Senior Medical Science Liaison, Nephrology - Florida/Puerto Rico

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

The Senior Medical Science Liaison (MSL) is a field-based, integral member of Otsuka’s ecosystem team, contributing to the strategic business plan and identifying key stakeholders within the ecosystem. This role serves as a credible partner, providing clinical, scientific, and health economic information related to nephrology and immunology disease states and Otsuka’s approved products. The Senior MSL engages with Key Influencers (KIs), Local Practice Leaders (LPLs), healthcare providers, and patient groups to advance patient outcomes aligned with Otsuka’s objectives. Collaborating with ecosystem partners, the MSL customizes regional business strategies to meet local needs and addresses the medical and educational requirements of customers.

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 to ensure a strong understanding of evolving healthcare trends, disease states, Otsuka products, systems, and services across the ecosystem.
• Deliver on business objectives that impact the broader Medical Affairs organization.
• Maintain a deep understanding of the ecosystem to align with Otsuka’s patient-centric strategy and priorities, ensuring 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 perspectives, and partner with stakeholders to apply real-world solutions.
• 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 and take on incremental roles within FMA as requested by management.
• Disseminate disease state and healthcare landscape information to customers in the field based on priorities.
• Provide clinical and data-focused training for promotional and disease state speakers; may serve as part of Otsuka’s speaker bureau.
• Collect and submit medical insights that drive decision-making and prioritize evidence generation efforts and healthcare solutions.
• 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 trial operations.
• 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 required.
• Previous training or experience as an MSL supporting Nephrology programs or in other medical affairs roles in the pharma/biotech industry, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Previous training or experience in immune-mediated kidney disease is preferred.
• Deep understanding of the interconnectivity of health systems, patient care delivery, and experience working with healthcare professionals and decision-makers.
• Minimum of 5+ years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical industry Medical Affairs.
• Outstanding business acumen, with knowledge of the industry, Otsuka’s business model, value proposition, key competitors, and marketplace dynamics.
• Ability to identify solutions aimed at improving patient outcomes.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills; exhibits professional maturity, confidence, and competence.
• Strong conflict resolution skills and ability to work effectively in a cross-functional environment.
• Ability to lead others and project teams strategically.
• Strong ability to summarize and communicate complex information and business objectives concisely.
• 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 territory size.
• Preferred living location is a key city in the territory.

Skills

• Accountability for Results: Focus on key strategic objectives, maintain high performance standards, and lead change.
• Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving: Make decisions considering 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 to influence at all levels.
• Respectful Collaboration: Seek and value diverse perspectives to enhance partnerships and achieve common goals.
• Empowered Development: Actively engage in professional development as a business imperative.

Pay

Minimum $169,222.00 - Maximum $253,000.00, plus incentive opportunity. The range represents typical pay for individuals hired in the U.S., with actual pay determined by job experience, specific skills, and comparison to internal incumbents. Pay is typically positioned within the established range.

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.