Country Medical Director, Canada (Remote)

Jazz Pharmaceuticals; Mississauga; Remote; CAD 150,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical company is looking for a Medical Affairs executive to provide leadership and strategic oversight in Canada. This role requires a strong background in the pharmaceutical sector, particularly in oncology and neurology, and aims to build a high-performing team while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. The candidate must exhibit exemplary leadership skills and be capable of influencing decisions at all levels.

Qualifications

• Strong experience leading medical organizations in Canada.
• Pharmaceutical industry background with knowledge of oncology and specialty pharma.
• Bilingual in French and English is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Medical Affairs department.
• Ensure alignment of Canadian medical strategy with business objectives.
• Build relationships with National Key Opinion Leaders.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic Planning

Collaboration

Analytical Skills

Influencing

Education

Medical Doctor or Scientific Graduate

Job description

Purpose: Leadership and oversight of medical strategy development and execution for the Canadian business across all therapeutic areas. Enterprise leader acting as core member on the Canadian Leadership Team, EUR/INT Regional Medical Leadership Team (EIMALT), reporting to the General Manager, Jazz Pharmaceuticals Canada.

The role is responsible for ensuring all activities are executed in accordance with regulatory and legal frameworks, including but not limited to local Canadian regulations, company policies, healthcare compliance procedures as well as Jazz values

Essential Functions:

Leadership of Medical Affairs Department

• Lead, develop, and build a high-performing, fully integrated Medical Affairs Department

• Manage, coach, and develop Medical Affairs personnel (direct and indirect reports)

• Role model and exemplify Cultural values

• Co-lead the development and oversight of the launch center of excellence

Strategic and Tactical Planning

• Ensure development and delivery of the Medical Affairs strategy and country plans in close collaboration with business partners, BU heads and General Manager.

• Set departmental SMART objectives and track, measure, and report progress of plans and budgets

• Ensure Canadian needs are effectively communicated to partners in the EUR/INT regional office to maintain alignment on strategy and plans at all levels

• Provide high-quality input in Global/Region TA integrated evidence generation plans and proactively address local-specific evidence gaps with Canadian studies to ensure accelerated access and effective integration of new therapies in routine clinical practice

• Build companion data generation strategy to enhance Canadian real-world experience and education

• Define early/expanded access programs needs for Canada and support execution of Managed Access Programs (MAPs)

• Allocate adequate Medical team capacity to support ongoing R&D program in Canada

Systems, Processes, and Ways of Working

• Ensure systems, processes, and ways of working facilitate:

  • Effective execution of the medical plan

  • Expert scientific knowledge for all Medical Affairs team members

  • Effective Key Account Planning with cross-functional partners

  • Effective planning and utilization of National Key Opinion Leaders

  • Data generation activities, including Investigator Sponsored Studies

  • Optimized Canadian participation in priority global registration trials to support development of new innovative therapies, building early advocacy and understanding challenges prior to launch

  • Digital enablement strategies to optimize stakeholder engagement, education, and insight gathering

  • Development of ongoing capabilities in the Medical Affairs organization (e.g., strategic account management, diverse stakeholder engagement, AI/digital enablement etc…)

  • Clinical Research Operations leadership (e.g., for EAPs, IITs, locally-led RWE studies, global studies, etc.)

External Relationships

• Develop influential relationships with National Key Opinion Leaders

• Attend appropriate scientific congresses to stay abreast of developments and support National KOL activities

• Support the development of Jazz EU/RoW positioning as the scientific authority on oncology, helping drive national KOL advocacy through provision of scientific and clinical information via the MSL team

• Co-represent Jazz voice and scientific voice together with General Manager

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong experience leading medical organizations in Canada with a working knowledge and understanding of the healthcare system

• Pharmaceutical industry experience in a comparable role, ideally with knowledge of Oncology, Neurology, and specialty pharma

• A proven track record of building high-performing Medical Affairs teams

• Must have experience in launching new products, market shaping, and launch readiness activities

• Strong leadership skills with demonstrable ability to influence at all levels internally and externally

• Ability to drive executional excellence in regulatory, clinical, and medical strategies across a broader regional framework

• Understanding of R&D strategy and execution of registration clinical program

• Excellent communication skills, including strong presentation skills

• Flexible, independent, and proactive working style

• Ability to critically analyze complex data

• Excellent planning and organizational skills

• Strong interpersonal relationship-building skills/collaboration and teamwork

• Commitment to advancing Canada’s representation in regional strategic regulatory decisions

• Willingness to travel frequently

• Bilingual (French and English) is an asset, both spoken and written

Required/Preferred Education and Licenses:

• Strong preference for a Medical Doctor or Scientific Graduate (ideally with a higher scientific qualification e.g., PhD or PharmD, etc.)