Rare Disease Business Manager - Minneapolis, MN

Role Summary

The Rare Disease Business Manager (RDBM) for the Minneapolis, MN area drives sales and territory growth for a narcolepsy type 1 therapy. This role collaborates with the Regional Business Leader and cross-functional teams to educate healthcare providers and ensure patient access after regulatory approval. It supports a new product introduction, builds strong relationships with targeted HCPs and accounts within the territory, and contributes to demand generation by delivering clinical information about narcolepsy type 1 and the orexin system.

Responsibilities

• Results Focused: Demonstrates a strong sense of urgency to drive results and achieve strong performance by delivering a high level of sales effort for a rare disease product introduction.
• Clinical Expertise: Possesses and delivers exceptional disease state, product knowledge, and selling skills in working with HCPs to support product education and drive demand.
• Sales Strategy and Execution: Following approval, drive sales by implementing sales and marketing plans, leveraging strong selling skills with approved on-label materials to achieve monthly, quarterly, and annual sales goals; execute brand strategies within the territory to advance diagnosis and treatment of NT1.
• Specialty Customer Engagement: Builds strong relationships with and educates healthcare professionals, including sleep specialists, neurologists, pulmonologists, sleep centers and associated clinic staff, on disease state and approved Takeda orexin therapies.
• Strategic Analysis and Territory Planning: Strategically analyzes local, regional, and national trends and applies data to assess opportunities and priorities; tailors regional/local strategies to market trends and customer needs.
• Communication: Maintains strong communication with specialty HCPs and accounts; utilizes CRM to document account profiles, pre-call plans, and post-call activities.
• Financial Responsibility: Manages a territory budget in compliance with company policies.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partners with internal teams such as Patient Access, Market Access, and Marketing to align on strategies; collaborates with Sales/Marketing leadership to support tactics and performance; fosters accountability and engagement across teams.
• Compliance and Ethical Standards: Upholds Takeda’s patient-first values and compliance policies; seeks clarification on compliance matters as needed.

Qualifications

• Required: Bachelor’s degree – BS/BA.
• Required: 3+ years of successful selling experience in pharmaceutical, biotech or medical device and/or relevant clinical or industry experience; OR 2+ years of successful selling experience at Takeda.
• Required: Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Required: Proven ability to navigate complex selling environments and influence across decision makers in key accounts.
• Required: Strong business acumen and strategic planning skills to identify and execute selling opportunities.
• Required: Demonstrated territory planning, strategic account management and prioritization skills; ability to interpret analytical data to create effective sales strategies.
• Required: Strong collaborative skills and ability to work within a matrix of cross-functional partners on behalf of customers served.
• Required: Understanding of payer access and reimbursement at territory, regional, and state levels.
• Required: Adaptability to changing market conditions and customer needs.
• Required: Demonstrated learning agility with the ability to develop and apply clinical expertise and selling skills compliantly.
• Required: Must reside within the territory or within close proximity to the assigned geography.
• Preferred: 5+ years of pharmaceutical sales experience, preferably in rare disease or sleep disorders.
• Preferred: Sales experience with pharmaceutical or biologic products requiring coordination with patient access and market access teams.
• Preferred: Relevant clinical or industry experience.
• Preferred: Consultative/needs-based selling skills.
• Preferred: Experience working in a highly regulated marketplace.
• Preferred: Adept at leveraging emerging technologies, digital tools, and openness to AI-enabled processes.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree – BS/BA.

Additional Requirements

• Licenses/Certifications: Valid Driver's License.
• Travel: Ability to drive and/or fly to accounts and occasional business meetings; some overnight travel up to 25–50% may be required depending on geographic assignment.
• Training: This position requires passing mandatory product training including written and oral examinations; training may include live instruction, independent study, role play, and other activities.