US National Sales Director

Summittherapeutics; Princeton (NJ); On-site; USD 221,000 - 278,000; Full time

Job summary

Summittherapeutics seeks a US National Sales Director for the launch of ivonescimab, requiring a seasoned leader to drive comprehensive sales strategies in oncology. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry, especially in NSCLC, leading teams to achieve ambitious market goals while ensuring a high-performance culture.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in pharmaceutical industry with 10+ years in sales leadership.
• Experience with product launches in oncology, specifically NSCLC.
• Excellent communication and team management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead national sales strategy and manage team performance.
• Recruit and train top field leaders and representatives.
• Oversee effective launch execution and market penetration strategies.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Sales Strategy Development

Team Management

Market Analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field

MBA or advanced degree

Job description

*Relocation support will be considered for this role

About Summit:

Ivonescimab, known as SMT112, is a novel, potential first-in-class investigational bispecific antibody combining the effects of immunotherapy via a blockade of PD-1 with the anti-angiogenesis effects associated with blocking VEGF into a single molecule. Ivonescimab displays unique cooperative binding to each of its intended targets with multifold higher affinity when in the presence of both PD-1 and VEGF.

Summit has begun its clinical development of ivonescimab in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with three active Phase III trials:

HARMONi is a Phase III clinical trial which intends to evaluate ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy compared to placebo plus chemotherapy in patients with EGFR-mutated, locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC who have progressed after treatment with a 3rd generation EGFR TKI (e.g., osimertinib).

HARMONi-3 is a Phase III clinical trial which is designed to evaluate ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy compared to pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy in patients with first-line metastatic NSCLC.

HARMONi-7 is a Phase III clinical trial which is intended to evaluate ivonescimab monotherapy compared to pembrolizumab monotherapy in patients with first-line metastatic NSCLC whose tumors have high PD-L1 expression.

Ivonescimab is an investigational therapy that is not approved by any regulatory authority in Summit’s license territories, including the United States and Europe. Ivonescimab was approved for marketing authorization in China in May 2024. Ivonescimab was granted Fast Track designation by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for the HARMONi clinical trial setting.

Overview of Role:

The US National Sales Director to lead the launch of ivonescimab. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and executing a national sales strategy, managing sales team performance, recruiting and training top field leaders and representatives, and ensuring effective field launch execution. This role also involves maintaining a feedback loop from the field, organizing sales meetings, determining sales force sizing and structure, developing sales training strategies, and representing the sales team in senior leadership and strategic planning discussions. This role will report into the Head of US Commercial.

Role and Responsibilities:

Develop and implement comprehensive national sales strategies across teams to drive market penetration and achieve sales targets. This includes analyzing market trends, competitive landscape, and customer needs to inform strategic decisions.

Monitor and evaluate sales team performance, setting clear objectives and KPIs to ensure alignment with business goals. Provide ongoing coaching and support to maximize individual and team performance.

Recruit, train, and retain top field leaders and representatives, fostering a high-performance culture. Develop and implement training programs to enhance product knowledge, sales skills, and compliance with industry regulations.

Lead field launch execution, ensuring that sales teams are well-prepared and equipped to effectively promote new oncology products. Coordinate with marketing, access and medical affairs to ensure cohesive launch strategies.

Establish a robust feedback loop from the field to gather insights and inform continuous improvement of sales strategies and tactics. Regularly communicate with field teams to understand challenges and opportunities.

Plan and conduct regular sales meetings to align teams on strategy, share best practices, and address any issues. Foster a collaborative environment to encourage knowledge sharing and innovation.

Determine optimal sales force sizing and structure to ensure effective coverage and resource allocation. Analyze market potential and adjust team structure as needed to maximize impact.

Develop and implement a comprehensive sales training strategy to ensure that all sales representatives are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed. This includes initial training, ongoing development, and specialized training for new product launches.

Represent the sales function in senior leadership and strategic planning discussions, providing insights and recommendations to inform overall business strategy. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and execution of commercial objectives.

All other duties as assigned

Experience, Education and Specialized Knowledge and Skills:

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred

A minimum of 15+ years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry with 10+ years of experience in sales leadership

Recent experience leading product launches in the oncology space; NSCLC experience strongly preferred

Proven track record of successful sales strategy development and execution

Strong leadership and team management skills

Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities

Ability to analyze and interpret sales data to drive decision-making

Experience in recruiting, training, and retaining top talent

The pay range for this role is $221,500 – $277,500 annually. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, depth of experience, certifications, and specific work location. This may be different in other locations due to differences in the cost of labor. The total compensation package for this position may also include bonus, stock, benefits and/or other applicable variable compensation.

Summit does not accept referrals from employment businesses and/or employment agencies in respect of the vacancies posted on this site. All employment businesses/agencies are required to contact Summit’s Talent Acquisition team at [e-mail] to obtain prior written authorization before referring any candidates to Summit.