Director of Medical Affairs, Oncology

Lead a best-in-class oncology medical affairs team and work in collaboration with cross-functional counterparts to provide expert strategic input, leading on value and implementation, and medical affairs objectives in the oncology therapeutic area. You will hold overall responsibility for the development and delivery of UK oncology medical affairs plans in close alignment with Ireland and the overall strategic objectives for the UK, in partnership with the UK Medical Leadership Team.

Working within a UK framework in collaboration with our Regional Medical Affairs EMEAC and the Global Oncology Team, you will identify areas of strategic interest within the UK scope and address them with a tactically focused Medical Affairs plan. You will use a healthcare professional-focused approach, developing professional relationships with scientific and clinical leaders in oncology and supporting efforts in key strategic areas. These interactions also extend to regulatory bodies, payer groups and key advocacy groups.

You will lead, on behalf of the UK company, collaborative relationships with our oncology partners, partner with the EMEAC oncology lead, Regional Value and Implementation Teams and Oncology Global Medical Affairs to share medical/scientific expertise, and collaborate in other functional areas such as quality assurance, regulatory affairs, legal and marketing in the UK. You will maintain responsibility for strategic collaboration toward new approvals and regulatory reporting as required, ensuring operational and fiscal excellence in the oncology medical affairs directorate in close alignment with the UK Medical Leadership Team. The role requires functioning in a non-promotional capacity for 100% of the time spent in the role.

Key Responsibilities

• Work in collaboration with the Medical Affairs United Kingdom and Ireland Leadership team (UKILT), the UK oncology cross-functional leadership team and lead the oncology medical affairs directorate.
• Strategically plan for the implementation of oncology medicines and use the team (and working partnership with cross-functional teams) to create strong strategic Medical Action Plans (MAPs) for each key area or asset.
• Deliver, through leadership of the team, tactics in the MAPs to a high standard of medical affairs excellence, administering new capabilities and innovation for the team where needed.
• Represent our company medical function as the senior leader for our oncology portfolio at clinical or scientific meetings or by direct 1-on-1s, building strong relationships with top-tier stakeholders in healthcare provision, academic research, commissioning, NHSE, etc.
• Lead for the UK, working closely with External Affairs and Scientific Policy to ensure detailed mapping of emerging and evolving UK life-sciences capabilities and opportunities to connect these with UK MAPs and global strategies.
• Maintain a detailed knowledge of the company early and late pipeline and collaborate with discovery, development, value and access and regulatory teams to give strategic direction and foresee organisational setup.
• Undertake advice-seeking activities for pipeline medicines and define the potential impact on patients early in the development cycle.
• Work in close collaboration with the Head of Health Technology Assessment and Outcomes Research, maintaining oversight of UK medical affairs Phase 3b and Phase 4 (RWD) projects, with matrix leadership of study operations and budget, delivering an inclusive integrated evidence plan (IEP) with robust and timely data generation and publication.
• In partnership with market-access and commercial colleagues, deliver effective horizon scanning activities and HTA submissions, including creating access programmes (where appropriate) to deliver medicines earlier to patients.
• Assess directorate team capabilities and operational status to ensure that the team are excelling in meeting UK regulatory and governance frameworks; work with UKILT to ensure directorate members are audit-ready and lead the team during audits.
• Support the implementation of the UK and Ireland (UKI) medical affairs training programme and contribute to its development, championing cross-functional partnership and dismantling silo working.
• Develop and mentor talent to fulfil their potential, attract new talent to the organisation and effectively address under-performance.
• When appropriate deputise for other UK medical affairs leadership team members.

Qualifications and Experience

• Medical, pharmacy or higher science degree with industry experience and a clear demonstration of achievements.
• Significant medical affairs experience is essential and clinical development experience is a bonus; oncology experience is essential.
• High level of knowledge of the ABPI Code of Practice, preferably a final signatory status.
• Demonstrated understanding of the identification, application and adoption of innovative technologies and processes in the pharmaceutical and/or healthcare delivery environments.
• Proven leadership with a focus on talent development skills; having managed teams before is essential.
• Proven relationship-building skills with scientific leaders either in the pharmaceutical industry or healthcare/academic setting.
• Understanding of the wider NHS environment and key opportunities for pharma and the NHS to partner effectively within the scope of the ABPI Code of Practice.

Required Skills

• ABPI Code of Practice
• Change Agility
• Healthcare Education
• Healthcare Management
• Management Process
• Medical Affairs
• Medical Review
• Oncology
• People Leadership
• Professional Networking
• Results-Oriented
• Scientific Communications
• Stakeholder Engagement

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively for the common good. We are an equal-opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.