REPORTING RELATIONSHIP
The position reports to the Head of Medical Affairs.

COMPANY BACKGROUND/CULTURE
Since its inception in late 1997, the company has developed into a dynamic and successful biopharmaceutical company focusing on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative treatments to serve high, unmet medical needs. It combines the best attributes of the biotechnology and pharmaceuticals industries, blending the biotech innovation, speed and flexibility with pharmaceutical disciplines in drug development, regulatory and marketing. The company culture is performance driven, entrepreneurial and multicultural, supporting creativity and innovation.

Our client is headquartered in the Basel area in Switzerland. During the first 9 months of 2009 the firm reported net revenues of CHF1.3 billion and an operating profit of over CHF 363 million. The firm operates through a network of 25 wholly owned affiliates across the globe. Additional markets are covered through a network of distributors.

The company has built an unparalleled reputation in the global market place for having drawn into its fold some of the finest scientific and commercial leadership from the global and ‘large’ pharmaceutical companies. The company has demonstrated the ability to drive commercial value from its product discovery and development organisation and so far has launched and marketed two major drugs in the market place.

The company is focused in addressing unmet medical needs and manages its products through life-cycle teams to move a drug rapidly from inception to initial commercialization and then to global sales. New indications for existing drugs and new drugs in new indications will allow the organization to further grow above and beyond the significant peak-sales potential of it's products. At this stage, there are 10 compounds in clinical development and more than 25 active projects in drug discovery. The firm is engaged in two global strategic co-development alliances with external partners.

The key components of the company’s strategy are:

• Build the existing businesses while developing or licensing additional synergetic products.
• Pursue an R&D-focused growth strategy by pursuing internal projects, especially those which would accelerate value creation. Selectively form partnerships for these products to minimize risk, and optimize investment and return.
• Seek licensing deals or acquisitions that are synergetic to existing businesses or to provide an infrastructure platform for pipeline products.
• Focus on people: It takes professionals from many areas of expertise, working together over a sustained period of time, to create an innovative medicine. Realising that products do not discover or sell themselves, the company continues to grow it's innovative team of creative minds.

THE APPOINTMENT
As a result of the increasing level and volume of the organization’s business in Europe, the company’s success in developing new indications across the PAH franchise, as well as the specialty pharmaceutical products investment creating further commercial opportunities, the Medical Affairs organisation is now seeking to hire an additional Global Medical Leader to add to the Medical Marketing expertise to its PAH franchise and appoint into the role a professional who is most likely to focus on the opportunity in IPF to commence with. The purpose of the role is to lead and coordinate Medical Affairs activities across the region and, related to the company's IPF opportunity, work closely with both the clinical development and marketing functions dedicated to this product area. The Global Medical Leader IPF will drive and co-ordinate the Medical momentum of the IPF opportunity in alignment with global strategy, therefore he/she will be expected to have demonstrable overall scientific/medical leadership and provide input to the global development and commercial organisation.

Reporting to the Head of Medical Affairs, the Global Medical Leader IPF will be an intrinsic part of an influential Medical Affairs group supporting global clinical development and the marketing strategy across the product franchise, especially in IPF, a new indication currently in full clinical development.

Responsibilities will include:

• Leading the IPF indication and product opportunity across clinical development to commercial, seizing to capitalise on a new indication and product opportunity.
• Overall product and strategic development guidance and coaching for international Medical Affairs and beyond.
• Seamless execution of Medical Affairs Team plan across all Medical Affairs including Medical Directors, Regional Medical Leaders, and Medical Communication with a view to supporting local growth of the product Franchise in IPF.
• Ensuring the ethical delivery of affiliates’ Medical Marketing plans.
• Representing the European as well as the Global vision for IPF, liaising with Business Units and Clinical Development.
• Ensuring the phase III/IV and local, non-company sponsored studies for products within their customer audience align with the Global and European Commercial Plans.
• Ensuring the alignment of European and US Medical Affairs activities for their customer audience or product.
• Leading selected change initiatives in Development.
• Ensuring that the IPF perspective is fully represented at Medical Affairs Management Team and EU / International Protocol Review Committees etc.

THE CANDIDATE
This is a leadership role which will require the job holder to bring a project based and delivery orientated approach to the role and support other functions’ efforts and achievement of objectives across the international markets. Candidates will need to have the maturity, sensitivity and strength of character to combine assertiveness when required with listening skills, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and a sound understanding of both corporate and multicultural dynamics.

To fulfil this role, candidates will need to be commercially orientated and business-minded physicians. They will generally already have relevant experience in the pharma/biopharmaceutical industry and have developed strong influence management skills. Truly international in outlook, candidates will transcend national and cultural boundaries with ease and ideally will speak more than one European language; fluency in written and spoken English is a prerequisite. Specifically candidates we are seeking will:

• Be a qualified Medical Practitioner; some expertise in / around the cardiovascular / pulmonary and respiratory arena would be ideal but not required – a sound pedigree and qualification in Internal Medicine will also satisfy the requirement.
• Have broad international / project management experience gained internationally with solid interface traversing the clinicians and marketers / commercial experts alike. The Medical Affairs group is “lean” and has global reach – thus the role does not require a “man-manager” per se.
• Have a thorough knowledge and track record in clinical development, ideally including later stage III/IV clinical trials at a European level in the pharma/biopharmaceutical industries, for instance.
• Be knowledgeable in the areas of Regulatory Affairs and Drug Safety.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage global projects effectively and in a cross-cultural environment. The company is a mid-sized global enterprise with huge ambitions and growth plans, thus the need to be personally flexible and intellectually agile.
• Have strong Medical Affairs skills including study design, management and conduct, data analysis, study evaluation, medical writing skills, experts panel conduct, symposium and workshop management, and KOL management.
• Have developed strong influencing skills with a proven ability to achieve tangible results in the context.
• Have strong skills in developing and maintaining a network of relationships within the designed therapeutic area amongst Key Opinion Leaders.

In addition, the following characteristics and attributes are required:

• Medical / Scientific excellence and personal credibility serving as a role model to the Medical Affairs Team.
• Exceptional project leadership skills with the ability to work and influence effectively in a collaborative environment.
• Exceptional planning skills, apt at prioritisation, objective setting, and plan execution.
• Excellent communicator both in formal presentations and informally, both written and spoken.
• Team player.
• High energy level, mobile, and willing to travel.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently with high product output.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• International outlook, multi-cultural orientation.
• Commercially oriented with a good business sense.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced physician to join a pre-eminent organisation in the biopharmaceutical industry and play an important role in the successful registration and launch of a new indication for the product in IPF. This is an important role in the Medical Affairs function to maximise the potential of the company’s extensive, powerful and growing product range.

COMPETENCIES
Competencies paramount to success in this role are:

• Relating and Communicating
• Informing others
• Working with People
• Being Responsible and Accountable
• Achieving
• Providing clear Direction and coordinating Action

COMPENSATION
The Global Medical Leader IPF will receive a competitive cash compensation package, including participation in the company’s bonus plan and stock options.

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Korn/Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis. Korn/Ferry shall comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations in the performance of duties pursuant to this Agreement, including but not limited to, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and state and local anti-discrimination laws to the extent applicable.