Executive Director, Medical Affairs - COPD

This position, the Executive Director, Value & Implementation Global Medical & Scientific Affairs (V&I GMSA) for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), resides in the V&I organization, which includes GMSA as well as Outcomes Research. The role is accountable for the alignment and execution of the GMSA portion of the Global V&I Plans for assigned therapeutic areas (TAs), focusing 50% of strategic efforts on the U.S. and 50% on the rest of the world. The TA EDMA may also serve as a V&I Lead for their disease/asset area(s), fostering relationships with global scientific leaders and key decision-makers to inform V&I priorities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the global strategic V&I plan, ensuring alignment with regional and country-specific execution, and facilitate its rollout.
• Guide bidirectional, tactical execution of the V&I GMSA portion in partnership with Outcomes Research to drive real-world data generation.
• Align with Big Country Markets and ensure robust two-way communication with U.S., China, and Japan Executive Directors (or equivalents).
• Capture market-specific needs and insights to inform global strategy while guiding local execution in alignment with global V&I plans.
• Integrate into the EDMA Tandem model to foster strategic clarity and executional excellence, demonstrating enterprise leadership across geographies.
• Dedicate 50% of strategic focus to the U.S., acting as a change catalyst to lead global planning and ensure seamless integration with U.S. execution.
• Partner with U.S. EDMA, Health Systems EDs, and other stakeholders to align payor strategies, precision-medicine initiatives, and congress deliverables.
• Collaborate with Product Development Teams (PDT), Asset Development Teams (ADT), Global Brand, and V&I Outcomes Research leads to define clinical-development plans and brand strategies.
• Ensure team contributions as relevant members to PDT/ADT sub-teams (V&I, Value Evidence, Clinical, Commercial, Publications, and Label teams).
• Integrate end-to-end knowledge gaps across countries and regions to inform the GMSA portion of Global V&I plans, enabling successful implementation of country/regional priorities.
• Apply expertise in country medical systems and clinical practice standards to guide Global/Regional Directors Medical Affairs and Regional Strategy Leads.
• Monitor external clinical trends and scientific developments through systematic insight collection (e.g., group input meetings, congresses).
• Demonstrate business acumen by guiding the team to challenge the status quo and integrate actionable medical insights into global strategy.
• Lead team engagement with international scientific leaders and key stakeholders (e.g., guideline committees, payers, government officials, medical societies).
• Ensure all scientific exchange for assigned TA(s) aligns with a single global scientific-communications platform.
• Collaborate across V&I, including U.S. EDMAs, Regional Leaders, and Outcomes Research, embedding within PDT/ADT frameworks.
• Organize regular management reviews to assess team activities and progress.
• Support key countries with local data-generation study concepts and protocols when requested.
• Understand and support the Investigator-Initiated Study program in collaboration with the Executive Director Scientific Affairs (EDSA).
• Lead and develop a high-performing team, fostering a collaborative environment that supports professional growth and continuous improvement.
• Champion the company’s Ways of Working, emphasizing innovation, medical modernization, and patient impact.
• Manage assigned budget with strong financial stewardship, ensuring delivery within a 3% variance.

Requirements

• M.D., Ph.D., DDS/DMD, or Pharm.D. (M.D. strongly preferred) with recognized medical expertise.
• Therapeutic Area specialization and recognized scientific expertise, with training or experience in pulmonology, pulmonary critical care, or infectious disease.
• Extensive experience in medical affairs or clinical development, with a minimum of 3 years in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Track record of successful team leadership and global experience.
• Strong prioritization and decision-making skills, with the ability to align decisions with broader corporate strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate, mentor, and manage teams with clear expectations and priorities.
• Ability to collaborate and influence partners across divisions in a matrix environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, analytical, and communication skills (written and oral), along with results-oriented project-management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least five years of global or U.S. medical affairs or clinical development experience, with a proven track record of contribution to medical or clinical-development strategies.
• Five years of leadership in the pharmaceutical industry, with teams responsible for scientific exchange and research support, preferably in the relevant TA.
• Demonstrated successful leadership of strategic initiatives, including design, creation, and implementation of solutions for medical affairs goals.
• Customer expertise, particularly with scientific leadership and key stakeholders (e.g., payers, government officials, medical professional organizations) in the assigned therapeutic area.
• Proven ability to influence company life-cycle management and data generation.
• Understanding of resourcing and budgeting.

Skills

• Required: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Clinical Development, Clinical Research, Enterprise Leadership, Leadership Management, Medical Affairs, Organizational Leadership, Pharmaceutical Medical Affairs, Resourcing Strategies, Scientific Communications, Strategic Leadership.
• Preferred: Experience with current employees or contingent workers in similar roles.

Pay

The salary range for this role is $255,800.00 - $402,700.00. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on factors including education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, and business needs. The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision healthcare for employee and family.
• Retirement benefits, including 401(k).
• Paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days.

Schedule

• Requires up to 30% travel, both within the U.S. and internationally.
• Regular, full-time employee status.