Thought Leader Liaison, US Oncology, South
Moderna · United States
The Role
Joining Moderna means advancing mRNA science to transform medicine. Work with exceptional global teams on a broad pipeline and build a career that makes a real difference for patients.
Join Moderna as we work to transform the treatment landscape for patients with cancer through the development of individualized neoantigen therapies. In this field-based U.S. Oncology marketing role, you will lead regional thought leader engagement and advocacy strategies supporting brand strategy and launch planning for intismeran, an individualized neoantigen therapy being developed in collaboration with Merck.
As a strategic voice of the customer and regional oncology thought leader engagement expert, you will combine deep KOL relationships, specialized oncology market expertise, and evolving clinical, competitive, and customer insights to shape engagement strategies and generate actionable recommendations for U.S. brand strategy and launch planning.
Reporting to the Senior Director, US Commercial Launch Lead, you will lead regional cross-functional initiatives with Sales, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Marketing, and Alliance stakeholders, ensuring coordinated, compliant, and customer-centric engagement aligned with U.S. commercial priorities.
Here’s What You’ll Do
Your responsibilities will focus across three interconnected areas: KOL Engagement and Advocacy Development, Market Insights, and Speaker Bureau and Thought Leader Programs. All TLL interactions will be on-label and consistent with commercial compliance, legal, and regulatory guidelines.
KOL Engagement and Advocacy Development
- Lead the development and execution of regional KOL engagement and advocacy strategies, using market dynamics, influence mapping, and centers of excellence to establish engagement priorities aligned with U.S. brand strategy and launch objectives.
- Independently evaluate regional oncology market dynamics and KOL influence networks to identify strategic engagement opportunities and continually optimize regional engagement plans.
- Identify, profile, cultivate, and maintain long-term strategic relationships with influential KOLs across the oncology community, including medical oncology, surgical oncology, and multidisciplinary stakeholders.
- Serve as the primary regional commercial marketing expert and point of contact for assigned KOLs, providing strategic guidance and coordinating cross-functional engagement initiatives.
- Engage KOLs through on-label, compliant discussions focused on disease state, approved product information, and company-sponsored initiatives.
- Develop and execute differentiated, on-label, approved KOL programming aligned with brand strategy and launch priorities.
- Lead cross-functional alignment of regional KOL engagement activities across Sales, Marketing, Medical Affairs, Market Access, and Alliance stakeholders to enable coordinated and compliant execution.
- Plan and lead KOL engagement initiatives across regional and local conferences, field visits, and other approved forums to strengthen customer relationships and advance regional advocacy objectives aligned with U.S. brand priorities.
Market Insights
- Lead the identification, analysis, and synthesis of regional KOL, clinical landscape, and competitive insights, translating complex market information into actionable recommendations that inform U.S. brand strategy, positioning, and launch priorities.
- Monitor evolving treatment paradigms, competitive dynamics, and customer needs to identify emerging opportunities and recommend adjustments to regional commercial engagement strategies.
- Lead regional initiatives to obtain structured KOL feedback on approved marketing materials, programs, and messaging to support optimization and future development.
- Serve as a strategic regional resource to the US Commercial Launch Lead and cross-functional Brand Team, bringing specialized oncology market expertise and actionable insights to brand strategy, launch planning, and regional customer engagement priorities.
- Provide strategic insights and recommendations to Marketing, Medical Affairs, Market Access, and Alliance stakeholders to support integrated commercial planning and customer engagement priorities.
- Identify and recommend appropriate HCP consultants, in partnership with internal stakeholders, to address evolving brand and launch needs.
- Build familiarity with Moderna’s approved Generative AI and digital capabilities where appropriate, exploring how these tools can accelerate compliant insight synthesis, identify patterns across complex market information, and enhance the quality and speed of strategic decision-making while maintaining required human oversight and applicable compliance standards.
- Speaker Bureau and Thought Leader Programs
- Lead the planning, execution, and evaluation of speaker bureau and thought leader programs within the assigned region, establishing engagement priorities while ensuring alignment with U.S. brand strategy, launch objectives, and compliance requirements.
- Identify and recommend promotional speakers based on strategic engagement priorities, regional market dynamics, and brand objectives.
- Coordinate speaker onboarding, training, and development activities using approved promotional materials, including observing and coaching speakers where appropriate to support compliant program execution.
- Oversee regional speaker program performance, evaluate effectiveness, and recommend improvements to optimize engagement outcomes and execution.
- Lead the development and execution of regional advisory board plans, coordinating cross-functional stakeholders and translating resulting insights into actionable recommendations for brand strategy and launch planning.
- Partner with Marketing and other internal stakeholders to support the development and optimization of approved speaker materials and ensure effective planning, execution, and follow-through of marketing-led programs.
The key Moderna Mindsets you’ll need to succeed in the role:
- “We act with dynamic range, driving strategy and execution at the same time at every step.”
- “We behave like owners. The solutions we’re building go beyond any job description.”
Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications)
- Bachelor's degree required
- Minimum of 8 years of experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, including demonstrated experience in a Thought Leader Liaison (TLL) or equivalent field-based commercial thought leader engagement role
- Oncology experience required
- Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic KOL engagement plans and build long-term relationships with influential HCPs and KOLs
- Strong understanding of commercial compliance and regulatory requirements
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence stakeholders in a complex, matrixed environment
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to translate complex market insights into actionable commercial recommendations
- Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship management skills
- Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to independently manage multiple priorities and initiatives
- Willingness to travel extensively within assigned territory
- Ability to travel up to 75%
Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table (Preferred Qualifications)
- Advanced degree (MS, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent) preferred
- Solid tumor oncology experience, preferably in melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancers, or non-small cell lung cancer
- Oncology launch experience, particularly in novel or complex therapeutic modalities
- Experience contributing to brand strategy and launch planning through KOL insights and regional market expertise
- Experience with speaker bureau management, advisory boards, and thought leader engagement programs
Pay & Benefits
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