District Manager - Austin, TX
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Summary
The District Manager is a field-based commercial leader responsible for building and leading a high-performing team of Clinical Account Specialists supporting the launch and ongoing growth of Ionis' first wholly owned commercial product as its indication expands beyond Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome to severe hypertriglyceridemia. The role reports to the Regional Executive Director. The District Manager owns district performance and is accountable for the team consistently meeting or exceeding sales goals.
Job description
Position Summary
The District Manager is a field-based commercial leader responsible for building and leading a high-performing team of Clinical Account Specialists supporting the launch and ongoing growth of Ionis' first wholly owned commercial product as its indication expands beyond Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome to severe hypertriglyceridemia. The role reports to the Regional Executive Director. The District Manager owns district performance and is accountable for the team consistently meeting or exceeding sales goals.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the district business plan and achievement of quarterly and annual sales goals
- Translate regional and brand strategy into focused district priorities and account-level actions
- Build a detailed view of the district's patient opportunity, HCP and account universe, referral networks, health systems and care pathways
- Identify performance risks and market barriers early and implement recovery or acceleration plans
- Set clear execution standards for prospecting, target coverage, customer activation, reach, frequency, call quality and follow-up
- Lead the CAS team to expand beyond established relationships and open new accounts
- Create a high-performance operating cadence including business reviews, opportunity assessment, field coaching and action tracking
- Use sales, activity, account and market data to assess district progress and redirect effort
- Require accurate and timely use of company systems and CRM
- Hold individuals accountable for commitments, execution standards and results
- Recruit, select and retain Clinical Account Specialists
- Spend purposeful time in the field observing customer interactions and provide actionable coaching
- Build individual development plans and conduct performance reviews
- Partner with regional leadership, Field Access Managers and other colleagues
- Lead by example and ensure adherence to the Ionis Code of Ethics and Business Conduct
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in life sciences, biology, another relevant scientific discipline, business or a related field
- 12+ years of cross-functional commercial experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, including substantial specialty sales experience
- Demonstrated success leading a field sales team to consistently meet or exceed targets
- Strong command of performance management
- Proven ability to use sales, activity and market data to diagnose performance and adjust execution
- Demonstrated ability to hire, onboard, develop, motivate, retain and objectively evaluate a diverse team
- Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
- Strong understanding of the U.S. healthcare system
- Solid understanding of and adherence to applicable laws, codes and company policies
- Ability to travel as required throughout the district
- Valid U.S. driver's license and driving record in compliance with company standards
Preferred Qualifications
- MBA or another relevant graduate degree
- Experience leading a new product launch, major indication expansion or significant field-force scale-up
- Experience in cardiology, endocrinology, lipid management or another specialty relevant to sHTG
- Experience with injectable products and complex patient access or prescribing pathways
- Experience leading broad HCP activation across specialist and targeted primary care customer segments
- Deep account management experience and local or regional knowledge of health systems and IDNs
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in life sciences, biology, another relevant scientific discipline, business or a related field
- 12+ years of cross-functional commercial experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, including substantial specialty sales experience
- Demonstrated success leading a field sales team to consistently meet or exceed financial, quantitative and qualitative targets
- Evidence of building performance in an evolving high-volume, competitive or rapidly changing market
- Strong command of performance management, including setting expectations, coaching, documenting progress and taking timely action
- Proven ability to use sales, activity and market data to diagnose performance, prioritize opportunity, forecast responsibly and adjust execution
- Demonstrated ability to hire, onboard, develop, motivate, retain and objectively evaluate a diverse team of Clinical Account Specialists
- Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
- Strong understanding of the U.S. healthcare system, including health systems, referral pathways, market access and payer reimbursement considerations
- Solid understanding of and adherence to the laws, codes and company policies applicable to the healthcare industry
- Ability to travel as required throughout the district and attend business meetings and training programs
- Valid U.S. driver's license and driving record in compliance with company standards
Benefits
- Competitive benefits package
Company overview
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a pioneering commercial-stage biotechnology company that specializes in discovering and developing RNA-targeted medicines. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Carlsbad, California, Ionis has established itself as a leader in antisense therapy, RNA interference, and CRISPR therapeutics. The company's innovative approach focuses on modifying RNA to treat a wide range of serious diseases, including neurological disorders, cardiovascular conditions, and rare genetic diseases. Ionis has developed several FDA-approved therapies, including SPINRAZA for spinal muscular atrophy, TRYNGOLZA for familial chylomicronemia syndrome, WAINUA for hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis, and QALSODY for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. With a robust pipeline of over 40 investigational medicines in various stages of development, Ionis maintains strategic collaborations with major pharmaceutical companies like Biogen, AstraZeneca, Novartis, and Roche. The company employs approximately 1,069 professionals and continues to advance its mission of delivering transformative medicines that enable better futures for patients living with serious diseases.