Medical Science Liaison, Nephrology - AR, KS, OK, North East TX

Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. is transforming customer engagement to better meet the needs of patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers in an evolving healthcare environment. This model focuses on local ecosystems, uniting account management, medical, patient access, marketing, and market access teams to improve patient care through coordinated, digital-enabled support.

About the role

As a Medical Science Liaison (MSL), you will be an integral part of Otsuka’s ecosystem-based customer engagement model. You will contribute to the development of the ecosystem strategic business plan, identify key stakeholders, and serve as a credible partner providing clinical, scientific, and health economic information related to nephrology and immunology disease states. This field-based position engages with Key Influencers (KIs), Local Practice Leaders (LPLs), healthcare providers, and patient groups to advance patient outcomes aligned with Otsuka’s objectives. You will collaborate with ecosystem partners to customize regional business strategies and address the medical and educational needs of customers. Additionally, you may cover multiple products within a therapeutic area and engage in broad clinical discussions to gather and share customer insights.

Responsibilities

• Contribute a clinical and scientific perspective to the local execution plan, addressing customer challenges, issues, and opportunities to improve patient care and outcomes, including coordination of field activities.
• Build, cultivate, and leverage external relationships with key scientific and medical customers and organizations within your territory to understand evolving healthcare trends, disease states, Otsuka products, systems, and services across the ecosystem.
• Deliver on business objectives that impact the Medical Affairs organization beyond your territory.
• Maintain a deep understanding of the ecosystem to ensure alignment with Otsuka’s patient-centric strategy and priorities, including delivering optimal patient care.
• Serve as a credible source of evidence-based information demonstrating the value of Otsuka and its products from clinical, economic, and humanistic standpoints. Partner with providers and stakeholders to apply real-world solutions for improving patient outcomes.
• Engage stakeholders at the local level who influence the region.
• Build and cultivate 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 local medical strategies within planned timelines.
• Lead special projects as requested by management and take on incremental roles within FMA.
• Disseminate disease state and healthcare landscape information to customers in the field based on priorities.
• Responsible for clinical and data-focused training of promotional and disease state speakers. May serve as part of Otsuka’s speaker bureau to support product educational needs.
• Collect and submit medical insights that drive decision-making and prioritization of evidence generation efforts and healthcare solutions, 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, and other medical collaborations. Provide clinical expertise and feedback on operational management to ensure optimal site selection and performance.
• Participate as a mentor in peer functional and therapeutic development, including onboarding new hires.
• Support other areas of the organization, including Safety & Pharmacovigilance, Sales Training, and the Field Medical Center of Excellence for mentoring and sharing best practices.

Requirements

• MD/DO, PharmD, or PhD in life sciences, or a Master's degree with equivalent clinical experience.
• Deep understanding of the interconnectivity of health systems, overall delivery of patient care, and experience working with healthcare professionals and decision-makers.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical industry Medical Affairs.
• Previous training or experience in immune-mediated kidney disease is preferred.
• Outstanding business acumen; knowledge of the industry, Otsuka’s business model, value proposition, key competitors, and marketplace dynamics.
• Ability to identify solutions with the goal of improved patient outcomes.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills; professional maturity, confidence, and competence.
• Strong conflict resolution skills: proven ability to achieve resolution effectively and quickly with affected parties and work in a cross-functional environment.
• Ability to lead others and project teams strategically.
• Ability to summarize and communicate complex information and business objectives concisely and effectively.
• Strong understanding of industry legal, regulatory, and compliance landscape.
• Ability to work in an ambiguous environment undergoing transformation.
• Demonstrates behaviors aligned with Otsuka’s Corporate Brand: Perseverance, Unconventional Thinking, and Humility.
• Business travel, by air or car, up to 70% of the time depending on the size of the territory.
• Preferred living location is a key city in the territory.

Skills

• 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 on customers, patients, employees, and the business.
• Patient & Customer Centricity: Maintain an ongoing focus on the needs of customers and 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.

Pay

Minimum $150,034.00 - Maximum $224,250.00, plus incentive opportunity. The range shown represents a typical pay range or starting pay for individuals hired in the role to perform in the United States. Other elements may be used to determine actual pay, such as the candidate’s job experience, specific skills, and comparison to internal incumbents currently in the role. Typically, actual pay will be positioned within the established range, rather than at its minimum or maximum.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Company-provided basic life, accidental death & dismemberment, short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Tuition reimbursement and student loan assistance.
• Generous 401(k) match.
• Flexible time off, paid holidays, and paid leave programs.
• Additional company-provided benefits.