Senior Director, Strategic Therapeutic Lead – US Medical Affairs, Neuroscience

Role Summary

Senior Director, Strategic Therapeutic Lead, US Medical Affairs, Neuroscience. Based in Titusville, NJ, this role defines a forward-looking neuroscience scientific strategy to address unmet medical needs, translating insights into actionable programs, investments, and partnerships. It balances scientific rigor, regulatory compliance, and patient centricity to generate robust plans for data generation, dissemination, and prelaunch initiatives supporting future indications; leads cross-functional collaboration with internal teams and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the U.S. Mood Medical Affairs strategy across in-line and pipeline assets; chair cross-functional governance to align objectives, milestones, and success metrics; Represent NS strategy to senior leadership and serve as a core member of the Medical Affairs Leadership Team (MALT).
• Build and lead a high-performing team to execute integrated evidence generation plans, including Phase 3b/4 trials, IIS, and post-marketing commitments with appropriate medical monitoring and oversight.
• Identify critical scientific gaps and develop comprehensive data generation and dissemination plans (manuscripts, abstracts, congress activities, digital channels) to close them; ensure a robust, multi-channel medical education strategy including CME.
• Direct compliant medical support for promotional materials, field training, and advisory boards; partner effectively with Commercial while safeguarding scientific balance and compliance.
• Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with external experts and investigators; lead advisory board strategies and external key engagements to derive actionable insights.
• Partner with RWE, Global Medical Affairs, R&D, Regulatory/Labeling, Pharmacovigilance, Safety, Risk Management, Scientific Affairs, Market Access, Medical Information, Publications, and Alliance partners to ensure alignment from pre-launch through lifecycle management.
• Serve as Subject Matter Expert, maintaining deep expertise in neuroscience (including neuropsychiatry and neurodegeneration), providing scientific leadership for internal and external communications, and representing U.S. MA in global and enterprise forums.
• Lead annual business planning, manage budget within approved targets, and track ROI on key programs.
• Elevate resourcing needs, risks, and opportunities to the VP, US Medical Affairs Neuroscience and MALT; ensure change agility in response to competitor and market dynamics; stay ahead of scientific and clinical practice trends.
• Champion talent development, inclusion, and succession planning; create opportunities for high-potential talent to assume leadership roles.

Qualifications

• Required: MD/DO (Psychiatry or Neuropsychiatry strongly preferred), PhD, PharmD, or DNP
• Required: Minimum 10 years of combined clinical and/or industry experience with at least 3–5 years in pharmaceutical industry
• Preferred: Medical Affairs experience is highly preferred
• Required: Strong leadership skills with highly collaborative instincts, and previous direct people management experience
• Preferred: Demonstrated expertise in Mood disorders and the U.S. healthcare neuroscience landscape, and track record leading medical strategy and clinical/real-world evidence programs
• Preferred: Proven experience overseeing interventional/observational studies, IIS strategy, and medical education programs; strong knowledge in clinical trial methodology; strong publications and data dissemination leadership
• Preferred: Ability to collaborate in a multi-functional, complex matrixed organization with Global MA, R&D, Regulatory, Safety, RWE, HEOR, Market Access, and Commercial partners; experience with alliance partnerships is a plus
• Required: Exceptional clear and effective communication (oral and written), influence, and executive presence and presentation skills; ability to translate complex science into clear, compliant messages
• Required: Up to 25% travel (primarily domestic)
• Required: This position is located in Titusville, NJ and follows a hybrid schedule of three days in the office and two days remotely per week

Education

• MD/DO (Psychiatry or Neuropsychiatry strongly preferred), PhD, PharmD, or DNP required

Additional Requirements

• Location: Titusville, New Jersey
• Travel: Up to 25% travel (primarily domestic)
• Schedule: Hybrid work arrangement with three days in the office and two days remote per week

Skills

• Analytical Reasoning
• Clinical Research and Regulations
• Clinical Trials Operations
• Communication
• Developing Others
• Digital Culture
• Digital Literacy
• Healthcare Trends
• Inclusive Leadership
• Leadership
• Medical Affairs
• Medical Communications
• Medical Compliance
• Process Optimization
• Product Strategies
• Stakeholder Analysis
• Strategic Thinking