Sr. Scientific Director, Rare Disease
Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
August 12, 2026
Remote friendly (Chicago, IL)
United States
Clinical Research and Development
Responsibilities:
- Serve as subject matter expert for assigned products/disease areas; apply medical/scientific expertise to guide strategy and stakeholder engagement.
- Develop and maintain rare disease scientific knowledge infrastructure (e.g., scientific communication platform, medical narrative, lexicon, resource library).
- Lead rare disease publication strategies/plans and medical content/medical communications aligned to product timelines and stakeholder needs.
- Translate complex clinical data into clear, tailored messages; drive development of scientifically rigorous, compliant, stakeholder-focused content.
- Partner in evidence generation/pipeline initiatives with R&D, Clinical, and Medical; collaborate on launch/strategic readiness plans with cross-functional teams.
- Identify healthcare community needs/educational gaps; mentor team members; monitor and report disease state/industry trends.
- Engage KOLs/HCPs via congresses, symposiums, and advisory boards; ensure compliance with SOPs, regulatory, and medical-legal review; maintain medical affairs systems/tools with Medical Operations.
Qualifications & Required/Preferred Skills:
- Advanced degree (PhD, PharmD, or MD preferred).
- 12+ years medical/scientific publications or medical communications experience in pharma/healthcare, academia, or related.
- 5+ years director-level experience leading medical affairs/medical communications teams.
- Expert in clinical/scientific publication structure, quality, regulations, and scientific/biomedical writing.
- Working knowledge of statistical concepts; ability to interpret clinical data.
- Knowledge of multi-channel scientific platforms.
- Preferred: CMPP/AMWA; medical affairs communications fellowship/residency.
- Leadership, cross-functional collaboration, analytical/research skills, excellent written/verbal and presentation skills; project management (finance/budget) experience.
- Serve as subject matter expert for assigned products/disease areas; apply medical/scientific expertise to guide strategy and stakeholder engagement.
- Develop and maintain rare disease scientific knowledge infrastructure (e.g., scientific communication platform, medical narrative, lexicon, resource library).
- Lead rare disease publication strategies/plans and medical content/medical communications aligned to product timelines and stakeholder needs.
- Translate complex clinical data into clear, tailored messages; drive development of scientifically rigorous, compliant, stakeholder-focused content.
- Partner in evidence generation/pipeline initiatives with R&D, Clinical, and Medical; collaborate on launch/strategic readiness plans with cross-functional teams.
- Identify healthcare community needs/educational gaps; mentor team members; monitor and report disease state/industry trends.
- Engage KOLs/HCPs via congresses, symposiums, and advisory boards; ensure compliance with SOPs, regulatory, and medical-legal review; maintain medical affairs systems/tools with Medical Operations.
Qualifications & Required/Preferred Skills:
- Advanced degree (PhD, PharmD, or MD preferred).
- 12+ years medical/scientific publications or medical communications experience in pharma/healthcare, academia, or related.
- 5+ years director-level experience leading medical affairs/medical communications teams.
- Expert in clinical/scientific publication structure, quality, regulations, and scientific/biomedical writing.
- Working knowledge of statistical concepts; ability to interpret clinical data.
- Knowledge of multi-channel scientific platforms.
- Preferred: CMPP/AMWA; medical affairs communications fellowship/residency.
- Leadership, cross-functional collaboration, analytical/research skills, excellent written/verbal and presentation skills; project management (finance/budget) experience.