Associate Director, Field Medical Director – Ophthalmology North America West

Role Summary

The Associate Director, Field Medical Director serves as a medical expert and integral member of the Medical Affairs team, representing Annexon to key stakeholders. Reporting to the Executive Director of Medical Science, this role engages with national, regional, and local scientific, clinical, and social experts at academic and community medical centers. As a scientific lead, you will develop and maintain professional relationships based on the transparent exchange of disease-state information and Annexon product data. Location: West Region / Remote Field Based (includes onsite travel to Annexon HQ).

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain professional relationships with External Experts (TLs) through compliant, two-way scientific exchange focusing on pathogenesis of therapeutic areas, diagnosis, disease burden, treatment landscape, health economics, and Annexon product data.
• Partner with experts on research projects, national and regional advisory boards, visiting professorships, publications, and peer-to-peer educational initiatives.
• Develop and maintain the highest level of scientific expertise in ocular diseases, clinical trials, and the treatment landscape with a patient-centric mindset.
• Identify potential high-impact medical research projects, investigator-initiated research, health-economic trials, and publication opportunities aligned with Annexon’s strategic interests.
• Be acknowledged internally and externally as a trusted scientific expert and build lasting professional relationships with TLs and Centers of Excellence & Research (COERs).
• Attend local, regional, national, and international meetings and congresses as needed to engage in scientific exchange, capture insights, share data on Annexon products and TAs, and identify collaboration opportunities with TLs.
• Respond to healthcare professionals (HCPs) with integrity, timeliness, and adherence to all laws, regulations, and Annexon guidelines, policies, and procedures.
• Partner with Patient Advocacy Organizations to integrate the patient voice into scientific and medical communications in a compliant manner.
• Deliver education on Annexon’s science and product data to P&T committees, formulary decision makers, and payers in accordance with laws, regulations, and Annexon guidelines while aligning with medical affairs and the company strategy.
• Develop and execute tailored TL and HCP scientific engagement plans as needed.
• Engage with TLs, trial investigators, and research staff to support Clinical Development and Clinical Operations activities, including identifying viable study sites, facilitating trial participation, and patient recruitment.
• Ensure strong, compliant collaboration with cross-functional field partners.
• Serve as the Medical Expert and field representative for Medical Directors with TLs, investigators, and other cross-functional partners.

Qualifications

• Required: Associate FMD requires +5 years of field-based experience in biopharmaceutical industry as a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) or other relevant Medical Affairs roles.
• Required: Scientific and patient-centric mindset with a successful track record of delivering results exceeding objectives in support of medical affairs and Annexon strategies
• Required: Strong communication and presentation skills as evidenced by the ability to rapidly analyze complex scientific and medical data and synthesize for effective communication to audiences with diverse backgrounds
• Required: Demonstrated ability to build scientific relationships with TLs, clinicians, researchers, and other relevant internal or external stakeholders
• Required: Able to effectively collaborate within a matrix organization and cross functional teams
• Required: Solid knowledge of the healthcare landscape inclusive but not limited to hospital systems, various points of care, and the roles of relevant HCPs in the target TAs
• Required: Solid knowledge of the drug development process, and the role of various internal and external stakeholders in various phases of R&D
• Required: Able to document insights, TL engagement and complete all administrative tasks in a timely fashion
• Required: Capable of working independently to prioritize tasks, develop and implement action plans, and make sound, compliant decisions
• Required: Strong understanding of compliance, and the legal and regulatory landscape as they relate to HCP interactions
• Preferred: Experience in medical affairs and/or clinical R&D preferred
• Preferred: Therapeutic experience in ophthalmology/retina preferred

Education

• Scientific, healthcare or medical degree (PharmD, PhD, MD, DO, OD)

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to travel within the assigned region based on business needs and occasionally nationally or internationally.