Director, Field Medical Affairs, West Coast

Zealand Pharma U.S.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 230,000 - 290,000; Full time

Job summary

Zealand Pharma U.S. seeks a senior Director of Field Medical Affairs – Obesity to lead and scale a national MSL team focused on obesity and metabolic disease.

You will set strategic goals, KPIs, and territory plans while partnering with Medical, Clinical Development, and Commercial leadership to drive launch readiness and scientific engagement. You will coach and develop MSLs, shape KOL engagement strategies, and oversee field medical launches, all within regulatory and budget constraints.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree required (MD/PhD/PharmD).
• 7+ years seniority in Medical Affairs leadership.
• 3–5+ years managing/leading MSL teams.
• Proven experience launching obesity/metabolic assets.
• Deep understanding of US regulatory/compliance landscape for field medical activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead national obesity-focused MSL team with goals, KPIs, and strategic territory plans.
• Serve as senior field medical partner to cross-functional leadership (Medical, Clinical Development, Commercial).
• Contribute to US thought leader engagement strategy and represent MSL leadership in high-level KOL interactions.
• Coach, develop, and performance-manage MSLs and build bench strength.
• Lead field medical launch planning for new obesity assets.
• Ensure field operations meet regulatory, compliance, and budget standards, with resource allocation accountability.
• Advocate for field team needs to execute medical strategy.

Skills

People leadership

MSL management

KOL engagement

Cross-functional collaboration

Launch planning

Education

Advanced degree (MD, PhD, PharmD)

Job description

Does it excite you to lead a national team of Medical Science Liaisons at the forefront of obesity and metabolic disease, and do you bring seasoned Medical Affairs leadership experience to the table? If this sounds like you, and you are ready to take on a broad area of responsibilities, then you could be our new colleague.

Your new position

As Director , Field Medical Affairs - Obesity, you will lead and grow our national obesity-focused MSL team, shaping how we translate scientific strategy into field impact. You'll be a senior voice across US Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, and Commercial, driving KOL engagement and launch readiness for our obesity and metabolic pipeline. This is a role for an experienced people leader ready to build and elevate a high-performing field team.

We offer exciting responsibilities:

• Lead, scale, and evolve the national obesity-focused MSL team, setting, goals, and KPIs and strategic territory plans
• Serve as the senior field medical partner to cross-functional leadership across Medical, Clinical, and Commercial
• Contribute to US thought leader engagement strategy and represent MSL leadership in high-level KOL interactions
• Coach, develop, and performance-manage MSLs, building bench strength and scientific excellence across the team
• Lead field medical launch planning for new obesity assets,
• Ensure field operations meet regulatory, compliance, and budget standards, with full accountability for resource allocation
• Advocate for the needs of your field team, ensuring they are prepared to execute the medical strategy

#LI-Remote

Your profile

You are a senior Medical Affairs leader who thrives on developing people and driving field strategy at scale. You bring credibility with KOLs, comfort operating at a senior cross-functional table, and a track record of building strong MSL teams through complex launches and have built MSL launch plans.

• Advanced degree (MD, PhD, PharmD) required
• 7+ years given increased seniority]
• 3- 5 yrs minimum managing/leading MSL teams
• Proven launch experience
• Demonstrated success building, scaling, and developing high-performing field teams
• Deep understanding of the US regulatory and compliance landscape governing field medical activities
• Willingness to travel up to 40% domestically (field rides, national and regional meetings)
• Excellent people-skills, relatable, and fun to work with. Values inquiry, transparency, and open communication.

Your new team

The Field Director, West Coast, reports directly to Gabe Smolarz, VP of US Medical Affairs, and is one of two regional Field Director positions (East and West) leading the field-based Medical Affairs presence for Zealand Pharma's obesity/metabolic health franchise. This role sits within a growing US Medical Affairs organization built to support the petrelintide launch, alongside Medical Information, Scientific Communications, and Medical Operations functions, and will oversee a portion of a combined East/West MSL team, split geographically by territory. The Field Director partners closely with US Medical Affairs leadership, Global Medical Affairs, and cross-functional launch teams to ensure consistent scientific engagement and field medical strategy execution across their region.

Let's bond and be bold

We have a unique biotech culture, characterized by excellent teamwork and strong engagement across the organization. And we want you to help us strengthen this culture.

Making bonds is at the core of everything we do. From discovering and developing the best new peptide drugs for patients, to engaging with our partners or connecting with each other. We bond through curiosity and playfulness as a team, allowing ourselves to challenge common thinking and drive future innovation. Join us and let's bond and be bold.

We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and welcome applications from all job applicants.

About Zealand Pharma A/S

Zealand Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ZEAL) is a biotechnology company focused on advancing medicines for obesity and metabolic health. Combining more than 25 years of peptide R&D expertise with a proprietary data platform that leverages advanced data‑driven and AI/ML approaches, Zealand Pharma aims to lead a new era in obesity and metabolic health. To date, more than ten Zealand Pharma‑invented drug candidates have entered clinical development, of which two products have reached the market and three candidates are in late‑stage development. The Company has collaborations with global pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners for research, development, and commercialization. Founded in 1998, Zealand Pharma is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a U.S. presence in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Learn more at www.zealandpharma.com.