Country Medical Lead

Summary

The Country Medical Lead will be responsible for all Medical Affairs activities in Portugal, supporting both marketed and pipeline products. This includes leadership across medical strategy, clinical development (especially Phase IV), scientific exchange, and cross-functional collaboration. A key member of the Country Leadership Team, the Country Medical Lead will act as the medical counterpart to the Country Manager/GM and serve as the primary liaison between local, regional, and global medical teams.
This role requires strong leadership, scientific acumen, and the ability to operate in a dynamic, cross-functional environment. Approximately 50% of the role involves field-based external engagement.

Job Description

Medical Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement the Country Medical Affairs Plan, aligned with global and regional strategies.
• Drive short- and long-term medical strategy to support product lifecycle, including pre-launch, launch, and post-marketing phases.
• Manage the country medical budget and contribute to business planning activities.
• Represent Medical Affairs on the Country Leadership Team and in cross-functional strategic forums.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop direct report(s) to build strong scientific capabilities.
• Promote a culture of accountability, integrity, scientific excellence, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Identify talent development opportunities and ensure succession planning.

Scientific Engagement & Medical Excellence

• Build and maintain strong peer-to-peer relationships with key opinion leaders (KOLs), clinical investigators, and medical societies.
• Identify and support high-impact medical education initiatives, advisory boards, symposia, and scientific publications.
• Oversee medical input into brand planning and provide scientific guidance to internal stakeholders.
• Drive accurate, fair-balanced medical communication and scientific exchange with both internal and external audiences.

Clinical Research & Evidence Generation

• Provide input into local and regional clinical development strategies.
• Facilitate Phase IV and real-world evidence (RWE) studies, including registries and investigator-initiated studies (IIS).
• Ensure medical guidance on study feasibility, timelines, and alignment with global programs.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure full compliance with internal policies, industry standards, and local regulatory requirements.
• Champion medical governance and uphold ethical conduct in all activities.

Qualifications

• Medical Doctor (M.D.), PhD, PharmD or equivalent advanced scientific qualification.
• Minimum of 15 years of industry experience, including significant leadership in Medical Affairs or related functions.
• Proven track record of people leadership and team development.
• Strong experience in rare diseases and/or biotechnology preferred.
• Deep understanding of the Portuguese regulatory and healthcare landscape.
• Fluent in Portuguese and business proficient in English.
• Ability to navigate complex matrix organizations and lead cross-functional initiatives.
• Strategic thinker with excellent problem-solving, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Comfortable operating with autonomy and agility in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Key Skills and Compentencies

Additional Information 

• Approximately 50% of time will be spent in the field engaging with external stakeholders.
• This role requires a curious, entrepreneurial mindset and a strong commitment to scientific excellence and collaboration.