Associate Director, Thought Leader Liaison (Nephrology)
Ardelyx, Inc. · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $226,000 / year
- United States
Job highlights
- Engage thought leaders in nephrology.
- Develop and execute KOL strategies.
- Manage speaker bureaus and advisory boards.
- Collaborate with marketing and commercial teams.
- Remote role with significant travel required.
About the role
About Ardelyx
Ardelyx is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on redefining treatment approaches for patients with significant unmet medical needs. By combining scientific innovation with a collaborative, purpose-driven culture, we strive to create meaningful impact for patients.
Team Ardelyx is united by a shared mission and guided by our core values: Passionate, Fearless, Dedicated, and Inclusive.
We foster an inclusive environment where employees are respected, supported, and empowered to make an impact — both within our company and in the lives of patients we serve.
Position Summary
The Associate Director, Thought Leader Liaison role is a field-based position on the marketing team that will focus on thought leader identification, development, and engagement. The position will report to the Senior Director, Professional Strategy & Engagement.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute KOL engagement strategy by identifying, profiling, cultivating and maintaining long-term relationships with KOLs in the field and at key congresses
- Manage speaker’s bureau, congresses, and recommend faculty and advisors for advisory boards
- Assist with thought leader development, including training and coaching of promotional speakers with approved slide decks and materials
- Attend live and virtual HCP programming to observe, coach, and help the speaker where necessary to ensure compliant execution of content
- Conduct business discussions with thought leaders relating to on-label product information, disease state, and general corporate overviews
- Plan and execute strategic key thought leader engagements at local, regional, and national conferences
- Gain and record insights from thought leaders and provide feedback – to enhance and optimize marketing strategies/tactics
- Work with the Marketing team on new content creation and existing content updates, as well as new programing ideas
- Collaborate with Commercial team on large group practice engagement
- Work collaboratively with marketing, sales, medical affairs, and market access on strategic thought leader initiatives
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree and 10+ years’ work experience in healthcare/pharma/biotech
- Experience working in nephrology required
- Experience in a combination of one or more of the following areas: product marketing, field sales, sales leadership and/or thought leader engagement
- Working knowledge of thought leader engagement practices and strong relationship management skills
- Effective verbal and written communication skills
- Self-driven and highly motivated with strong organization and planning skills
- Collaborative with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills
- Proven track record for consistently meeting or exceeding goals and objectives
- Ability to work well in fast-paced entrepreneurial environment with significant autonomy
Work Environment
- Remote-based position with regular travel to engage with thought leaders and with marketing team.
- Ability to travel as required to meet business needs (>50%) including overnight and weekend travel
Compensation and Benefits
The anticipated annualized base pay range for this full-time position is $185,000-$226,000. Ardelyx utilizes industry data to ensure that our compensation is competitive and aligned with our industry peers. Actual base pay will be determined based on a variety of factors, including years of relevant experience, training, qualifications, and internal equity. The compensation package may also include an annual bonus target and equity awards, subject to eligibility and other requirements.
Ardelyx also offers a robust benefits package to employees, including a 401(k) plan with generous employer match, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, up to 12 weeks of living organ and bone marrow leave, equity incentive plans, health plans (medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision), life insurance and disability, flexible time off, annual Winter Holiday shut down, and at least 11 paid holidays.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Ardelyx is an equal opportunity employer.
Key skills/competency
- Thought Leader Engagement
- KOL Management
- Nephrology Expertise
- Biopharmaceutical Marketing
- Relationship Management
- Speaker Bureau Management
- Content Development
- Market Access Collaboration
- Sales Leadership
- Project Management
Skills & topics
- Associate Director
- Thought Leader Liaison
- Nephrology
- KOL Engagement
- Biopharmaceutical Marketing
- Relationship Management
- Speaker Bureau
- Pharma Marketing
- Healthcare
- Field-Based
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your nephrology experience and KOL engagement skills.
- Showcase relationship building: Emphasize your success in cultivating long-term professional relationships.
- Demonstrate strategic thinking: Provide examples of executing successful engagement strategies.
- Prepare for travel: Be ready to discuss your ability to travel extensively.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What specific experience in nephrology is required for the Associate Director, Thought Leader Liaison role at Ardelyx?
- Ardelyx requires direct experience working within the nephrology field for this Associate Director, Thought Leader Liaison position. This ensures a deep understanding of the therapeutic area, its key opinion leaders, and market dynamics.
- How important is prior experience in product marketing or field sales for this role?
- While not strictly mandatory, prior experience in product marketing, field sales, sales leadership, or thought leader engagement is highly valued for the Associate Director, Thought Leader Liaison role. This combined experience provides a strong foundation for developing effective KOL strategies.
- What is the expected travel commitment for the Associate Director, Thought Leader Liaison position?
- This is a remote-based role, but it requires significant travel, exceeding 50% of the time. This travel is essential for engaging with thought leaders in person and attending key congresses and events.
- Can you describe the work environment at Ardelyx for this position?
- The Associate Director, Thought Leader Liaison role operates in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. It offers significant autonomy, requiring self-driven individuals who can manage multiple projects simultaneously and work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
- What are the key responsibilities of the Associate Director, Thought Leader Liaison at Ardelyx?
- Key responsibilities include identifying, profiling, and cultivating relationships with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) in nephrology, managing speaker bureaus and advisory boards, developing thought leader content, and gathering insights to inform marketing strategies.
- What kind of support does Ardelyx offer for professional development in this role?
- Ardelyx supports thought leader development through training and coaching for promotional speakers, providing approved slide decks and materials. The company also encourages collaboration with marketing and commercial teams for programing ideas and content updates.
- How does Ardelyx determine the specific base pay within the stated range for this position?
- Ardelyx determines base pay based on various factors, including years of relevant experience, specific training, qualifications, and internal equity. They aim for competitive compensation aligned with industry peers.