Head of US Marketing, Neuropsychiatry Franchise

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Job description

Job Description

Reporting to the Head of Neuropsychiatry Franchise, the Head of US Marketing will lead the Biogen U.S. Zuranolone marketing team in the development and execution of overall U.S. brand strategies/plans to launch and commercialize Zuranolone for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and potentially, Post-partum Depression (PPD). Biogen and Sage entered into an agreement to jointly develop and commercialize Zuranolone.

Major depressive disorder affects approximately 17 million people in the U.S. alone, and is a common co-morbidity of multiple neurological disorders in Biogen's core therapeutic areas. In Jun 2021, the WATERFALL Study in patients with MDD met its primary endpoint with Zuranolone showing statistically significant improvement in depressive symptoms compared with placebo. There is a tremendous unmet medical need in depression, and we are optimistic about the potential for Zuranolone to help transform the treatment of depression and address the stigma often associated with chronic use of antidepressants.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• BRAND/LAUNCH STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT: Oversee the development of strategic U.S. brand plans for Zuranolone and guide the launch strategy and execution in close collaboration with Sage and other key functional partners (i.e. Program Team, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Market Research, R&D, Finance and Legal). Serve as U.S. brand lead, designing creative campaigns, message development and ensuring consistent messaging throughout the field and alignment within the broader organization. Contribute as a thought leader on cross-functional Neuro-Psych strategy projects which require input from and have implications for functions outside of commercial. Understand access, pricing and reimbursement dynamics to identify obstacles and develop strategies and recommendations to address market challenges.
• EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP: Build and lead a best-in-class marketing team (6-8 direct reports) and inspire them to achieve superior performance. Set goal-based priorities for the team and each individual team member to ensure alignment with the broader marketing organization. Form strong and collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders which ensure organization alignment and success in brand strategy and messaging, competitive positioning, market awareness and sales execution. Support and enable the organization by providing expertise and partnering with peers and other senior business leaders to develop and implement solutions to challenging business issues. Develop and implement change management initiatives which facilitate/enable organizational growth and transformation and effect continuous improvement. Establish credibility throughout the organization and position self as an effective problem solver and driver of business growth and an exceptional leader of people.
• MARKETING EXECUTION: Develop brand goals and forecasts and measure results. Partner with Finance to understand performance dynamics and to evaluate business opportunities. Develop, track and assess key brand performance metrics. Ensure launch readiness for Zuranolone in the United States. Ensure marketing programs and campaigns are executed effectively and efficiently and within budget. Develop programs and tools for optimal sales force effectiveness. Conduct in-depth competitive assessments in partnership with Business Intelligence team as necessary to provide insightful, actionable information regarding relevant business opportunities. Ensure strong ROI on all investments. Ensure that all marketing communications support plan objectives and are an effective expenditure of resources. Prepare presentations regarding current and future strategies.
• RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with thought leaders, key customers, distributors, vendors, consultants and professional organizations which advance Biogen's business. Manage relationship with advertising agency and other key vendors and ensure expected deliverables are met. Interface with Medical Affairs to ensure seamless thought leader utilization and planning. Work closely with global marketing to ensure integration of global strategy and US strategy. Demonstrate thought leadership with global cross-functional partners and the Program Development Team. Navigate senior levels of the organization and cultivate relationships to secure resources and commitment for key functional initiatives. Recognize the need for cross-functional initiatives and partner with and hold accountable all functions that contribute to brand results.
  Qualifications
  
  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related field required; MBA preferred.
  • 20+ years of broad Commercial experience with 8-10 years of Marketing experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry or equivalent. Proven track record of career progression and success.
  • Experience within Depression preferred; experience in Neuro-Psych and/or specialty markets strongly preferred.
  • Experience in working with an alliance partner preferred
  • Broad Commercial leader who thinks strategically and drives execution/results; experience in sales and other areas within Commercial highly desired (i.e. market access, market insights, patient services, sales management, etc.).
  • Demonstrated track record of leading strong teams to achieve exceptional results; ability to manage, motivate and lead others, individually and as a team.
  • Previous product launch experience required.
  • Preference for experience in both large and small company environments.
  • Proven experience in the development and execution of marketing strategies which achieve/exceed business objectives.
  • Experience in driving brand results in a highly-competitive marketplace strongly preferred.
  • Ability to identify priorities, align strategic and tactical plans and motivate a team of both direct reports and cross-functional partners.
  • Global experience preferred but not required.
  • Large P&L experience in excess of $1 Billion and experience working on brands generating large revenues.
  • Strong leadership, planning and organization, analytics, decision making and problem-solving skills.
  • Demonstrated success in cross-functional leadership and influencing skills.
  • Excellent communication/coordination/interpersonal skills including the ability to effectively write and deliver presentations to senior management, the broader Biogen population/colleagues and customer base.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and "roll-up your sleeves" culture. A self-starter who functions well both independently and within a team.
  • Proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities and to meet deadlines.
  • Strong project and vendor management track record, including resource allocation and fiscal management.
  • Demonstrated ability to work with multiple internal cross-functional teams and successfully manage multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Strong scientific/medical aptitude, ability to communicate complex scientific/medical concepts in a simple and understandable manner.
    
  Additional Information
  
  Reporting to the Head of Neuropsychiatry Franchise, the Head of US Marketing will lead the Biogen U.S. Zuranolone marketing team in the development and execution of overall U.S. brand strategies/plans to launch and commercialize Zuranolone for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and potentially, Post-partum Depression (PPD). Biogen and Sage entered into an agreement to jointly develop and commercialize Zuranolone.
  
  All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.