Senior Medical Science Liaison, US

The Medical Scientific Liaison (MSL) provides non-promotional, medical information and support to ensure the safe and appropriate use of Valneva’s vaccines, through effective scientific interactions.

The Senior MSL will be a field-based scientific expert, responsible for translating strategies into impactful field activities. The Senior MSL will engage external stakeholders to deliver specialist medical and scientific information, enhancing marketplace awareness and driving the appropriate utilization of Valneva products. Competencies and knowledge required to deliver MSL duties must be of an expert level. Driving internal engagement and close cross-functional collaboration with both Market Access and Commercial colleagues is a key aspect of this role, as well as mentorship and training responsibilities for MSL colleagues.

• The MSL identifies, develops and maintains peer-to-peer collaborations and effective working relationships with key medical experts in the field of Travel Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Vaccinology, and Public Health and provides them with credible, fair balanced, scientific information about Valneva’s vaccines, Valneva’s research activities, and Valneva’s product development.

• The MSL supports key medical expert advocates, speakers, consultants and advisors through provision of scientific and clinical information.
• The MSL develops and maintains a national and regional database of key strategic contacts for each relevant product and disease area.
• The MSL provides high quality scientific and medical information to both internal and external stakeholders on request and in a timely manner.
• The MSL delivers best in class, scientific, educational meetings executed in accordance with Valneva’s and local regulatory and legal frameworks.
• The MSL provides scientific information in an objective and ethical manner to ensure appropriate positioning of Valneva products within relevant national and regional guidelines and formularies to ensure safe and efficacious use of Valneva products.
• The MSL contributes to the development of US's Medical Affairs plan and provides input into national and regional strategies and tactics. The MSL will manage the relevant budget to enable execution of the Medical Affairs plan.
• The MSL will participate in the following Medical Affairs initiatives: advisory boards, assisting with publications, medical education opportunities, reviews of literature, developing presentations, medical communications, training, and speaker development.
• The MSL works in a collaborative manner with cross-functional colleagues to ensure a Key Account Management approach.
• The MSL identifies educational and research gaps and opportunities aligned with Valneva Medical Affairs strategy.
• The MSL attends appropriate scientific congresses to stay abreast of medical and scientific developments in the field of Travel Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Vaccines. The MSL must maintain an up-to-date and high-level knowledge of the relevant therapeutic areas, including Valneva’s vaccines, new and emerging research areas, clinical issues and trends, and competitive landscape.
• The MSL responds to requests for Investigator Sponsored Trial (IST) grants and facilitates the submission and review of ISTs in accordance with Valneva’s standard operating procedures.
• The MSL is responsible to complete the company’s pharmacovigilance training and to report all adverse events or other safety relevant information received from healthcare professionals and other sources relating to products distributed by Valneva to the Pharmacovigilance department as per the company’s requirements.
• Demonstrate expert project leadership and management in and across Valneva’s assets.
• Train and mentor more junior MSLs providing performance guidance and coaching.
• Train and communicate with the Medical, Brand Team and Key Account Managers. Utilize knowledge sharing of opinion leader and site profiling.
• Provide clinical support and deliver data presentations regionally and nationally.
• Participate in and attend scientific meetings, congresses, conferences, and Valneva TA training sessions to maintain a current knowledge base and to develop competitive intelligence on other products in their therapeutic area.
• Work with market access colleagues to support evidence-generation activities.

Requirements

• Advanced Scientific Degree required (e.g. MD, PhD, Pharm D, MSc, etc.)
• 5 - 7 years of experience as an MSL or Medical Affairs role
• Prior Vaccines or Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Area experience preferred
• Candidates will ideally have well-established networks, understanding of decision-making structures and active relationships with HCPs in the therapy area.
• Candidate must have a strong understanding of compliance framework and demonstrable ability to work compliantly in a field-based role, within the medical organization, as well as interacting with the commercial organization.
• Thorough knowledge of the healthcare system, disease prevention and management and medical research.
• Proven ability to develop and foster peer-to-peer relationship with stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to organize, prioritize, exercise good judgment and work effectively with minimal supervision in a constantly changing environment.
• Ability to understand and summarize all aspects of clinical trials and papers.
• Ability to research scientific literature, and write reports, papers and research protocols.
• Solid understanding of industry code of practice and US regulations.
• Excellent teaching skills and ability to present and discuss scientific material clearly and concisely.
• Ability to participate in a scientific dialogue with HCPs and researchers.
• Ability to recognize opportunities/gaps/obstacles, then take ownership to find creative, innovative solutions that question convention, and then see them through to completion.
• The MSL will have to be able to function in a highly regulated environment and to adhere to all Valneva Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) yet be able to respond to a variety of questions and requests from health care professionals.
• Must be able to handle objections and manage issues raised by HCPs. In addition, must have the knowledge and capacity to address questions about the efficacy and safety of Valneva vaccines.
• Responsibilities may require working outside of “normal” business hours in order to meet business demands.
• Willingness to travel nationally and internationally (~60% of time.
• Requires a valid Driver's license.
• Working knowledge of virtual presentation platforms, social media and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) is also required.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills (including ability to network).
• Pharmaceutical business and vaccine market knowledge and experience considered an asset.

Benefits

Salary range - $150,000 - $170,000