Sr. Director, Field Medical Lead, Neuroscience

Alkermes; California (MO); On-site; USD 276,000 - 295,000; Full time

Job summary

Alkermes, a leader in neuroscience, seeks a Sr. Director, Field Medical Lead of Neuroscience to guide the US Field Medical team and coordinate contracted MSL groups in Europe and Asia.

You will drive scientific engagement, develop medical plans, and ensure compliance while partnering with Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Commercial, and Market Access. The role requires strategic leadership, deep clinical/scientific expertise, and the ability to travel up to 60% domestically and

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years direct MSL management experience.
• Doctoral degree preferred in Pharmacy, Medicine, Biological Sciences, Health Services Research, Public Health, or related field.
• Experience in sleep medicine or neuroscience preferred.
• Ability to lead U.S. Field Medical strategy and execution while coordinating with regional and international stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of Medical Affairs, field medical excellence, compliance, and drug development.

Responsibilities

• Establish and communicate a clear vision, priorities, and operating expectations for the U.S. Field Medical organization.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of MSLs with Regional Directors.
• Coordinate contracted MSL groups in Europe and Asia for regional alignment.
• Develop actionable medical plans using field insights and external expert perspectives.
• Cultivate strategic medical relationships with clinicians, societies, and advocacy groups.
• Define and monitor field medical metrics to assess execution and impact.
• Identify opportunities to increase strategic value and patient-focused impact.
• Partner as the primary Field Medical representative on cross-functional teams.
• Lead field medical initiatives from planning through execution and timely delivery.
• Provide direction, coaching, and development to Field Medical team members.

Skills

MSL management

Field Medical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Scientific communication

People development

Strategic planning

Education

PhD/MD preferred

Job description

Job Description

The Sr. Director, Field Medical Lead of Neuroscience will provide strategic and operational leadership for the Field Medical team supporting current and emerging sleep medicine programs. This role, with support of two Regional Directors, will be responsible for leading, coaching, and developing a high‑performing team of Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) to ensure the effective execution of the medical plan through scientific engagement and insight generation. In addition, the Sr. Director will provide oversight and coordination of contracted MSL groups in Europe and Asia to support alignment of Field Medical activities. The Sr. Director will serve as the primary Field Medical representative on relevant cross‑functional teams, partnering closely with colleagues in Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Commercial, and Market Access to align activities with broader organizational objectives while maintaining the highest standards of scientific integrity, compliance, and patient‑focused impact.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership
  • Establish and communicate a clear vision, strategic priorities, and operating expectations for the U.S. Field Medical organization in alignment with the Neuroscience medical plan and broader organizational objectives.
  • Lead, coach, and develop a high‑performing team of MSLs, in partnership with Regional Directors, to drive field medical excellence, accountability, and consistent execution.
  • Provide oversight and coordination of contracted MSL groups in Europe and Asia to support regional alignment.
  • Contribute to the development of clear, actionable medical plans by incorporating field insights, external expert perspectives, scientific trends, and unmet needs identified through MSL engagement.
  • Cultivate strategic medical relationships with clinical experts, professional societies, collaborative groups, advocacy organizations, and other external stakeholders in a compliant and scientifically rigorous manner.
• Business Acumen
  • Define and monitor meaningful field medical metrics that assess execution, impact, scientific engagement quality, insight generation, and alignment with medical plan objectives.
  • Identify opportunities for Field Medical to increase strategic value and patient‑focused impact across U.S. activities and contracted international MSL engagements.
  • Anticipate opportunities, risks, and operational challenges, and develop practical approaches to support effective execution across field‑based teams and cross‑functional initiatives.
• Collaboration
  • Serve as the primary Field Medical representative on relevant cross‑functional teams, ensuring field perspectives, insights, and scientific priorities are appropriately integrated into strategic planning and execution.
  • Build productive relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to advance medical objectives while maintaining appropriate role clarity and compliance standards.
• Results with Impact
  • Lead significant field medical initiatives and projects from planning through execution, ensuring timely delivery of priorities that support the medical strategy.
  • Translate field insights into actionable recommendations that inform medical strategy, scientific communication, evidence‑generation priorities, and stakeholder engagement planning.
  • Engage with external experts in relevant disease areas to deepen understanding of scientific needs, clinical practice trends, and opportunities to advance patient‑focused medical objectives.
• People Management
  • Create an inclusive, collaborative, and accountable team environment that promotes field medical excellence, professional growth, and effective partnership across regions and functions.
  • Provide direction, coaching, performance management, and development support to direct and indirect Field Medical team members, including alignment with Regional Directors.
  • Support consistent onboarding, training, scientific readiness, and execution standards for U.S. MSLs and contracted MSL groups in Europe and Asia.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of direct MSL management experience, including leadership of field‑based medical teams; experience overseeing contracted or ex‑U.S. MSL teams preferred.
• Doctoral degree preferred in Pharmacy, Medicine, Biological Sciences, Health Services Research, Public Health, or a related scientific discipline (e.g., M.D., Pharm.D., Ph.D., D.Ph., MPH).
• Experience in sleep medicine, neuroscience, or related therapeutic areas preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead U.S. Field Medical strategy and execution while coordinating activities across regional and international stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of Medical Affairs, field medical excellence, compliance requirements, and the role of Medical Affairs in drug development and product commercialization.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and scientific communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with internal stakeholders and external experts.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and people‑development skills, with experience building accountable, collaborative, and high‑performing teams.
• Demonstrated problem‑solving ability, sound judgment, and capacity to anticipate and address operational challenges in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to work effectively in a matrix environment and collaborate across Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Commercial, Market Access, Compliance, and other functions.
• Flexible, detail‑oriented, and able to manage changing priorities while maintaining high standards of execution and compliance.
• Ability to critically analyze, synthesize, and communicate complex scientific and clinical data to support medical strategy and field execution.
• Position may be field based and requires ability to travel up to 60% domestically and internationally, as business needs require.

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $276k to $295k. In addition, this position offers a performance‑based bonus target and eligibility to participate in our long‑term incentive program. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, training, knowledge, and experience. Alkermes offers a competitive benefits package. Additional details can be found on our careers website: www.alkermes.com/careers#working-here

Alkermes is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any qualified applicant or employee because of race, creed, color, age, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, disability, genetic information, veteran status, military status, application for military service or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law. Alkermes also complies with all work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Alkermes is an E‑Verify employer.