Executive Director Medical Affairs, Operations and Strategic Excellence

At Viridian, we are focused on developing best-in-class medicines for people living with autoimmune and rare diseases. Leveraging our team’s expertise in antibody discovery and engineering, we have created a robust pipeline of differentiated investigational therapeutic candidates for well-validated targets.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs, the Executive Director of Medical Affairs, Operations and Strategic Excellence serve as a strategic leader within Medical Affairs. Acting as the Chief of Staff, this individual will facilitate a broad range of strategic and tactical initiatives across all functional areas, including Independent Medical Education (IME), Investigator-Sponsored Trials (ISTs), Medical Communications, Medical Information, Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR), Expanded Access Programs (EAP), and the field medical team. This role will focus on refining the medical affairs strategy, scientific platform and key messaging; enhancing training programs; contracting with vendors to implement platforms and services; ensuring policies and procedures are in place and being followed; supporting key opinion leader (KOL) engagement initiatives, including the initiation and management of the President's Council; reporting on KPIs; and acting as the medical affairs lead for pipeline products.

The Executive Director will ensure operational excellence, strategic alignment, and cross-functional collaboration while delivering high-quality information and insights. The role will serve as a key liaison with clinical development, commercial, market access, and competitive intelligence teams to advance medical affairs and scientific initiatives.

This role is based in our Waltham, MA headquarters. Our office-based employees are required to work in the office three (3) days a week.

Responsibilities (including, but not limited to):

• Strategic Leadership and Execution
  • Drive the refinement and execution of medical affairs strategies to ensure alignment with corporate goals and objectives
  • Develop scientific platforms, key messaging and lexicons
  • Lead the initiation and management of the President's Council, engaging key stakeholders and KOLs in collaboration with the Field Medical Affairs Lead and MSLs to inform medical strategy
  • Oversee the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure compliance with regulatory and ethical standards
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align medical affairs activities with commercial and clinical development strategies
• KOL Engagement and External Relations
  • Partner with the Field Medical Affairs Lead and MSLs to foster and strengthen relationships with regional, national, and global KOLs, medical societies, and patient advocacy groups.
  • Identify educational gaps and develop initiatives to enhance external medical education efforts.
  • Support the planning and execution of advisory boards in collaboration with the Scientific Communications function.
  • Lead the strategic planning process for congress initiatives in support of KOL engagements
• Training and Development
  • Design and implement robust training programs to promote scientific excellence and compliance within the Medical Affairs team
  • Participate in the development of educational content and facilitate training initiatives to support internal stakeholders in understanding evolving scientific data and market dynamics
• Operational Excellence
  • Optimize and oversee the operational processes for the IST, IME, Medical Information and EAP programs to ensure efficiency and compliance
  • Collaborate with vendors and internal stakeholders to enhance data dissemination and real-world evidence generation efforts
  • Provide strategic oversight of medical information and communication activities, ensuring alignment with key scientific and commercial objectives
  • Contract with vendors for platforms and services in support of IME, ISTs, EAP, KOL identification, and Medical Information
  • Oversee the department budget and lead the forecasting process
• Cross-Functional Collaboration and Leadership
  • Partner with the Scientific Communications function to implement publication plans and congress strategies
  • Facilitate alignment between medical affairs, clinical development, and brand planning initiatives
  • Serve as the medical affairs lead for early development assets, providing strategic input and scientific leadership
• Performance Monitoring and Reporting
  • Develop and deliver monthly and quarterly updates to the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs to track progress and align on key priorities
  • Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness and impact of medical affairs initiatives

Qualifications:

• 12 experience in Medical Affairs leadership roles
• Requires an advanced degree (MD, PharmD, or PhD)
• Strong strategic, operational, and leadership capabilities within a biotech or pharmaceutical setting
• Proven track record in collaborating with KOLs and external stakeholders through field medical affairs teams
• Demonstrated experience in developing training programs and advancing medical excellence
• Expertise in navigating regulatory frameworks and ensuring compliance within medical affairs functions
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to address complex challenges within medical affairs
• Demonstrable global executive leadership experience in Medical Affairs in a pharmaceutical/biotech industry
• Good understanding of the global regulations governing Medical Affairs activities as well as detailed knowledge of relevant medical practices and treatment paradigms
• Advanced understanding of clinical medicine, clinical pharmacology, and associated disciplines (e.g. biostatistics) and drug development principles
• Ability to rapidly pivot based on evolving corporate strategy and direction
• Fluent in translating insights gleaned from external interactions into transformative initiatives that drive patient-centric improvements to our strategy, products or pipeline
• Demonstrated success working cross-functionally with colleagues from regulatory, legal, commercial, market access, clinical and development
• Experience developing a wide range of materials and initiatives to support scientific engagement
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and virtual communication tools
• Excellent presentation skills and ability to communicate complex scientific information
• Motivated, disciplined, pro-active individual capable of effectively managing timelines
• Ability to travel up to 25% for congresses, advisory board meetings, and KOL engagements as required
• The salary range for this position is commensurate with experience

Viridian offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Competitive pay and stock options for all employees
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage with 100% of premiums paid by Viridian for employees and their eligible dependents
• Fertility and mental health programs
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Life, Travel and AD&D
• 401(k) Company Match with immediate company vest
• Employee Stock Purchase plan
• Generous vacation plan and paid company holiday shutdowns
• Various mental, financial, and proactive physical health programs covered by Viridian

Viridian Therapeutics, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination, harassment, or retaliation of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by Federal, State, and Local laws. Viridian will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Viridian Therapeutics, Inc participates in E-Verify, the federal program for electronic verification of employment eligibility.