Rare Disease Business Manager - Santa Monica, CA

Role Summary

The Rare Disease Business Manager (RDBM) is responsible for driving sales and territory growth for narcolepsy type 1. This role collaborates with their Regional Business Leader and cross-functional, customer-facing teams to educate healthcare providers (HCPs) and ensure appropriate patients have access to a new therapeutic option after federal approval. Reporting into a Regional Business Leader, the RDBM will support a new product introduction in a new therapeutic area for Takeda. The role will establish and build impactful relationships with targeted HCPs and accounts within the geographic territory. Location: California - Virtual.

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 successful 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 utilizing approved, on-label materials to achieve monthly, quarterly, and annual sales goals. Execute brand strategies and manage all business related activities within the assigned geographic territory, focusing on achieving sales goals and advancing the diagnosis and treatment of NT1.
• Specialty Customer Engagement: Builds strong relationships with, and educates healthcare professionals (HCPs), 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 analyze local, regional, and national business trends and apply data to assess business opportunities and strategic priorities. Leverage market insights to appropriately tailor regional and local business strategies to market trends and customer needs.
• Communication Skills: Strong communication skills will be critical in discussions with specialty HCPs and accounts for a rare disease therapy. Utilize CRM system to document account profiles, develop pre-call plans and record post-call activities.
• Financial Responsibility: Manage a territory budget in a manner that is consistent with all Takeda compliance policies.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with internal teams such as Patient Access, Market Access, Marketing to align on strategies and tactics that support customer and business outcomes. Collaborate with Sales and Marketing leadership to provide feedback that further supports sales tactics and performance. Foster a collaborative culture of accountability and engagement with cross-functional team members to enhance performance and impact.
• Compliance and Ethical Standards: Exemplify Takeda’s patient-first values and commitment to upholding high standards of customer satisfaction. Adhere strictly to all Takeda compliance policies, guidelines, training and relevant laws and regulations. Demonstrate leadership and integrity by seeking clarification when uncertain on compliance matters.

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 environment and influence across various decision makers in key accounts.
• Required: Strong business acumen and strategic planning skills to identify and execute on 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 the 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 ability to successfully develop and compliantly apply clinical expertise and selling skills.
• Required: Must reside within the territory or within close proximity to assigned geography.
• Required: Valid Driver's License.
• 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.

Skills

• Strong verbal and written communication
• CRM proficiency and ability to document account profiles, pre-call planning, and post-call activities
• Strategic thinking and territory planning
• Data-driven decision making and ability to interpret analytical data
• Cross-functional collaboration and relationship building
• Understanding of payer access and reimbursement
• Adaptability and learning agility
• Clinical disease state and product knowledge

Additional Requirements

• Travel: Ability to drive and/or fly to accounts and occasional business meetings. Some overnight travel of up to 25-50% may be required depending on geographic assignment.