Medical Science Liaison Respiratory at AstraZeneca

As MSL in SSA Respiratory team, you will be presented with a canvas on which to draw your Picasso of a revolutionized healthcare system that is centered around the patients to ensure the best possible outcomes.

This is a field based role that provides medical and clinical expertise in priority therapeutic areas and builds AZ scientific leadership. The role focuses on the development of professional relationships with Key External Experts (KEEs), building deep scientific understanding of AZ compounds by engaging KEEs in clinical research, ESRs, scientific exchange meetings and advisory board meetings.

In addition, the MSL will input into Brand Strategy and Life Cycle Management (LCM) and implementation of medical activities aligned with brand strategy. Further accountabilities include delivery of medical education and clinical support to Health Care Professionals (HCPs) and training of sales teams.

Typical accountabilities will include:

External Medical & Scientific Engagement

Build, enhance and maintain the engagement with scientific leaders (KEEs)

• 75% of time in field engaging HCPs and external stakeholders across territory and brands.
• Proactively identify HCPs with high levels of scientific expertise in local treatment practice to collaborate on specific medico-marketing activities.
• Develop and implement Key External Expert (KEE) engagement plan in collaboration with TA lead.
• Develop KEE database, provide recommendations for advisory board participation & potential speakers and train speakers as appropriate.
• Develop own scientific knowledge and share emerging data with HCPs, discussing all aspects of the data in a scientific, objective, and balanced way.
• Communicate results of studies completed to HCPs by translating their clinical value and ensure proper incorporation into business strategies.
• Respond to unsolicited requests for information about unapproved AZ products or unapproved uses of approved products by presenting such information in an objective, scientifically balanced, substantiated manner.​

Develop or initiate scientific programs to explore unmet medical needs in priority disease areas 

• Interact in the field with KEEs on clinical trials, ESRs and discuss potential involvement in ESR and RWEs
• Take an active role during the implementation of clinical research activities, selection of investigators and maintain relations with them, coordinated by the TA lead / Medical Manager, within the framework of clinical study plans (Investigator meetings, initiation visits and protocol training)
• Coordinate the submission to journals of clinical research results to be published as posters, abstracts, full text or manuscripts and the review of the results by the global review board.

Medical & Scientific Support for Internal Stakeholders

Establish AstraZeneca as a scientific leader through proactive, updated, and effective medical input

• Provide AZ internal stakeholders with an understanding of the local medical community, clinical practice, trends and real or perceived gaps in current scientific knowledge and medical treatment, competitive intelligence
• Provide medical input for development of brand plans
• Develop and implement the local medical plan to address unmet medical needs and ensure alignment with the brand plan
• Develop and implement pre-launch medical plan & activities for new products at least 2 years prior to the planned launch to address key clinical and scientific challenges
• Provide medical leadership on faculty and content development for medical programmes including national congresses, advisory boards, scientific exchange meetings, publications, CMEs to meet identified needs.
• Supports the Training MSL lead in the Annual training plan, priorities for general group and individual program.
• As the Medical Market Access (MA) Lead to provide MA team with insights from the KEEs, and support for dossier preparation and any other activities that support the Market Access function.

Governance and ensuring overall adherence to processes and regulation [include but not limited to patient safety, clinical trials, promotional activities]

• Ensure compliance with AZ code of conduct, Corporate Governance, Audit requirement, guidelines, codes, policies, and procedures.
• Provide medical input to the creation, development and agreement of promotional material and ensure all material is in line with internal SOPs.
• Ensure confidentiality is maintained (i.e., intellectual property, product, strategy, and salary information).
• Disclose potential breach of codes or conducts.
• Plan actions to be taken regarding drug safety notices and quality issues raised by the local headquarters or AZ global, prepare communication documents and follow up & document related trainings.
• Convey feedback obtained from physicians regarding drug safety to Drug Safety Manager and conduct necessary follow-up.

Development

• Continuously demonstrates development of scientific expertise in disease area(s) and personal skills
• Actively participates in AZ trainings, projects and meetings depending on development needs
• Shows positive engagement and response to coaching and feedback received from line manager
• In daily work takes time to reflect on customer interactions and works on priorities for development as agreed with line manager 
• Develops behaviors and skills leading to enhanced effectiveness as outlined in competency definitions
• Proactively demonstrates the AZ Values

ESSENTIAL SKILLS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED?

Essential:

• Bachelor's Degree in Science.
• Qualified Medical Doctor.
• Medical/Scientific knowledge in the responsible disease area.
• Experience in relationship and stakeholder management.
• Project management experience.

Desirable:

• Understanding of multiple aspects of Medical Affairs.
• Knowledge of the latest technical and regulatory developments.