Medical Affairs Director

Merz Aesthetics is a global company in the field of aesthetic medicine. We are part of the Merz Group with our local headquarters located in Hemel Hempstead, our EMEA headquarters located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany and our global head office is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. 

Since creating one of the first anti-wrinkle moisturising creams in 1953, Merz has been a driver in innovation in the field of aesthetic medicine.

With over 3,000+ employees, we continue to expand our leadership in medical aesthetics through the unique treatment solutions we provide and our global professional training and education platforms. We believe the aesthetic medicine is an integral part of wellness and self-care, and whether a patient’s goal is rejuvenation or prevention, the real outcome of an aesthetic treatment is how they feel.

Merz Aesthetics is committed to advancing medicine in aesthetics, striving to fulfil Merz’ vision: To help people look better, feel better, and live better.

We offer an aesthetic portfolio with a range of treatment options (device and injectables) that allows Healthcare Professionals to use Merz Aesthetics technologies to treat a broad range of patients’ concerns. Our comprehensive product offering ranges from a full line of dermal fillers and skin-tightening and lifting device.

Would you like to become part of our success story and be part of a certified top employer? Then join Merz Aesthetics!

Job Purpose

Lead Medical Affairs as the third strategic pillar of the affiliate, driving scientific leadership, scientific insights, evidence generation and organisational capability building to accelerate affiliate development, strengthen customer trust and enhance Merz's external scientific reputation.

The role acts as a strategic partner to the Country Manager, Commercial Director and Marketing Director, ensuring scientific perspectives shape affiliate strategy and decision making.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership

Accountabilities  

·    Develop the affiliate medical strategy

·    Ensure every brand has an integrated medical plan

·    Contribute to annual business planning

·    Shape future growth opportunities

·    Identify scientific trends and market shifts

·    Act as member of the CLT

Related Performance Indicators

·    Annual Medical Affairs Strategy

·    Brand Medical Plans

·    Medical input into 3-year affiliate strategy

·    Scientific opportunity assessments

2. Medical Insight Generation

Accountabilities 

·    Transform Medical Affairs into the primary source of scientific insights.

·    Establish affiliate insight framework

·    Convert MSL observations into recommendations

·    Monitor competitive scientific activity

·    Track treatment trends

·    Identify emerging opportunities

Related Performance Indicators

Quarterly:

·    Medical Insights Report

·    KOL Sentiment Report

·    Competitive Scientific Review

·    Emerging Trends Dashboard

3. Scientific Leadership & External Influence

Accountabilities  

·    Position Merz as scientific leader in aesthetics.

·    Build scientific relationships with leading KOLs

·    Support faculty development strategy alongside the Professional relationships manager

·    Lead scientific engagement plans

·    Represent Merz at major congresses

·    Identify future scientific advocates

Related Performance Indicators

Success Criteria:

·   Measured by strength of scientific influence, not by number of meetings.

4. Evidence Generation

Accountabilities

·    Develop and execute evidence strategy.

·    Publication planning

·    Advisory boards

·    Real-world evidence initiatives

·    Investigator-led studies

·    Clinical data dissemination

Related Performance Indicators

Annual:

·    Evidence generation roadmap

·    Publication plan

·    Advisory board calendar

5. Capability Building

Accountabilities  

·    Transform the scientific competence of the affiliate.

·    Own the Medical Affairs Academy

·    Build capability across Commercial and Marketing teams and the CLT in the following areas:

Commercial teams:

·    Product science

·    Clinical evidence

·    Objection handling

·    Competitive science

Marketing teams:

·    Data interpretation

·    Scientific storytelling

·    Claims substantiation

·    Literature assessment

CLT:

·    Market trends in medical

·    Scientific innovation

·    Future treatment landscape

Related Performance Indicators

•    Commercial and Marketing teams actively seek Medical input before decisions are made.

6. Organisational Leadership

Accountabilities

·    Lead and develop the Medical team; set direction, coach direct reports, succession planning, develop talent and prioritise resources

·    Model a strategic, development-oriented, collaborative and influential leadership style.

Related Performance Indicators

·    Clear team direction and priorities

·    Collaborative, command-and-control leadership

Key Working Relationships

•    Country Manager and the Country Leadership Team (CLT)

•    Medical Affairs colleagues (incl. Regulatory Affairs, Scientific Advisors, MSLs)

•    Regional and Global functions

•    Marketing, Sales, Quality Assurance, and Finance teams

•    HCPs, KOLs, faculty and other external scientific experts

•    Congress and advisory board stakeholders

Qualifications, Experience & Knowledge Requirements

Essential

·    Advanced scientific degree (PharmD, PhD, MD or equivalent)

·    Final Signatory

·    Significant Medical Affairs experience

·    Aesthetics / Pharma / MedTech experience

·    Experience managing cross-functional projects

·    Experience engaging KOLs

·    Experience leading medical strategy

Strongly Preferred

·    Previous MSL leadership experience

·    Publication strategy experience

·    Evidence generation experience

·    Medical education experience

·    People leadership experience

·    Ideal Future Profile

Knowledge and Skills

Strategic mindset:

•    Able to see 3.5 years ahead, anticipate market shifts, and connect science with business strategy.

Business Acumen:

•    Understands P&L drivers, market access dynamics, brand strategy, and commercial execution

•    Must be able to influence Marketing, Sales, and Finance teams, as well as regional and global functions. Must also be able to influence external experts without formal authority.

HCP Centricity:

•    Must be able to understand HCP needs, training needs, treatment trends, and practice economics

Innovation Mindset:

•    Must be able to challenge conventional thinking, identify new opportunities, develop new engagement models, leverage digital channels, and maintain executive communication.

•    Confident in presenting to the CLT, present to Global, influence senior stakeholders and simplifying complex science

Competency Requirements

Teamworking Champions working together to create a culture of mutual respect; ensures real collaboration and true involvement. Uses strengths and the expertise of others to create and celebrate team success. Passion for Results Demonstrates energy and drive in delivering results. Is proactive in approach and efficient and effective. Focuses on the end goal. Personal Accountability Takes responsibility for self and actions. Takes the initiative and is proactive. Is willing to stand up and be counted and do the right thing. Open and Transparent   Gives and accepts regular honest constructive feedback and speaks the truth. Approaches working with others with positive intent. Brings disagreement out into the open and seeks to define solutions that everyone can endorse. Developing Self and Others Takes responsibility and demonstrates commitment to own development. Uses all situations as potential learning opportunities. Supports and encourages others to develop their knowledge and behaviours. Innovation Challenges thinking to bring about improvements. Seeks to gain understanding of a topic and generate new ideas and new ways of working. Is flexible and agile and delivers different and better solutions. Embraces change, learn from mistakes and takes smart risks