive culture where there is room to celebrate individual growth and the ability to contribute to a common good as a collaborative team. Our mission is grounded in a long-term view of making a difference for the common good, while growing together as a family.

If you‘re looking to immerse yourself in a passionate team rooted in community, connection and camaraderie, then we’re looking for YOU! #IAmMerzTx

Merz Therapeutics is seeking an Area Director, Medical Science Liaisons for the West Area.

Job Purpose:

To manage the activities of the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) team to develop and implement strategies that:

1. Optimally manage thought leader/academic institutions and other key health care provider/organization relationships, specifically with the provision of timely and up to date scientific information relevant to Merz Therapeutics products or research & development activities;
2. Increase health care provider awareness and knowledge as it relates to the management of therapeutic product-related treatments and uses;
3. Ensure professional development of the MSL team with a focus on excellence and accountability;
4. Training and ensuring proper management of medical affairs HCP training resources including virtual reality technologies and resources for injections training;
5. Ensure coordination and cooperation between the MSL and other Merz Therapeutics personnel;
6. Ensure team compliance with Merz Therapeutics policies and guidelines. The Director of the US MSL team will also be responsible for recruiting, interviewing, and hiring new MSLs, counseling and coaching MSLs. The Director of the US MSL team will provide input into the strategy and direction for the MSL team working closing with internal stakeholders to align activities with overall business objectives;
7. Ensuring proper training of new hires to meet the expectations of a respected scientific and medical affairs expert required for peer-to-peer conversations with key opinion leaders.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Key opinion leader management/scientific strategy

• Work with internal colleagues to define therapeutic space and treatment concepts that form the basis of MSL field-based activities, which will be adopted by thought leaders and academic institutions and support the safe use of Merz Therapeutic products.
• Define and implement tactics that will allow for the timely acceptance of these concepts
• In collaboration with internal Medical Affairs stakeholders, develop materials for dissemination of clinically and scientifically relevant information to physicians and other health care providers in response to unsolicited inquires. Understand and anticipate potential topics of inquiry and prepare material to address topics by the MSL team

Direct management of MSL team

• Establish and cultivate a culture of excellence, performance and accountability among the therapeutic MSL team. Develop, implement and manage performance indicators for the MSLs to achieve company and individual goals and objectives.
• Spend adequate field time with direct reports to coach and develop personnel and ensure that objectives are being met. Facilitate MSL training for new hires and ongoing training and development for all MSLs. Provide information on the MSL program to others within the organization, as needed. Provide mentoring and build the talents of MSL team members with respect to knowledge of technical and scientific information, business practices, and communication skills. Ensure MSLs understand the business priorities and that their work is aligned to those priorities, their level of accountability for results and the measurement process.
• Facilitate and provide timely responses to requests from the MSLs for support of activities from requests in their respective regions include support for education programs, research, publications, disease or product information and consultant activities.
• Ensure current information on therapeutic area, Merz clinical studies, product information, and Marketing and Sales product plan and tactics is made available to MSLs.
• Ensure Medical Affairs compliance is met.

Business intelligence and support

• Facilitate field level feedback to inform corporate objective to develop strategies and tactics that will support strategic planning
• and clinical research, medical and marketing assessment and competitive positioning of Merz Therapeutic products.

Scientific advisory boards

• Assist with execution of Medical Affairs advisory boards in support of the Merz Therapeutics portfolio for the purpose of identifying knowledge/science gaps, problem resolution, aid with product development, and generate key opinion leader consensus and treatment guidelines.

Education required

• Advanced degree (PhD, PharmD, MD, OTD or DPT)

Professional experience preferred

• At least 6-8 years of Medical Science Liaison or related industry experience
• Supervisory experience
• Proven track record of success, especially in the area of establishing relationships with opinion leaders and academic institutions

Knowledge, skills and abilities required

• Strong clinical knowledge in specific therapeutic areas of injectables, inhalants, biologics, neurology, movement disorders, PM&R, Parkinson's, neurotoxins, etc (Preferred)
• Business acumen and strong working knowledge of industry and the pharmaceutical regulatory and compliance environment.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Willingness to travel up to 60%
• Strong presentation skills

Knowledge of methods required

• Adhere to corporate SOPs and ensure vigilant compliance with relevant legal and regulatory guidelines governing scientific interactions with physicians and healthcare professionals across all activities, including those related to clinical trials, scientific interactions with internal and
• external groups, and responses to unsolicited medical/scientific information.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and regulatory guidelines governing commercial and scientific interactions with healthcare professionals and other business partners.
• Maintain strict adherence to company compliance policies and government regulations. Foster the highest levels of personal and corporate integrity. Should have working knowledge of PhRMA and AdvaMed Code and FDA regulations regarding marketing of prescription drug and medical device products.

Personal skills required

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to clearly articulate complex scientific concepts in 1:1 and group settings.
• Strong multi-tasking, time management, and organizational skills