Associate Director- Medical Science Liaison

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.

Role Overview

Eli Lilly and Company is continuing the expansion of our Gastroenterology MSL team. This is an exciting chance to help build an MSL team in a new therapeutic area for Lilly, while working for a company with well-established MSL teams across multiple other therapeutic areas in Immunology.

The GI MSLs build new relationships with external experts as our GI development program continues to progress. The MSLs work closely with the global and U.S. development teams as well as our Medical Affairs team in support of Lilly’s development activities. This is a dynamic role and will continue to evolve.

We are looking for someone with expertise in Gastroenterology/Immunology, passionate about delivering on our company purpose of making life better for people, eager to be a part of a growing new therapeutic MSL team from the ground up and motivated to work in a fast-paced environment.

Purpose

Scientific Experts (SEs) are individuals who are noted for their expertise in a therapeutic area and as a result have special needs for in-depth and groundbreaking information. The Medical Science Liaison (MSL) program is specifically designed to meet these needs through a field-based group of medical professionals with deep content knowledge about specific disease states, Lilly and competitor compounds, and current issues in the therapeutic areas they represent. MSLs recognize and communicate feedback and insights of strategic importance from their interactions with SEs, to better inform Lilly’s strategic direction for Medical Affairs, research, and commercialization. By facilitating scientific exchange between industry and the scientific community, MSLs can craft the future of healthcare by providing needed information that addresses important clinical and scientific questions.

Responsibilities

1. Maintain and effectively communicate deep scientific knowledge

   MSLs are required to participate in continuous learning to maintain the highest level of technical expertise within the therapeutic area they represent. This enables the MSL to answer deep scientific questions and be sought after by customers based on peer-credible knowledge and expertise. This will result in the MSL establishing themselves as a reliable, trusted, resource of unbiased, accurate, and up-to-date knowledge requested and desired by their customers.

2. Excel at customer engagement and support medical/scientific information needs of scientific experts

   This is a customer facing role and therefore MSLs spend most of their time engaging with customers in mutually beneficial 2-way dialogues with SEs. Through the application of EQ emotional intelligence and a deep understanding of their customers, MSLs act as one of the primary interfaces between Lilly and scientific experts to deliver best in class customer experiences. Core to the role is answering customer questions by providing deep and advanced disease state and product information. Additionally, MSLs connect SEs with other Lilly resources or internal business partners as appropriate and identify possible collaborative research or external collaborations.

3. Strategic vision and leadership

   MSLs synthesize complex data and expertly communicate meaningful clinical insights and unanswered customer questions they receive from SEs to Lilly Medical and cross-functional teams. They use creative problem-solving skills and partner with internal resources effectively to deliver solutions. MSLs use a principle based decision-making approach to make decisions independently or escalate them appropriately. They cultivate internal networks and collaborate effectively across functions with an active contribution to medical planning and strategy in the affiliate.

4. Territory ownership

   MSLs are expected to demonstrate strategic analysis, planning, and prioritization skills to improve efficiency. They implement and evaluate a strategic territory plan, prioritizing core MSL activity and take personal accountability for results.

   The MSL executes the role in a compliant manner, adhering to all governing internal and external requirements, procedures, and laws, always demonstrating good judgement.

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced degree in health sciences (PharmD, MD, PhD in a medically related field) required with 2-3 years of relevant clinical or therapeutic area experience preferred.
• A Master’s or bachelor’s level degree in health sciences (e.g. BSN, RPh, PA, or NP) will be considered with 5 or more years if clinical, research, or industry (medical/scientific role) experience in a relevant therapeutic area.
• Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to be employed in the United States. Lilly does not anticipate providing sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B or TN status) for this employment position.

Other Information/Additional Preferences

• Experience in fulfilling customer needs for complex information.
• Significant experience in professional networking with mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Experience in field based working environment highly valued.
• Proficiency and experience in Virtual engagement methods (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Web Meetings).
• Applicants must live near a transport hub (airport/train station).
• Intellectual curiosity about the field of science/medicine for which they are responsible.
• Learning agility to comprehend and effectively communicate large amounts of complex scientific content in a clear and concise fashion.
• Self-directed and able to work alone in the field effectively managing multiple priorities and projects.
• Advanced presentation and computer skills with expertise in literature identification.
• Effective strategic and critical thinking skills to analyze, assess and evaluate information and interpret impact or relevance to future states.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to use field-based electronic or other communication tools for all aspects of job is critical.
• Resiliency in managing complex challenges.
• Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills, including high emotional intelligence and the ability to engage in professional relationship building and networking.
• Field based position requires ability to travel up to 80% and work up to 4 to 6 weekends a year.
• Position based in the Washington D.C. area. Candidates must live in or near the city, or be willing to relocate.