Executive Director, Epilepsy R&D

Essential Functions

Scientific & Clinical Accountability for the R&D Epilepsy Portfolio

• Develop and shape epilepsy clinical development strategy aligned with portfolio, regulatory expectations, and unmet needs.
• Define clinical endpoints, trial designs, and patient populations across epilepsy development programs.
• Integrate scientific insights, literature, and competitive intelligence into actionable program strategies.
• Steward epilepsy programs through governance to align budget and timeline expectations.
• Execute multiple epilepsy programs according to budget and timeline.

External Engagement & Key Opinion Leadership

• R&D leader for the Jazz Scientific Advisory Board in Epilepsy.
• Serve as a leading external scientific voice, building trusted relationships with epilepsy experts and stakeholders.
• Engage academic epileptologists and experts to inform strategy, evidence generation, and trial design.
• Represent company at congresses, symposia, and regulatory interactions as epilepsy clinical expert.

Research Collaboration & Innovation

• Drive collaborative research initiatives with academic institutions and external partners advancing epilepsy science.
• Establish and oversee collaborative research aligned with strategic priorities.
• Identify emerging scientific opportunities and innovative technologies to advance epilepsy therapeutic development.

Translational Science Leadership

• Bridge preclinical discoveries and clinical development to enhance probability of success for epilepsy programs.
• Translate mechanistic insights and biomarkers into clinical hypotheses, endpoints, and decision frameworks.
• Partner with nonclinical teams to refine target validation and support translational development strategies.

Internal Leadership & Influence

• Provide R&D leadership at enterprise-wide epilepsy forums to advance epilepsy pipeline, commercial portfolio, and category leadership.
• Influence Executive Committee and Board stakeholders through clear, evidence-based scientific presentations.
• Mentor internal teams and contribute to capability building in epilepsy expertise across organization.

Community & Advocacy Integration

• Embed patient and caregiver perspectives into development strategy through meaningful community engagement.
• Partner with advocacy organizations and patients to incorporate patient centricity into trial design and endpoint selection.
• Ensure development programs reflect diversity, access considerations, and real-world patient priorities.

People Leadership

• Proven experience managing and developing high performing teams in a global organization.
• Experience in building leadership capability through mentoring, coaching and talent development programs to enhance performance and engagement.
• Foster a learning culture, featuring innovation and operational excellence.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to lead through change, while building trust and credibility across the enterprise.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, ability to lead and represent department functions on project teams in a matrix organization.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with collaborative interpersonal skills.
• Ability to travel (up to 10%-20% of time).

Required/Preferred Education And Licenses

• MD/PhD with specialization in Epilepsy.

Required Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Minimum of 10 years' experience in drug development (academia or in a global organization).
• National or international recognition as an academic epileptologist or epilepsy drug developer.
• Significant experience in:
• Clinical research and trial leadership.
• Investigator-initiated studies.
• Strong track record of:
• Publishations.
• Conference presentations.
• Scientific leadership roles.
• Established network across:
• Academic centers.
• Clinical trial sites.
• Epilepsy organizations.
• People Leadership:
• Proven experience managing and developing people and teams in a global organization.
• Ability to effectively lead cross functional teams and successfully leverage internal and external partnerships.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, ability to lead and represent department functions on project teams in a matrix organization.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with collaborative interpersonal skills.
• Ability to travel (up to 10%-20% of time).

Pay

$348,000.00 - $522,000.00

Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, and other pertinent factors.