Executive Director, Global Medical Affairs
Eli Lilly and Company
Summary
Centessa Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, is a clinical-stage company developing orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonists as a new class of medicines for the treatment of narcolepsy and potentially other sleep-wake disorders. Centessa's lead investigational candidate, cleminorexton (formerly ORX750), is being developed for narcolepsy type 1, narcolepsy type 2, and idiopathic hypersomnia.
Job description
Description of Role
The Executive Director, Global Medical Affairs, will serve as the Global Medical Affairs Lead for Centessa's lead orexin receptor 2 agonist program. This strategic leadership role is responsible for developing and executing the global medical strategy across the product lifecycle, with a primary focus on launch readiness, scientific leadership, evidence generation, external engagement, and cross-functional partnership. The individual will serve as the medical voice of the asset, ensuring that scientific evidence, stakeholder insights, and patient needs are incorporated into key business decisions. This role reports to the Head of Medical Affairs and will partner closely with senior leadership across the organization.
Key Responsibilities
Global Medical Strategy & Leadership
- Lead the global medical affairs strategy and tactical execution plan for cleminorexton
- Serve as the Global Medical Affairs Lead and core member of the cross-functional asset team
- Ensure alignment of medical strategy with corporate objectives, clinical development milestones, and commercialization plans
- Establish long-range medical affairs planning to support regulatory approvals, launch readiness, and lifecycle management
- Identify emerging scientific opportunities, evidence gaps, and stakeholder needs to inform future development
Global Launch Excellence
- Lead medical launch preparedness activities across major global markets
- Partner with commercial, market access, HEOR, regulatory affairs, and regional medical teams to develop integrated launch strategies
- Collaborate with medical affairs colleagues to ensure deliverables are aligned with strategy and launch timelines, including scientific platforms, training content, medical information resources, publications, congress activities, and insights generation
- Support pre-launch and launch planning activities, including collaborating with HEOR and market access for global payer engagement strategies and value communication
External Scientific Engagement
- Build and maintain relationships with global key opinion leaders, investigators, professional societies, and patient advocacy organizations
- Lead scientific advisory boards, expert consultations, and other insight-gathering initiatives
- Represent Centessa at major scientific congresses and industry meetings
- Serve as a credible scientific ambassador and subject matter expert for orexin biology and sleep-wake disorders
Cross-Functional Partnership
- Act as a strategic partner to commercial, market access, HEOR, regulatory, clinical development, patient advocacy, and corporate affairs
- Contribute medical expertise to brand strategy, payer engagement, disease-state education, and scientific communication initiatives
- Strategic partner for development of scientific platforms, publication strategies, educational programs, and medical training
- Provide medical review and guidance for externally facing scientific materials in compliance with applicable regulations and company policies
Qualifications
- Advanced scientific or clinical degree (MD, PharmD, or PhD)
- Minimum 10 years of Medical Affairs leadership experience with 5 years global experience preferred
- Experience in neuroscience, sleep medicine, neurology, psychiatry, or rare disease
- Demonstrated experience leading at least one successful global product launch (North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific markets highly preferred)
- Experience serving as a global medical lead for late-stage development or commercial products
- Strong understanding of global medical affairs, evidence generation, payer evidence requirements, and commercialization readiness
- Proven ability to drive strategy in a matrix environment
- Proven track record of collaborating closely with commercial, market access, HEOR, regulatory affairs, and clinical development organizations
- Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills
Work Location
The Executive Director, Global Medical Affairs role is remote, based in the US, with occasional travel (20%).
Requirements
- Advanced scientific or clinical degree (MD, PharmD, or PhD)
- Minimum 10 years of Medical Affairs leadership experience
- 5 years global experience preferred
- Experience in neuroscience, sleep medicine, neurology, psychiatry, or rare disease
- Demonstrated experience leading at least one successful global product launch
- Experience serving as a global medical lead for late-stage development or commercial products
- Strong understanding of global medical affairs, evidence generation, payer evidence requirements, and commercialization readiness
- Proven ability to drive strategy in a matrix environment
- Proven track record of collaborating closely with commercial, market access, HEOR, regulatory affairs, and clinical development organizations
- Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills
Benefits
- 401(k) Matching
- Pension
- Vacation Benefits
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Prescription Drug Benefits
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Life Insurance
- Death Benefits
- Employee Assistance Program
- Fitness Benefits
- Employee Clubs & Activities
- Company Bonus
Company overview
Eli Lilly and Company, commonly known as Lilly, is a leading American multinational pharmaceutical corporation headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1876 by Colonel Eli Lilly, the company has grown into one of the world's most valuable pharmaceutical enterprises, with operations in approximately 125 countries. Lilly specializes in developing and manufacturing innovative medicines across multiple therapeutic areas, including diabetes, oncology, neuroscience, immunology, and cardiometabolic diseases. The company is renowned for its groundbreaking work in insulin production, having been the first to mass-produce insulin and later developing the first commercially available insulin product in the U.S. Lilly's current portfolio includes blockbuster medications such as Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide) for diabetes and obesity, Trulicity (dulaglutide) for type 2 diabetes, Verzenio (abemaciclib) for breast cancer, and Taltz (ixekizumab) for autoimmune conditions. With approximately 47,000 employees worldwide, Lilly maintains a strong commitment to research and development, investing heavily in scientific innovation to address some of the world's most significant health challenges. The company operates with a mission to make life better for people around the world through the discovery and delivery of innovative medicines.