Thought Leader Liaison - Job ID: TLL

Ascendis Pharma; Illinois; Remote; USD 165,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan with company match

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Employee Assistance Program

Professional Development

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Job summary

A biopharmaceutical company is seeking an Associate Thought Leader Liaison in Rare Disease Marketing. This role requires managing speaker initiatives, advocating for rare disease brands, and collaborating across teams. Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree and significant experience in pharma/biotech, especially in rare diseases. The position offers a pay range of $165,000 to $185,000, with benefits including a 401(k) plan, medical coverage, and professional development opportunities.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of pharmaceutical or biotech experience with a minimum of 5 years in a field-based or marketing role.
• TLL experience of at least 3 years is strongly preferred.
• Experience in rare diseases or genetics is required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage speaker bureau recruitment and engagement initiatives.
• Cultivate relationships with key opinion leaders.
• Ensure compliance in all engagements with speakers and thought leaders.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Project management

Presentation skills

Collaborative teamwork

Influencing skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in life sciences, marketing, or related field

Job description

Overview

Ascendis Pharma is a dynamic, fast-growing global biopharmaceutical company with locations in Denmark, Europe, and the United States. We are advancing programs in Endocrinology, Rare Disease, and Oncology. We pride ourselves on exceptional science, visionary leadership, and skilled and passionate colleagues. Guided by our core values of Patients, Science, and Passion, we aim to develop new and potentially best-in-class therapies to address unmet medical needs. We offer a dynamic workplace for employees to grow and develop their skills.

TLLs support cross-functional commercial opportunities and serve as a key liaison between thought leaders, healthcare institutions, and internal marketing, medical, and commercial teams. TLLs inform marketing and commercial strategy and initiatives through their knowledge and insights. We are looking for an Associate Thought Leader Liaison (TLL), Rare Disease Marketing. The Associate TLL works under the guidance of senior team members and collaborates cross-functionally to build Ascendis Pharma's presence in the endocrinology and rare disease spaces. The Associate TLL drives results by supporting KOL identification and speaker bureau development, gathering market insights, and building advocacy for rare disease brands. The Associate TLL may primarily support a single brand but may be required to support activities across brands as directed. This position reports to the Director, Market Development and will be remotely based.

Base pay range: $165,000.00/yr - $185,000.00/yr

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage speaker bureau recruitment, training, and engagement initiatives in alignment with brand strategies
• Serve as the primary liaison for contracted speakers, supporting training, messaging refinement, and presentation effectiveness
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure speaker content aligns with disease state awareness and product messaging
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with key opinion leaders (KOLs) and high-potential speakers to build advocacy and credibility in rare disease and endocrinology
• Act as the primary commercial point of contact for thought leaders, ensuring consistent and strategic engagement
• Facilitate peer-to-peer interactions and educational initiatives that support brand objectives
• Participate in the planning and execution of advisory boards, congresses, and national/regional meetings
• Gather and synthesize insights from thought leader interactions and events to support brand planning, content development, and campaign refinement
• Develop a deep understanding of assigned rare disease areas, brands, and the educational ecosystem
• Partner with Marketing, Market Development, Medical Affairs, and Commercial Leadership to align on strategy and execution
• Ensure all speaker and thought leader engagements comply with regulatory and compliance standards
• Maintain accurate documentation and reporting of activities, insights, and outcomes
• Support internal training and onboarding of new TLLs or cross-functional partners as needed

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences, marketing, or related field
• 10+ years of pharmaceutical/biotech experience with 5+ years in a field-based or marketing role; TLL experience of at least 3 years strongly preferred
• Experience in rare diseases, genetics, or related therapeutic areas; endocrinology experience a plus
• Passion for scientific engagement and advocacy building with healthcare providers
• Strong communication, presentation, and influencing skills
• Ability to synthesize insights into actionable strategies and recommendations
• Exceptional planning, project management, and organizational abilities
• Comfort executing speaker initiatives in a compliant manner
• Flexibility to travel up to 75% of the time, including evenings and weekends
• Must live near a major airport

Salary and benefits: The estimated salary range for this position is $165,000 to $185,000. Actual salary determination depends on factors including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. This position may be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus or incentive compensation, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives, paid time off, and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with company match
• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Company-offered Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
• Company-provided short and long-term disability benefits
• Pet Insurance and Legal Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Discounts
• Professional Development
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Incentive compensation plans
• Mental Health resources
• Paid leave benefits for new parents

Equal Opportunity: Ascendis Pharma is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Note to recruiters: We do not allow external search party solicitation. Presentation of candidates without written permission from the Ascendis Pharma Inc Human Resources team is not allowed. If this occurs your ownership of these candidates will not be acknowledged.