Medical Head, Canada

Medison Pharma Ltd.; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 220,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Medison Pharma Ltd. in Canada seeks a Medical Head, Canada to lead Medical Affairs strategy, patient focus, and cross-functional collaboration across the product portfolio.

The role drives external scientific engagement, evidence generation, and launches, while building a high‑performing team in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. Hybrid work with three days in downtown Toronto; base pay CAD 220,000–250,000 plus bonus.

Qualifications

• MD, PhD, or PharmD degree required.
• Minimum 12–15 years in pharmaceutical/biotech/healthcare industry.
• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive Medical Affairs leadership.
• Minimum 5 years of people management leading managers and field teams.
• Strong understanding of Canada's healthcare system (Health Canada, CADTH, INESSS, pCPA, provincial reimbursement).

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the Canadian Medical Affairs strategy aligned with corporate objectives.
• Lead a high‑performing Medical Affairs organization and coach talent.
• Foster external scientific engagement with KOLs, institutions, and associations.
• Ensure compliant, high‑quality medical content and communications.
• Support launches, real‑world evidence initiatives, and education programs.

Skills

Medical leadership

People management

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Field engagement

French language ability

Education

MD/PhD/PharmD

Job description

Medison offers hope to patients suffering from rare and severe diseases by forming partnerships with emerging biotech companies to accelerate access to highly innovative therapies in international markets.

As the creator and leader of the global partnership category in the pharma industry, we strive to be Always Ahead and work relentlessly to bring therapy to patients in need, no matter where they live.

Our values are at the core of every action we take, and we are committed to going above and beyond to benefit the patients we serve.

We are a dynamic, fast-paced company operating in over 34 countries on 5 continents. We are looking for out-of-the-box thinkers, people who are passionate, caring, agile, and adaptive, to join us on our mission. If you are looking to make a difference in people's lives, we invite you to join us!

The Medical Head, Canada serves as the strategic and operational leader of the Canadian Medical Affairs organization, ensuring the highest standards of scientific excellence, patient focus, compliance, and cross-functional collaboration.

This role requires a seasoned Medical Affairs and people leader with extensive Medical Affairs experience, a strong track record of building high-performing teams, and the ability to thrive in a fast paced, dynamic, entrepreneurial like environment. The successful candidate will combine strategic vision with a hands‑on approach, proactively identifying opportunities to generate value for patients and healthcare professionals.

The Medical Head is a key member of the Canadian Leadership Team and plays a critical role in shaping the Canadian Medical strategy and plans, supporting successful launches, driving external scientific engagement, and ensuring the generation and communication of high‑quality scientific evidence across the portfolio of products.

The ideal leader is recognized for being proactive, highly visible in the field, approachable, collaborative, transparent, and is a trusted partner internally and with the scientific and medical community.

Expected Base Pay Range (CAD): $ 220,000 to $ 250,000 per annum plus bonus.

The successful candidate’s starting base pay will be determined based on job‑related skills, experience and qualifications.

• This is a replacement role* within a hybrid model – 3 days per week in downtown Toronto is required.

Medison is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other protected status.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process. Final hiring decisions are made by humans.

Responsibilities

Strategic Medical Leadership

• Develop and execute the Canadian Medical Affairs strategy aligned with corporate and commercial objectives and the specific needs of the Canadian business needs.
• Serve as the senior medical expert for the affiliate, providing strategic scientific leadership across all stages of the product lifecycle.
• Represent Medison, provide support and collaborate, as required, with our partner companies
• Translate emerging scientific data, market insights, healthcare trends, and stakeholder feedback into actionable medical strategies and initiatives.
• Drive a culture of innovation, encouraging creative and non‑traditional approaches to address educational needs, unmet patient needs and business challenges.
• Active contributor to the Canadian Leadership team

People Leadership and Talent Development

• Lead, inspire, develop, and retain a high‑performing Medical Affairs organization.
• Build a strong culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, continuous learning, and scientific excellence.
• Coach and mentor team members to strengthen leadership capabilities and develop future talent.
• Foster an environment where team members feel empowered to challenge conventional thinking and contribute innovative ideas.
• Promote employee engagement, wellbeing, and professional growth.
• Seasoned in coaching in person and virtual

External Scientific Engagement

• Builds and maintains strong relationships with national and local key opinion leaders, healthcare professionals, academic institutions and scientific associations, and represents the interests of Medison Canada to these networks, individuals or organizations.
• Lead scientific exchange activities and ensure a strong external presence for the organization.
• Support the development of collaborative research, real‑world evidence initiatives, and medical education programs.
• Maintain a highly visible field presence and regularly accompany Medical Science Liaisons during stakeholder engagements.

Patient‑Centric and Healthcare System Engagement

• Develop strong and compliant relationships with patient advocacy organizations.
• Ensure patient perspectives are incorporated into evidence generation and medical planning activities.
• Support initiatives that improve patient access, diagnosis, treatment pathways, and healthcare outcomes.
• Contribute medical expertise to discussions involving healthcare system priorities and unmet medical needs.

Evidence Generation and Scientific Excellence

• Lead the affiliate's evidence generation strategy, including real‑world evidence (RWE), publication planning, and data dissemination.
• Ensure accurate interpretation and communication of clinical data to internal and external stakeholders.
• Drive scientific rigour and maintain the highest standards for all medical activities.
• Oversee advisory boards, medical education programs, congress activities, and scientific communications.

Market Access and Cross‑Functional Partnership

• Provide medical leadership to support Health Canada submissions, HTA assessments, CADTH reviews, INESSS submissions, pCPA processes, and provincial reimbursement discussions.
• Partner closely with Market Access, Commercial, Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance, and Corporate Affairs teams.
• Contribute with strategic insights to support successful product launches and lifecycle management.
• Ensure alignment between medical, access, and commercial strategies while maintaining full compliance.

Compliance and Governance

• Ensure all medical activities comply with Canadian regulations, Health Canada requirements, Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) Code of Ethical Practices, company policies, and global standards.
• Approve medical and scientific content for both promotional and non‑promotional materials as required.
• Maintain the highest level of ethical standards, transparency, and patient focus.
• Responsible for maintain a compliant process for capturing medical information inquiries and responses

Budget and Operational Management

• Develop and manage the Canadian Medical Affairs budget.
• Ensure effective resource allocation and operational excellence.
• Establish clear priorities and deliver against agreed objectives.
• Monitor performance metrics and continuously improve organizational effectiveness.

Requirements

Required

• MD, PhD, or PharmD
• Minimum 12-15 years of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or specialty healthcare industry experience.
• Minimum 7-10 years of progressive Medical Affairs leadership experience.
• Minimum 5 years of people management experience leading managers and field medical teams.
• Demonstrated success building and leading high‑performing teams in a matrix organization.
• Strong understanding of the Canadian healthcare system, including: Health Canada, CADTH, INESSS, pCPA, IMC, PAAB, provincial reimbursement systems, academic and community healthcare networks
• Experience supporting successful product launches and launch environments
• Strong understanding of evidence generation, and lifecycle management.
• Demonstrated experience interacting with external experts and healthcare decision makers.
• French language capability is considered a strong asset.

Preferred

• Experience in Rare Diseases, Oncology, Specialty Care, Neuroscience, Immunology, or other highly specialized therapeutic areas.
• Experience in emerging biotech
• Experience with real‑world evidence generation.
• Previous regional or international leadership exposure

Leadership Competencies and Behaviours

Entrepreneurial Mindset

• Challenges conventional thinking.
• Identifies opportunities before others see them.
• Think beyond established processes.
• Balances strategic vision with execution excellence.
• Thrives in ambiguity and growth environments.

Proactive Leadership

• Anticipates future opportunities and risks.
• Acts early rather than reacting to events.
• Drives change and innovation.
• Demonstrates urgency and accountability.

People-First Leadership

• Inspires trust and engagement.
• Coaches and develops talent.
• Promotes empowerment and collaboration.
• Builds strong and diverse teams.

Field Engagement and External Focus

• Maintains close proximity to customers, KOLs, patients, and healthcare stakeholders.
• Leads from the front through regular field engagement.
• Creates meaningful scientific partnerships.
• Demonstrates deep understanding of stakeholder needs.

Communication Excellence

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to distill complex scientific concepts into actionable insights.
• Influences effectively at all organizational levels.
• Fosters transparent and open communication.

Collaboration and Teamwork

• Builds strong cross‑functional partnerships.
• Demonstrates enterprise thinking.
• Creates alignment across functions and geographies.
• Encourages knowledge sharing and collective success.

Scientific Credibility and Integrity

• Maintains the highest scientific standards.
• Demonstrates intellectual curiosity and continuous learning.
• Acts with absolute integrity and professionalism.
• Serves as a trusted scientific partner internally and externally.