Boston, MA

Position: Allied Health and Systems Liaisons Lead (Associate Director- Director)

Position Summary

Karuna is seeking an experienced and motivated Allied Health and Systems Liaisons (AHSL) Leader to join our rapidly growing organization.

Reporting to the Field Medical Lead, this critical position is responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction to AHSLs to achieve Medical Affairs (MA) objectives. The AHSL Lead is also responsible for overseeing the AHSL Team in engaging current and future leaders in clinical medicine at local, regional, and national levels in Schizophrenia and company pipeline indications. The AHSL Lead directs and influences the efforts of direct/indirect reports in functional areas impacting the AHSL Team, such as: Medical Affairs, Commercial and R&D and Managed Markets. They are responsible for the execution of all efforts, initiatives and activities for the AHSL team.

Responsibilities

Recruit, develop and manage the AHSLs, provide direction and develop operational/scientific relationships based on credibility, respect and trust with other internal functions and external organizations and industry peers.

• Provide strategic oversight on scientific relationships with External Experts (EEs), HCPs, practitioners, and Health Systems administrators with a solid understanding of the medical/scientific and regulatory environments in the region/country.
• Collaborate in the development of medical strategies, build and maintain strong communication links cross-functionally to ensure alignment.
• Participate in country regional/global forums for best practice sharing.
• Ensure collaboration with Clinical to evaluate requests, assess capacity, and allocate resources for clinical trials when AHSLs’ support is required.
• Core member of the Field Medical Leadership Team.

Strategic leadership of MSL Team East/West:

• Coach all aspects of AHSLs’ job performance.
• Develop and retain top talent within the Field Medical organization.
• Leverage/capitalize on team/individual strengths.
• Deliver training, skill development and assessment of AHSLs (including scientific knowledge and behaviors).
• Provide clear direction by developing specific actionable development plans and SMART objectives for AHSLs.
• Create a climate in which self-motivated individuals will aspire to higher levels of performance by creating high standards and by rewarding and recognizing exceptional performance and innovation.
• Create an environment of trust, delegate responsibility to help individuals grow professionally.
• Provide positive and developmental feedback appropriately.
• Clearly understand the AHSL hiring profile, knowing how to match a candidate’s skills with the role.
• Regularly measure and document performance.
• Ensure regular capture and exchange of medical information and insights with other functions as appropriate for MA to inform on strategy and unmet medical needs
• Responsible for AHSL metrics analysis and internal communication of qualitative and quantitative measures of AHSL value.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of Advanced degree (e.g. PhD, PharmD) or Nursing/PA degree with appropriate experience.
• Preferably, line management experience in leading a field-based team, demonstration of MSL/AHSL/Field member coaching, mentoring and leadership.
• Min 5+ years’ experience in Pharmaceutical industry.
• Experience as an MSL/AHSL or equivalent.
• Health Systems or Community Mental Health Centers knowledge is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to build a team and develop a high performing organization.
• Knowledge and understanding of the disease area, local health care system/market dynamics, regulations, policies and SOPs.
• Has demonstrated consultative decision making and acquired knowledge and skills/competencies to the degree expected at job level; evidence of cross-functional working.
• A proven track record of developing and implementing creative ways of working/projects in line with internal policies and external regulations to deliver optimal value to Karuna, external experts, patients and therapeutic community.
• Excellent verbal and written skills, allowing for an open and effective dialogue throughout the company.
• Attention to detail and quality are critical to success.
• Highly accountable for the results and outcomes of their responsibilities and understands the impact of their efforts, results, and attitudes on others.
• Uses teamwork to work cooperatively toward the most effective solutions, championing the best ideas of team members, and assisting where help is needed yet is capable of highly independent work when efficiency is required.
• Results-oriented individual who is highly motivated, decisive, flexible in thought, and has the creativity to excel in and contribute to a rapidly growing company.
• Forward thinking mindset with the ability to manage multiple projects, identify and resolve issues.
• Broad experience in an emerging, publicly traded company environment is a plus.

The successful candidate will also embody our values:

Our purpose is to create value for those we have the privilege to serve:

• We take pride in our work
• We keep our promises and deliver
• We are driven to meaningfully innovate
• We succeed through inclusion and teamwork

Karuna Therapeutics is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status.

Karuna Therapeutics requires all employees be fully vaccinated by an approved vaccine against COVID-19, including a booster dose if it has been more than eight months since the employee’s original vaccination, unless you need an exemption due to disability, pregnancy or conditions related to pregnancy or religion or unless otherwise provided by law; in the case of exemption, weekly testing will be required.