Medical Science Liaison - V&I

Medical Science Liaison – Vaccine & Immune Therapy

ABOUT ASTRAZENECA

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.

SITE DESCRIPTION

AstraZeneca is experiencing a significant transformation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, driven by a commitment to advancing healthcare, innovation, and sustainable growth. Building on our global legacy, AZ KSA is rapidly evolving its operations to better serve patients, collaborate with healthcare stakeholders, and contribute to the ambitious goals outlined in the Saudi Vision 2030. We are investing in talent, digital solutions, and new ways of working; all designed to enhance our impact on patient outcomes and reinforce our leadership in therapeutic areas. This dynamic environment calls for visionary, agile professionals who thrive in change and are motivated to help shape the future of healthcare in KSA.  

ROLE SUMMARY

Medical Science Liaison (MSL) possesses extensive scientific expertise in respective therapeutic area and engages in scientific discussions and presentations with KEEs about the disease area, and clinical data in a non-promotional context.

This role is accountable for generating actionable insights from KEEs and communicating these to the brand team to shape the Medical and Brand strategy.

This role is responsible for a highly strategic product and disease area that involves working extensively with external stakeholders to forge strong relations and foster scientific and strategic partnerships within major hospitals and institutions/ authorities in their assigned territory and non-traditional stakeholders (E.g. policy and decision makers, payer groups, government, researchers, and others to help bridge the gaps and provide health system solutions. 

This is a field-based Medical Affairs role requiring travel across assigned territories in Saudi Arabia to engage with healthcare professionals, external experts, institutions, and vaccination-related stakeholders.

What you’ll do

Build, enhance, maintain advocacy of Key External Experts (KEEs)

• Identify, prioritize, and expand KEEs to include non-traditional stakeholders (E.g. policy and decision makers, payer groups, government, researchers, and others) based on scientific/clinical expertise and practice change influence within a specific hospital and institution/ authorities, and engage in robust scientific discussions and medical advancements in a balanced, objective, and accurate way.
• Identify, and prioritize accounts based on patient care pathway and map the multidisciplinary team and maturity.
• Provide AZ with an understanding of the local medical community, clinical practice trends, HCP insight and real or perceived gaps in current scientific knowledge, patient journey, and disease management.
• Foster scientific partnerships with KEEs to help advance disease understanding and to achieve evidence-based changes in medical practice that are consistent with Medical Affairs strategy & objectives, such as:

  Interact in the field with the medical community in the context of various medical projects such as clinical trials, Non-Interventional Studies, Investigator Sponsored Studies (ISSs), scientific exchange.

  Identify potential speakers and train speakers as appropriate for local events.

  Provide recommendations for advisory board / round table discussion participants and serve as faculty/facilitators for advisory board meetings.

  Present scientific data to HCPs in both group (Medically led meetings) and one on one setting.

  Facilitate continuing medical education events for HCPs.

  Support evidence generation in the region aligned with the medical strategy of disease area and product.

Build and implement scientific programs to address unmet medical needs in priority disease area(s)

• Collect and share actionable insights that enhance the value and appropriate use of AZ products and disease management to internal stakeholders.
• Engage in strategic planning meetings and medical-scientific presentations with medication access stakeholders, institutional decision makers and other external stakeholders to drive better clinical decisions and enhance medication accessibility within the assigned hospital or institution.  These discussions are scientific in nature and must be clearly separated from promotional and/ or other business discussions.
• Organize and facilitate scientific events on healthcare institutions and their multi-disciplinary teams related to the therapeutic area to ensure holistic approach to patient care within their hospital and institution.
• Embed a comprehensive healthcare system and patient experience understanding in prioritized hospitals and institutions to transform care and improve patient outcomes.

Act as scientific expert in priority disease area for internal stakeholders.

• Demonstrate expertise and knowledge of AZ products, emerging therapies, competitors, patient and treatment trends, clinical trials, and scientific activities within the disease area and continuously updates this expertise and knowledge.
• Provide the AZ internal stakeholders with an understanding of the local medical community, clinical practice, trends and real or perceived gaps in current scientific knowledge and medical treatment options/ guidelines through periodic therapeutic area and product trainings.
• Provide scientific support at AZ sponsored educational events.
• Plan and execute regional medical activities during the product launch processes.

Medical Information

• Respond to unsolicited requests for information about unapproved AZ products or unapproved uses of approved products, presenting such information in an objective, well balanced, substantiated manner that is scientific in tone and content, free of promotional messages, truthful, and is not misleading.
• Demonstrate appropriate response and documents the provision of accurate, scientific data in response to unsolicited scientific questions posed by healthcare providers with Company Policies, and applicable laws, regulations, and ethical standards.

Only Applications in KSA will be considered.

Essential for the role

• Minimum 2 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry
• Experience with the healthcare environment and related dynamics in Saudi Arabia is necessary.
• Experience with the healthcare environment, including opinion leaders, the medical community, and related dynamics in Saudi Arabia, is must.
• An established track record of driving clinical practice shaping and impactful stakeholder mobilization.
• Bachelor’s degree in medicine, Pharmacy, Pharmacology, or degree in biomedical sciences
• A postgraduate degree would be an advantage.
• Demonstrated agility to learn, acquire scientific narratives, and manage ambiguity.
• Demonstrated expertise in efficiently communicating scientific data at a peer level with HCPs.
• Ability to work in matrix multicultural organizations and collaborate effectively with the Cross-functional team.
• Advanced communication skills, both oral and written, necessary to deliver comprehensive presentations and facilitate discussions with small/large groups of healthcare providers and internal stakeholders (in English)
• Excellent problem-solving ability in addition to solid negotiation skills.
• Ability to demonstrate good business judgment.
• High sense of urgency and commitment to excellence in achieving objectives.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills to demonstrate leadership and ability to work in a self-directed manner.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.)

Desirable for the role

• Experience in immunology therapy area, including stakeholder engagement and disease-area strategy.
• Demonstrated business acumen and track record of end -to-end project management.
• Full understanding of the medical role in driving innovative value strategies and supporting patient access to evidence-based treatment is an advance.
• Established track record of basic or clinical research.

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients, and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration, and always committed to lifelong learning, growth, and development. We’re on an exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare.

So, what’s next?

• Are you already imagining yourself joining our team? Good, because we can’t wait to hear from you.
• Are you ready to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to the table? Brilliant! We have one seat available, and we hope it’s yours.

Where can I find out more?

Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn

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Date Posted

Closing Date

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.