About AstraZeneca and the Role

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines for serious diseases. AstraZeneca KSA is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by a commitment to advancing healthcare, innovation, and sustainable growth, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030. Following the acquisition of Alexion in 2021, AstraZeneca is expanding its geographical footprint in rare diseases, a high-growth therapy area with significant unmet medical need.

Role Overview: Senior MSL Rare Disease

We are seeking a Senior MSL Rare Disease to join our Medical Affairs team in the Western Region of KSA, covering Jeddah and Makkah. This full-time role is pivotal in channeling scientific capabilities to integrate new therapies in a rare disease setting into clinical practice, aiming to positively impact patients' lives. The position involves providing medical and scientific support to healthcare professionals, identifying and cultivating relationships with key strategic partners, conducting educational programs, and responding to customer inquiries.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide AstraZeneca with an understanding of the local medical community, clinical practice trends, HCP insights, and perceived gaps in current scientific knowledge and medical treatment.
• Share emerging data with Healthcare Professionals (HCPs), discussing all aspects of the data in a scientific, objective, and balanced manner.
• Identify and develop scientifically based relationships with Key External Experts (KEEs).
• Collaborate with HCPs on scientific activities that advance disease understanding, consistent with Medical Affairs strategy and objectives, such as clinical trials, Non-Interventional Studies, and Investigator Sponsored Studies (ISSs).
• Identify and train potential speakers for local events, and provide recommendations for advisory board participants.
• Present scientific data to HCPs in both group and one-on-one settings, and facilitate continuing medical education events.
• Develop or initiate scientific programs to explore unmet medical needs in priority disease areas, obtaining and sharing valuable insights.
• Provide actionable insights that enhance the value and appropriate use of AstraZeneca products and disease management to internal stakeholders.
• Engage in strategic planning meetings with payer customers or hospital decision-makers, ensuring scientific discussions are clearly separated from promotional or business topics.
• Maintain expertise and knowledge of AstraZeneca products, emerging therapies, competitors, patient and treatment trends, clinical trials, and scientific activities within the Disease Area.
• Support the Medical Manager and Marketing Team in the development of non-promotional and promotional materials and programs.
• Act as a scientific resource for internal stakeholders, providing understanding of the local medical community, clinical practice, trends, and competitor information.
• Provide scientific support at AstraZeneca-sponsored educational events and gather competitor knowledge that may affect company strategies.
• Plan and execute regional medical activities during product launch processes.
• Serve as a medical resource for sales representatives, accurately answering medical questions to support their use of approved materials and understanding of the therapeutic area.
• Participate in, develop, and conduct therapeutic area and product trainings and periodic scientific updates for internal customers.
• Respond to unsolicited requests for information about unapproved AstraZeneca products or uses, presenting objective, well-balanced, substantiated scientific data free of promotional messages.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Medicine, Pharmacy, or Pharmacology.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in Medical Affairs.
• At least 6 years of experience within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Experience in Hematology, Oncology, Nephrology, Rare Diseases, and/or Critical Care is highly desirable.
• Direct patient care experience or equivalent experience within the pharmaceutical industry is preferred.

Required Skills

• Proven ability to synthesize complex scientific information and communicate effectively with healthcare professionals at a peer level.
• Strong aptitude for learning and applying scientific concepts and knowledge.
• Excellent presentation skills, with the ability to clearly communicate medical data and concepts.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Strong project management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with strong interpersonal abilities.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities and the ability to work independently.

Working at AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is committed to being a Great Place to Work, empowering employees to contribute to advancements in medicine, patient care, and society. The company fosters an inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration, with a focus on lifelong learning, growth, and development.