ABBVIE Looking for Medical Science Liaison – Immunology 12 Month Contract at Auckland City, Auckland Full Time

Job Title: Medical Science Liaison – Immunology

Division: Medical

Reports to: Head of Medical Affairs – NZ

PRIMARY FUNCTION

The MSL role serves to advance science and standards of care for patients through their engagement with healthcare professionals and other stakeholders within the healthcare system. Through scientific engagement, MSLs provide credible, practical, and clinically relevant information and solutions to enable both the effective and safe use of AbbVie products. Collectively, as members of GMA, they work to make a remarkable impact on patient care around the world.

As a field-based function, the MSL role focuses on quality medical and scientific engagement with AbbVie stakeholders and thought leaders, including those in research, healthcare practitioners, payers, and providers. They work to communicate information and facilitate dialogue about AbbVie’s marketed products, and compounds in development, in a strictly scientific, non-promotional manner, and in full compliance with applicable national laws and regulations, guidelines, codes of conduct, AbbVie’s policies and procedures and accepted standards of best practice.

MSLs may also participate in the initiation, oversight and follow-up of clinical studies and medical projects initiated within the Medical Department, ensuring that activities are carried out in accordance with relevant processes and procedures.

To aid and inform others within the business, MSLs also interface with other key members of the affiliate medical department – Medical Managers, Clinical Operations Managers, Medical Information associates and other functions as appropriate and relevant to the therapeutic area for which the MSLs has responsibility. They work collaboratively and cross-functionally with other in-field members while retaining functional independence. They maintain a high level of scientific knowledge to ensure credible dissemination of scientific information and informed scientific dialogue with thought leaders and healthcare providers.

RESPONSIBILITIES

ACCOUNTABILITY & SCOPE

• Engage with identified external thought leaders using information that has been reviewed and approved by relevant local procedures, and under the direction, governance and oversight of the MSL’s manager, therapeutic area Medical Manager, or Affiliate Medical Director as appropriate. This includes working with local Medical Information teams, as appropriate, to respond to unsolicited requests for off-label information on AbbVie medicines.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with thought leaders in the product / therapeutic area of assigned responsibility, to facilitate AbbVie research and educational priorities and strategic initiatives.
• Support and develop their scientific communications plan, aligned with global and agreed local scientific priorities.
• Communication of scientific and technical insights to local therapeutic team, and if applicable the AbbVie Brand teams
• Ensure adherence to all applicable national laws and regulations, guidelines, codes of conduct, AbbVie standards, policies and procedures.

INTERNAL / EXTERNAL CONTACTS AND INTERACTIONS

• Affiliate medical personnel: Clinical Operations Manager; Clinical Research Associates, Medical Managers; Medical Information team; affiliate pharmacovigilance / drug safety personnel; Therapeutic Area Specialists; compassionate access coordinators
• Marketing and Sales personnel of assigned product and therapeutic area; Affiliate Brand teams; Customer Excellence
• Affiliate teams: Communications and Patients Relations; Affiliate Public Affairs; Regulatory Affairs; Market access; Legal; OEC.
• Project/Medical Directors and Clinical Teams within Clinical Development and Global Medical Affairs.
• Regionally and HQ based Therapeutic Area medical affairs teams.
• Global Medical Information, Library Information Resources.
• Healthcare personnel
• Participating Research Investigators; thought leaders/external experts.
• Institutions and Scientific or Medical Societies.
• Hospitals, other healthcare providers, payers and local Regulatory Authorities.

AUTHORITY AND REPORTING LINES

This position typically reports into the Head of Medical Affairs – NZ.

LOCATION

This function is field based. Up to 80% of the time will be spent as field based, with the remainder working in one of the affiliate offices. This is subject to local needs, and the discretion of the affiliate medical director.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Advanced degree (e.g. PharmD, MD, PhD) in a relevant scientific discipline is preferred but candidates with an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline and demonstrated experience will be considered.
• Experience in developing and maintaining expert knowledge for the assigned therapeutic area, and in medical research in general.
• Solid knowledge of the pharmaceutical environment and the role of Medical Affairs to advance the medical and scientific objectives of a pharmaceutical company.
• Demonstrated expertise in the scientific methods applied to clinical research and current legislative/regulatory controls applicable to this research.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to comprehensively learn about new subject areas and environments.
• Excellent written and spoken communication and presentation skills, with a demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with thought leaders, physicians, and other healthcare decision makers.
• A good understanding of written and oral English is desirable.
• High customer orientation.
• Strong commitment to compliance with the relevant rules and procedures, and to scientific quality and integrity