Vice President, Medical Affairs

Nearly 37 million Americans are currently affected by Chronic Kidney Disease. 37 million.

At Akebia we take that number very seriously and every day we come to work, with the purpose of bettering the lives of each person impacted by kidney disease and the renal community that serves them.
Our tenacious, passionate employees challenge the status quo and work to develop unique therapeutics that have the potential to set new standards of care for people living with kidney disease.

This is life-changing work, and we are all in, are you?

Position Overview

Akebia is seeking a VP, Medical Affairs responsible for strategic oversight of all Medical Affairs activities including the Field Medical organization. S/He will serve as an R&D leadership team member and partner to the management team in developing and implementing Akebia’s overall corporate strategy. The VP, Medical Affairs will provide the strategic direction and leadership across Medical Affairs. As the company launches Vafseo, a critical role for Medical Affairs will be generating and communicating medical evidence that aids Health Care Professionals, patients and payers in making informed health care decisions. The individual in this role will serve as a highly visible, credible medical and scientific leader in the renal community possessing the skill to communicate effectively with a number of constituents, including members of the executive team, patients, patient advocacy groups, key medical experts (KMEs), investors, the Board of Directors, corporate partners, and regulatory agencies. The person hired for this position will, therefore, be a crucial leader for Akebia, and have significant influence shaping the future of the Company.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborating with Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs and Commercial functions to create and execute on the Medical Affairs strategy.
• Work closely with Commercial and Clinical Development to design and implement additional clinical studies to address scientific and medically important questions.
• Build and manage ad hoc Clinical Advisory Boards.
• Critically interpret cutting edge science and determine the potential impact of new research on medical thinking and practice, and have the ability to use scientific and clinical data to formulate conceptual frameworks and disease management approaches.
• Partner in developing a communication strategy which presents the value of Akebia’s products to prospective prescribers, payers, and investors.
• Build and foster relationships with patients, KMEs and patient advocacy organizations, gaining a deep understanding of their needs.
• Develop and articulate Akebia’s mission at scientific meetings, in publications, with investors, Board members and other company forums.
• Liaise appropriately with external partners such as MTPC, Japan Tobacco, Medice, Averoa and dialysis organizations.
• Serve as a key advisor on potential licensing opportunities.
• Identify, attract, develop, and retain qualified employees.

Basic Qualifications

• 10 years of experience in Medical Affairs.
• 5 of those years in a leadership position, with involvement in a product launch highly desirable.
• MD, PhD, or PharmD is required. Nephrology training and/or exposure to renal diseases is highly desirable, though we will evaluate candidates with backgrounds in Hematology, Cardiology, Endocrinology, or Internal Medicine.
• Familiarity with GCP/ICH/FDA/OPDP requirements as well as clinical trial design, biostatistics, product safety, and regulatory affairs preferred.
• Experienced in presenting at investigator meetings, advisory boards and medical and scientific conferences.
• Excellent communication, presentation and leadership skills are required.
• Ethical standards of the highest level and having the knowledge and ability to comply with all relevant ethical, regulatory, and legal standards.

Preferred Qualifications

• This individual will be passionate, collaborative, creative, willing to take prudent risks, and focused on delivery of a large portfolio of diverse milestones.
• Skilled in building, training, and motivating a Medical Affairs team.
• Strategic but still hands-on; proven ability to succeed in an entrepreneurial company.
• Self-starter who will be an assertive and active participant with ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic, and collaborative environment.
• Accountability and commitment to delivery of results.
• Able to multi-task across a broad range of activities while maintaining a strong sense of priorities.
• Driven to progress programs and timelines rapidly.
• Willingness to try new approaches.
• Able to accept and respond to setbacks or failures.
• Able to leverage outside resources and collaborate effectively.

Compensation

Targeted Base: 306,230 – 412,835*

*Base Compensation for this role will depend on a number of factors including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience, and may fall outside of the range shown. Base pay is only one component of the company’s total rewards package; all regular employees are also eligible for the corporate bonus program or the incentive compensation program (if applicable), as well as equity. Additional benefits include health care, vision, dental, retirement, PTO, etc.

Are you an Akebian?

An Akebian is curious, empathetic, and values making connections to people and ideas. Akebians aren’t afraid of diving in and owning a process or a problem, because we all want to deliver a great solution. Akebians believe that we are better together because we are all working toward a common purpose – to better the life of each person impacted by kidney disease. Want to learn more about what it means to be an Akebian? Visit our website:

Akebia is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all job applicants. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.

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