Senior Medical Science Liaison, Rare Diseases East
Position Overview Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. has launched a new customer engagement approach designed to better deliver on patient, caregiver, and HCP needs in an evolving healthcare environment. The new model is built around where patients get their care—locally, with the intent to better serve patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers, delivering a higher quality experience that ultimately is focused on improving patient care. The local “ecosystem approach” creates a unified focus among account management, medical, patient access and market access to engage local healthcare systems and identify opportunities to improve the patient experience. Through this matrix model, customers will now experience more coordinated and seamless care with digital-enabled support to bridge care gaps. In Otsuka’s evolved customer engagement model, a Health Science Associate (HSA) will engage HCPs through a variety of in-person, virtual and digital tools, offering expanded expertise regarding products and the approved conditions they treat. Otsuka’s Senior Medical Science Liaison (MSL, AD) will provide deep clinical expertise on-demand and will engage healthcare providers to offer personalized education on disease state, thought leadership and real-world evidence. A Patient Education Liaison (PEL) works to inform, educate, and enhance the experience of patients throughout their care continuum. The HSAs are led by Ecosystem Leads and grouped into regional areas. The Ecosystem Leads are led by Regional Leads with significant autonomy to assess unique market priorities and customize decisions that reflect local customer needs. In the future, Otsuka will also be shifting to a team-based approach to drive customer engagement quality, accountability, and cohesion around patients and healthcare providers. Ultimately, it is all about putting customers at the center of everything they do. Key Activities and Responsibilities As part of the ecosystem team contributes a clinical and scientific perspective to the local execution plan that addresses ecosystem, and customer challenges, issues, and opportunities, to bring about improved patient care and outcomes. This extends to include coordination around execution of field activities. Build, cultivate, and leverage external relationships with key scientific and medical customers and organizations within their ecosystem to ensure strong understanding of evolving healthcare trends, disease state, Otsuka products, systems, and services across the ecosystem landscape, including KIs, LPLs, Key Decision Makers (KDMs) and Patient Advocacy. Delivers on business objectives that go beyond the ecosystem and impacts the FMA region. Maintains a deep and comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem to ensure alignment with Otsuka’s patient‑centric strategy and priorities, including provision and delivery of optimal patient care. To be a credible source of evidence‑based information that demonstrates the value of Otsuka and its products from the clinical, economic, and humanistic standpoint and works in partnership with providers, payers, and other key stakeholders to apply practical real‑world solutions to improve patient outcomes. Engages stakeholders at the ecosystem level that has some influence across the FMA regional level. Build and cultivate important internal working relationships across the matrix team to ensure an enterprise approach when working with customers. Be accountable to regional Field Medical Affairs (FMA) leadership to shape and execute on local medical strategies within planned timelines. Actively contribute to planning, content development, and dissemination of disease state information to customers in the field on a regular basis using the remote customer engagement platform. Leads special projects (eg, lead for PsychU/NephU subteam) and takes on incremental point roles within FMA. Disseminate disease state and healthcare landscape information to customers in the field on a regular basis utilizing remote customer engagement platform. Responsible for delivering the training and evaluation of promotional and disease state speakers. Serve as part of Otsuka’s internal speaker bureau in support of product educational needs across the ecosystem. Collect and submit medical insights that drive decision making and prioritization of evidence generation efforts and healthcare solutions, including sharing at the local ecosystem level. Assist with Otsuka’s clinical trials program, including registrational, post‑marketing and Investigator‑Sponsored Trials (ISTs), health economic outcomes research, other specific medical collaborations; provide clinical expertise and feedback regarding operational management of clinical trials to ensure optimal site selection and performance. Participates as mentor in peer functional and therapeutic development including new hires. Support other areas of the organization including Safety & Pharmacovigilance for investigation of safety‑related issues, Sales Training medical education on an ongoing basis including new hire and POAs, and the Field Medical Center of Excellence for mentoring and sharing of best practices. Qualifications Advanced degree in Pharmacy, Medicine, Biological Sciences, Health Services Research or Public Health, (PharmD., M.D., PhD. or D.Ph.) is required. Relevant therapeutic area knowledge is required. Deep understanding of the interconnectivity of health systems, overall delivery of patient care and experience working with healthcare professionals and other decision makers. Minimum of 5‑7 years related work experience (clinical, health system or industry). Outstanding business acumen; knows the industry, Otsuka's business model and value proposition, key competitors, and other marketplace factors/dynamics. Able to identify solutions with the overall goal of improved patient outcomes. Excellent communication and collaboration skills; exhibits professional maturity, confidence, and competence. Strong conflict resolution skills: proven ability to achieve conflict resolution effectively and quickly with affected parties and work in a cross‑functional environment. Ability to lead others and project teams strategically. Knows how to summarize and communicate complex information and business objectives in a concise and effective way during presentations and other interactions. Strong understanding of industry legal, regulatory, and compliance landscape. Ability to work in an ambiguous environment undergoing transformation. Demonstrates behaviors aligned with the Otsuka Corporate Brand including Perseverance, Unconventional Thinking, and Humility. Business travel, by air or car, up to 70% of time depending upon size of ecosystem. Preferred living location is key city in ecosystem. Competencies Accountability for Results – Stay focused on key strategic objectives, be accountable for high standards of performance, and take an active role in leading change. Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving – Make decisions considering the long‑term impact to customers, patients, employees, and the business. Patient & Customer Centricity – Maintain an ongoing focus on the needs of our customers and/or key stakeholders. Impactful Communication – Communicate with logic, clarity, and respect. Influence at all levels to achieve the best results for Otsuka. Respectful Collaboration – Seek and value others’ perspectives and strive for diverse partnerships to enhance work toward common goals. Empowered Development – Play an active role in professional development as a business imperative. Company Benefits Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, company provided basic life, accidental death & dismemberment, short‑term and long‑term disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, student loan assistance, a generous 401(k) match, flexible time off, paid holidays, and paid leave programs as well as other company provided benefits. Equal Opportunity Employer Otsuka is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will be given consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, national origin, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristic. Accommodation for Applicants with Disabilities If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation, if you are unable or limited in your ability to apply to this job opening as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting Accommodation Request ([email protected]). J-18808-Ljbffr
