Sr. Scientific Director, Rare Disease
Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
September 02, 2026
Remote friendly (Chicago, IL)
United States
Clinical Research and Development
Responsibilities:
- Serve as subject matter expert for assigned rare disease product(s)/disease area; guide medical/scientific strategy and stakeholder engagement.
- Develop rare disease clinical program/lifecycle knowledge; translate complex clinical data into clear, tailored messages.
- Lead rare disease scientific knowledge infrastructure (e.g., Scientific Communication Platform, medical narrative, lexicon, resource library).
- Lead cross-functional rare disease publication strategy and plans.
- Develop and implement medical content and medical communication strategy aligned to product timelines and stakeholder needs.
- Create scientifically rigorous, compliant, stakeholder-focused content; develop targeted communication materials and channels; ensure timely delivery and accountability.
- Partner on evidence generation/pipeline initiatives with R&D, Clinical, and Medical.
- Identify healthcare community needs and educational gaps; support launch/readiness plans aligned to commercial/clinical/regulatory goals.
- Mentor Medical Affairs team members; ensure medical content compliance with SOPs/regulatory and medical-legal review.
- Monitor/report disease state and industry trends; engage KOLs/HCPs via congresses, symposiums, and advisory boards.
- Maintain medical affairs planning/workflow files, tools, and systems in partnership with Medical Operations.
Qualifications (Required/Preferred):
- Advanced degree (PhD/PharmD/MD).
- 12+ years medical/scientific publications or medical communications experience (pharma/health care, academia, or related).
- 5+ years director-level experience leading medical affairs/medical communications teams.
- Recognized expert in medical publications/scientific communications.
- Preferred: medical affairs or medical communications fellowship/residency.
- Plus: CMPP/AMWA.
Skills/Competencies:
- Scientific publication regulations/best practices; expert scientific/medical writing.
- Working knowledge of statistics; ability to interpret clinical data.
- Multi-channel scientific platforms and innovative tactics; strategic leadership; cross-functional collaboration; strong written/verbal/presentation skills; project management/organizational skills; adaptability.
- Serve as subject matter expert for assigned rare disease product(s)/disease area; guide medical/scientific strategy and stakeholder engagement.
- Develop rare disease clinical program/lifecycle knowledge; translate complex clinical data into clear, tailored messages.
- Lead rare disease scientific knowledge infrastructure (e.g., Scientific Communication Platform, medical narrative, lexicon, resource library).
- Lead cross-functional rare disease publication strategy and plans.
- Develop and implement medical content and medical communication strategy aligned to product timelines and stakeholder needs.
- Create scientifically rigorous, compliant, stakeholder-focused content; develop targeted communication materials and channels; ensure timely delivery and accountability.
- Partner on evidence generation/pipeline initiatives with R&D, Clinical, and Medical.
- Identify healthcare community needs and educational gaps; support launch/readiness plans aligned to commercial/clinical/regulatory goals.
- Mentor Medical Affairs team members; ensure medical content compliance with SOPs/regulatory and medical-legal review.
- Monitor/report disease state and industry trends; engage KOLs/HCPs via congresses, symposiums, and advisory boards.
- Maintain medical affairs planning/workflow files, tools, and systems in partnership with Medical Operations.
Qualifications (Required/Preferred):
- Advanced degree (PhD/PharmD/MD).
- 12+ years medical/scientific publications or medical communications experience (pharma/health care, academia, or related).
- 5+ years director-level experience leading medical affairs/medical communications teams.
- Recognized expert in medical publications/scientific communications.
- Preferred: medical affairs or medical communications fellowship/residency.
- Plus: CMPP/AMWA.
Skills/Competencies:
- Scientific publication regulations/best practices; expert scientific/medical writing.
- Working knowledge of statistics; ability to interpret clinical data.
- Multi-channel scientific platforms and innovative tactics; strategic leadership; cross-functional collaboration; strong written/verbal/presentation skills; project management/organizational skills; adaptability.