Medical Director, Rare

Leo Pharma GmbH; Madison (NJ); Hybrid; USD 240,000 - 275,000; Full time

Job summary

LEO Pharma is seeking a Medical Director, Rare, to lead North America medical strategies for our rare disease portfolio. You will combine scientific leadership with cross-functional collaboration to shape development programs, launch readiness, and lifecycle planning in a highly visible role based in Madison, NJ (hybrid).

The ideal candidate holds an MD, with dermatology experience preferred, and brings at least five years in pharma or clinical research.

Qualifications

• Medical degree required; dermatology experience preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience within the pharmaceutical industry and/or clinical research.
• Strong understanding of pharmaceutical business and commercial environments.
• Experience partnering with commercial, legal, regulatory, and medical communications teams.
• Solid knowledge of clinical development programs, compliance requirements, and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience managing Key Opinion Leader relationships and facilitating medical advisory boards.
• Strong publication planning experience and the ability to communicate complex scientific information to diverse audiences.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and cross-functional leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop North America medical strategies for rare disease assets.
• Provide medical leadership across scientific affairs activities, including data generation and scientific communication.
• Build and maintain relationships with Key Opinion Leaders and facilitate medical advisory boards.
• Contribute medical expertise to strategic launch plans, lifecycle plans, brand plans, and global initiatives.
• Collaborate with Commercial, Regulatory, Pharmacovigilance, Health Economics, R&D, and Global teams.
• Lead publication planning activities and review manuscripts, protocols, posters, and presentations.
• Present scientific data, deliver training, and ensure external medical engagement.

Skills

Medical leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Publication planning

KOL management

Scientific communication

Strategic medical affairs

Education

Medical degree

Dermatology specialization

Job description

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Role Description

Shape the future of rare disease care.

Are you a strategic medical leader with a passion for advancing science and improving patient outcomes? Join LEO Pharma and play a pivotal role in shaping the North America medical strategy for our rare disease portfolio. In this highly visible role, you will combine scientific expertise, cross-functional leadership, and external engagement to help bring innovative solutions to patients with significant unmet needs.

Your Role:

As Medical Director, Rare, you will lead the development and execution of North America medical strategies and tactics for LEO Pharma’s rare disease assets. Acting as a key medical partner across the organization, you will provide scientific leadership and strategic insight that supports development programs, launch readiness, and lifecycle planning.

This is a hybrid role, based out of LEO’s Madison, NJ office.

Your Responsibilities:

• Developing and executing North America medical strategies for rare disease assets.
• Providing medical and scientific leadership across scientific affairs activities, including data generation, scientific communication, competitive intelligence, and insight generation.
• Building and maintaining relationships with Key Opinion Leaders and facilitating medical advisory boards.
• Contributing medical expertise to strategic launch plans, lifecycle plans, brand plans, and global business initiatives.
• Collaborating with Commercial, Regulatory, Pharmacovigilance, Health Economics, R&D, and Global teams to ensure strong medical input across the organization.
• Leading publication planning activities and reviewing scientific and medical materials, including manuscripts, protocols, posters, and presentations.
• Presenting scientific data, delivering training, and ensuring appropriate medical engagement with external stakeholders.

Your Qualifications:

We're looking for a medical leader who combines scientific excellence with strong business acumen and collaborative leadership.

• Medical degree required; dermatology experience preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience within the pharmaceutical industry and/or clinical research.
• Strong understanding of pharmaceutical business and commercial environments.
• Experience partnering with commercial, legal, regulatory, and medical communications teams.
• Solid knowledge of clinical development programs, compliance requirements, and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience managing Key Opinion Leader relationships and facilitating medical advisory boards.
• Strong publication planning experience and the ability to communicate complex scientific information to diverse audiences.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and cross-functional leadership skills.

What will Help you Succeed:

The ideal candidate is a proactive and strategic thinker who thrives in a matrix environment and enjoys influencing without direct authority. You are naturally collaborative, build credibility through scientific expertise, and are energized by partnering across functions to solve complex challenges. A strong patient-focused mindset, sound judgment, and the ability to translate insights into action will help you make a meaningful impact.

Your New Team:

You will join a highly collaborative environment, working closely with colleagues across North America Medical Affairs, US Marketing, Regulatory Affairs, R&D, and Global teams. Together, you will help drive innovative medical strategies that support both business objectives and better outcomes for patients living with rare diseases.

Compensation:

The base salary range for this position is $240,000-$275,000 USD per year. The base salary range represents the anticipated low and high of the LEO Pharma range for this position. Salary will vary based on various factors such as the candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role. In addition, some positions may include eligibility to earn commissions/bonus based on company and / or individual performance.

Let’s Pioneer Together!

At LEO Pharma, we help people with skin diseases live fulfilling lives by advancing dermatology beyond the skin. We drive dermatology with our knowledge, collaboration, and curiosity, and we are at the forefront of science in developing new medicines. For us, pioneering together is about constantly improving and extending what’s possible for each other, our company, and our patients.

We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates because we believe that our different perspectives, backgrounds, and attitudes are what enable us to make the best decisions for LEO Pharma and meet the needs of the wonderfully diverse marketplace we operate in.