Medical Excellence & Innovation Lead, Global Rare Diseases

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Medical Excellence & Innovation Lead, Global Rare Diseases

Date: Oct 6, 2026

Department: GRD Global Medical Affairs

Job Type: Direct Employee

Business Area: Mktg, Market Access, Bus. Excellence & Med. Affair

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: United States, US

About Us

Based in Parma, Italy, Chiesi is an international research-focused biopharmaceutical group with 90 years’ experience, operating in 31 countries. More than 8,000 employees across the group are united by a singular purpose: promoting a healthier world for our people, patients, and the planet. This is what drives us as we research, develop, and market innovative drugs across our main therapeutic areas. Discover more here.

At Chiesi we are thinking generations ahead, driving sustainable innovation with purpose. This fosters a culture of reliability, transparency, and ethical behaviour at every level. As a Benefit Corporation and a certified B Corp, we have embedded sustainability in our bylaws and continuously measure our impact.

Diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity are at the heart of who we are. We believe our differences make us stronger. We are a vibrant ecosystem of passionate, talented individuals united by strong values, each bringing unique perspectives that help us to continuously challenge the status quo for the better.

Chiesi Global Rare Diseases

Chiesi Global Rare Diseases is a Chiesi Group’s business unit established in February 2020 and focused on research, development and commercialization of treatments and patient support services for rare and ultra-rare disorders, many of whom have limited or no treatments available.

This unit is based in Boston, Massachusetts, with a strong synergy with the headquarters in Parma.

Rare unit has a focus on research and product development for lysosomal storage diseases, rare hematology, ophthalmology disorders and rare immunodeficiencies. The unit is also a dedicated partner with global leaders in scientific research, patient advocacy and care. Discover more here.

Who we are looking for

This is what you will do

We are seeking an experienced Medical Affairs professional to join the Global Rare Diseases (GRD) Medical Strategic Operations team as the dedicated strategic operations partner to the US / North America Medical Head and US Medical organization.

In this role, you will help translate medical strategy into disciplined execution, strengthen field medical effectiveness, and connect regional priorities with the broader Global Medical Affairs vision. Serving as a trusted advisor to medical leadership, you will drive strategic planning, operational excellence, performance management, and cross-functional alignment to ensure the successful delivery of medical objectives.

Operating at the intersection of strategy, analytics, field excellence, and organizational effectiveness, you will establish governance and operating rhythms, lead high-priority initiatives, enable data-informed decision making, and foster collaboration across Medical Affairs and key business functions. You will also support medical planning, advisory boards, congresses, stakeholder engagement, budget oversight, and capability development to maximize the impact of Medical Directors, Field Medical Leaders, and MSLs across the region.

You’ll be responsible for:

US Medical Strategy and Execution

• Partner with the US / North America Medical Head to translate global and regional priorities into an integrated US Medical strategy, execution roadmap, and measurable outcomes.
• Lead and optimize annual planning and launch readiness processes, ensuring alignment on objectives, priorities, timelines, dependencies, and success metrics.
• Coordinate key Medical Affairs activities including advisory boards, congresses, stakeholder engagement, medical education initiatives, and other strategic portfolio priorities.
• Provide program leadership for cross-functional initiatives spanning Medical Strategy, Field Medical, RWE, Scientific Communications, Medical Information, Clinical Development, Patient Advocacy, Market Access, and other key functions.
• Monitor execution progress, proactively identify risks or dependencies, and drive timely resolution to maintain strategic momentum.

Field Medical Excellence and Insights

• Partner with Field Medical leadership to strengthen strategic planning, insight generation, territory reviews, and execution against medical priorities.
• Establish scalable processes that connect field activities and stakeholder insights to regional and global strategy.
• Facilitate field leadership meetings, workshops, offsites, and strategic planning sessions, ensuring clear outcomes, accountability, and follow-through.
• Identify capability gaps and coordinate targeted development, onboarding, and best-practice sharing across the field organization.
• Enable effective two-way communication that accelerates the translation of field insights into strategy and strategic priorities into field action.

Governance, Cross-Functional Alignment, and Operational Excellence

• Establish and maintain effective governance, operating rhythms, and performance reviews across the US Medical organization.
• Clarify decision rights, ownership, and ways of working across Global, Regional, and Field Medical teams to improve efficiency and execution.
• Facilitate cross-functional alignment and represent Medical Strategic Operations in key medical and business forums.
• Anticipate execution risks, identify barriers, and provide actionable recommendations to leadership.
• Drive continuous improvement of Medical Affairs processes while ensuring compliance with company policies and applicable regulatory requirements.

Performance, Analytics, and Innovation

• Partner with the Medical Strategic Operations Systems and Process Lead to develop and maintain meaningful KPIs, dashboards, and reporting that measure execution, effectiveness, and medical impact.
• Translate data, field insights, and business context into actionable recommendations for senior Medical Affairs leadership.
• Identify and implement innovative approaches, including AI-enabled solutions, that enhance planning, insight generation, decision making, and organizational effectiveness.
• Manage external partners supporting analytics, capability development, advisory boards, meetings, and other strategic initiatives.

Financial and Resource Management

• Partner with Medical leadership, Strategic Operations, and Finance to develop and manage the US Medical budget and resource plan.
• Monitor forecasts, commitments, accruals, and spend to support proactive resource allocation and investment decisions.
• Ensure alignment between budgets, timelines, deliverables, and strategic priorities.
• Oversee vendor selection, contracting, scope development, and performance management in accordance with company policies and compliance standards.

You will need to have

• Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Healthcare, Business, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in Medical Affairs, Medical Operations, Field Medical Excellence, Strategy, Program Management, or related pharmaceutical/biotechnology roles.
• Demonstrated success supporting Medical Affairs strategy and execution in partnership with field-based medical teams.
• Strong program and project leadership capabilities, with experience translating strategy into execution and measurable business outcomes.
• Experience leading medical planning, congress activities, advisory boards, stakeholder engagement, budget management, and launch readiness initiatives.
• Strong understanding of Medical Affairs governance and compliance requirements within a regulated healthcare environment.
• Exceptional facilitation, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across a matrix organization.
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, manage competing priorities, and navigate ambiguity with a high degree of accountability.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as business needs require.

We would prefer for you to have

• Advanced scientific or business degree.
• Experience in rare diseases, specialty pharmaceuticals, or high-growth organizations.
• Experience serving as a strategic operations partner to a Medical Head or senior Medical Affairs leadership team.
• Experience supporting launch planning, integrated evidence generation planning, or cross-functional asset teams.
• Experience developing Medical Affairs KPIs, performance dashboards, field insight frameworks, or field effectiveness approaches.
• Experience leading organizational change, capability-building initiatives, and new ways of working across matrixed organizations.
• Experience managing agencies, consultants, and other external partners.

Location

USA (Remote), with travel to Chiesi offices, field meetings, congresses, and other business locations as required. #LI-Remote

Compensation

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $143,000 to $180,000. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. If hired, the employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

What we offer

No matter where your path starts at Chiesi, it leads to inspiring possibilities. Your future is our focus, and we are committed to nurturing your development in our dynamic, friendly environment with access to resources and training every step of the way.

We provide top-class benefits, including comprehensive healthcare programs, work-life balance initiatives, and robust relocation support. Our salary package is competitive, comprising a basic salary, performance bonuses, and benefits benchmarked against the external market. Additionally, we offer flexible working arrangements, remote work options, and tax assistance services for foreign colleagues, all designed to help you thrive.

Chiesi USA is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse work force at all levels of our business. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other basis protected by local, state or federal law. This policy applies with regard to all aspects of one’s employment, including hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, eligibility for benefits and termination.