Field Medical Director Gastroenterology MSL Team Head

The purpose of the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Team Head position is to develop the strategy and tactical plan for engagement with the scientific community and to oversee the effective and efficient operation of the entire MSL organization, while ensuring that the MSL personnel engage in substantive scientific exchange. MSL Head is responsible for strong team capability development and FBM organization team. 

The MSL Head main objectives are to:

• Coordinate traversal partnership with internal stakeholders to develop the most effective and efficient strategic plan to interface with external Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs).

• Establish the team’s long-range Medical strategic plan (including resource deployment) to determine course of action/tactics in a timely manner to meet life cycle management strategies meeting business objectives.

• Guide capability initiatives, including proactive competency gap analysis, contributing to content and curriculum design, conducting training classes where necessary, and monitoring data systems.

• Guide the management of MSL capabilities and expected performance through MSL manager’s coaching, training, and development to ensure excellent execution of their role and achieving strategic goals.

• Support the generation and communication of scientific and medical insights to internal stakeholders, develop/execute strategic and tactical Medical Engagement Plans, and manage MSL resources and budgets.

• Partner with Gastroenterology Associate Field Director, Medical Directors, and other internal partners to manage high-level regional stakeholder relationships, contribute to medical engagement planning, and oversee the MSL budget.

• Identify and support MSL managers on opportunities for innovation and field excellence initiatives to differentiate Sanofi medical and help achieve and exceed department objectives

Key accountabilities

Lead and Implement MSL Strategy Development

• Ensures clarity and alignment of the roles and responsibilities of the MSL function across internal and external stakeholders.

• Analyses and uses qualitative and quantitative information to understand the critical tasks and resources, including staff, to achieve the desired objectives

• Supports resource planning for the MSL field force for pre-launch and life-cycle management of products.

• Attends cross-functional and transversal meetings as needed to collaborate with internal stakeholders that have an impact on MSL strategy

• Proactively identifies best-practice and sharing across geographies of MSL activities.

• Ensures job descriptions evolve for territory MSL roles effectively match country launch plans or Medical/ Policy plans for life-cycle products and global guidance/ policies on MSL roles & responsibilities.

• Ensures appropriate MSL annual planning, objectives and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are utilized and support MSL managers in monitoring these objectives and KPIs

• Develop recruiting plan for team and build business case and secure approval for head count  changes

• Support and engage with the TA Head towards MSL effectiveness measures / gap analyses and aligned training & education curriculum.  Identify and communicate synergies within the Sanofi group training resources and programs to maintain and develop a high performing team

• Ensures alignment of field medical tools and resources to medical strategy.  Leads ongoing efficiency initiatives with the implementation of new/optimized systems and tools for MSL activities.

• Ensures management of field insights and feedback are effectively captured and efficiently shared within Medical Affairs and appropriate business partners.

• Manage vendor relationships to ensure business objectives timeline adherence and budget adherence are being met.

• Ensure MSL organization employs a governance towards fulfilling global/regional/local and corporate training requirements and compliance towards applicable internal and external policies and regulations.

Develop, monitor, and execute Region/Country strategic and tactical Medical Engagement Plans

• Collaborate with global and regional Medical Affairs to develop country and territory-level strategic and tactical Medical Engagement Plans.

• Assess medical launch plans, and region medical strategies.

• Support MSL managers towards the identification, mapping and quarterly review of KOLs to develop and maintain customized engagement plans.  

• Monitor and support MSL Manager’s execution of plans with their respective teams and with prioritised KOLs via regular coaching sessions

• Manage and meet reporting requirements of MSL performance including supporting the MSL managers monitoring metrics towards set KPIs ensuring excellence in execution of their role towards achieving strategic and tactical goals.

Ensure strong MSL relationships with KOLs, engaging and managing relationships with external stakeholders when applicable

• Support the identification and prioritization of key territory stakeholders and development of customized engagement plans.

• Regularly monitor key MSL/KOL relationships via MSL Manager coaching sessions and field visits to ensure quality engagements ensuring aligned scientific information exchange with the KOLs.

• Review, monitor, and analyse insights from the KOLs on key information concerning the strategy, products, image, or competition to assess KOL needs, priorities, expectations, satisfaction. Engage with select external stakeholders as appropriate.

• Support, attend, and follow up on scientific congresses, symposia, or other events where appropriate

Communicate scientific and medical information/insights to internal stakeholders to contribute to updates of messages, plans, and strategy

• Oversee/Supervise/Develop the organization, and distribution of scientific and medical materials in collaboration with Medical Affairs as appropriate.

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to provide scientific inputs on relevant materials and coordinate training support where appropriate to region/affiliate.

• Provide/organise scientific and technical support to internal stakeholders to facilitate development of medical strategy.

• Aggregate and communicate KOLs insights on key scientific medical and clinical experience and share with stakeholders.

• Facilitate and encourage exchange of Medical leadership and best practices via communication and organized meetings and events among MSLs and with other functions, both locally and across geographies and GBUs.

Context of the job/major challenges

• MSL Head will need to travel to coach MSL Manager field activities, attend meetings and conferences and attend strategic planning meetings.

• MSL Head will need to ensure that the team operates within compliance policies pertaining to interaction with healthcare professionals and the commercial organization.

• MSL Head must work collaboratively across the organization while respecting the boundaries that exist between medical and commercial operations

• The MSL Heads are expected to lead by example and model core company values creating a culture of accountability, performance recognition and teamwork.

Requirements

Education/experience

• Doctorate degree from an accredited university (MD, PhD, Pharm D,) required

• Area of specialization related to therapeutic area preferred (Gastroenterology, Immunology, etc.)

• Post-bachelor’s degree from accredited university (e.g. Masters, MBA or equivalent): valuable, not required

• Total related experience 5

• Prior experience as an MSL or other field medical role

• Experience having managed a field medical team

Skills/Knowledge

 Specific competencies and skills of particular importance to the role include, but are not limited to:

• Accurately complete technical asks in area of expertise to impact department’s ability to meet objectives

• Maps a path to take the organization from the present to the future state

• Thinks strategically and leverages knowledge of general business practices, the industry, medical practices and Sanofi strategic objectives to create a team strategy to achieve commitments

• Expands and leverages relationships across functional and corporate boundaries to implement MSL team strategies and synchronize work processes

• Demonstrates project management skills and effectively manages multiple competing priorities, focusing on priorities of higher impact while maintaining control over competing priorities

• Through timely coaching, clear expectations and appropriate management of individuals, motivates and guide the team toward successful outcomes and attainment of department objectives.

• Makes effective business decisions when faced with competing scientific and business priorities, limited information, changing circumstances and/or tight deadlines

• Deep understanding and knowledge of local regulations and codes of practice for pharmaceutical industry, in particular as they apply to the non-promotional activities of this role.

• Integrates financial and industry data effectively, allowing for the identification of key issues and decision making criteria and the  determination of strategies and plans

• Working knowledge and fluency of English (as second language where relevant)

Sanofi Inc. and its U.S. affiliates are Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employers committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; creed; religion; national origin; age; ancestry; nationality; marital, domestic partnership or civil union status; sex, gender, gender identity or expression; affectional or sexual orientation; disability; veteran or military status or liability for military status; domestic violence victim status; atypical cellular or blood trait; genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing) or any other characteristic protected by law.

Candidates must complete all fleet safety training and must maintain an acceptable driving record regarding accidents and incidents.

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At Sanofi diversity and inclusion is foundational to how we operate and embedded in our Core Values. We recognize to truly tap into the richness diversity brings we must lead with inclusion and have a workplace where those differences can thrive and be leveraged to empower the lives of our colleagues, patients and customers. We respect and celebrate the diversity of our people, their backgrounds and experiences and provide equal opportunity for all.