Director of Marketing

To apply, please visit the company website here  

The Director of Marketing will develop and lead the implementation of the brand strategy and global launch plan for vadadustat, Akebia’s lead asset in Phase 3 which has the potential to set a new standard of care for the treatment of anemia related to chronic kidney disease. The position will also oversee new product planning for other products and support clinical development and business development from a commercial standpoint.

This position will collaborate across functions to ensure optimization of the vadadustat program with respect to commerical needs, and will lead the development of the global brand strategy and launch planning and execution. Additionally, this position will be the commerical lead for the alliances with Otsuka and Mitsubishi Tanabe, and will ensure the successful development and implementatoin of the commericialization plans for the US (in collaboration with Otuska) and ex-US (where Otsuka or Mitsubishi Tanabe are responsible for commercialization). This position will have direct report(s).

• Develop vadadustat global brand strategic plan, including brand positioning and points of differentiation; identify and prioritize areas of market opportunity and points of leverage for vadadustat; define critical success factors, core strategies, and marketing tactics
• Partner with US co-promotion partner, Otsuka, on development of the US commercial strategic and tactical plan, including alignment of strategies, resources, and budget; ensure adherence to all contractual obligations
• Partner with ex-US license partners, Otsuka and Mitsubishi Tanabe, to ensure alignment to global brand strategy and support local commercialization needs; ensure adherence to all contractual obligations
• Define pre-launch market development strategy, and eventual launch plans for vadadustat
• Develop brand story, disease education messaging, and eventually core campaign messages and creative concepts
• Support development of market access strategies including payer value proposition, payer evidence needs, and pricing strategy
• Represent commercial for the global program team, joint commercialization committees with alliance partners, and other cross-functional teams as required
• Manage relationships with marketing vendors, agencies, and consultants, including development and adherence to budgets
• Understand and adhere to regulatory, legal, and compliance guidelines
• Understand and translate scientific data into commercial implications for the product plans
• Provide marketing and commercial input to support partnering projects as required
• Manage one or more direct report(s) and oversee commercial workstreams 

• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced business degree/M.B.A. preferred, additional scientific experience/degree a plus
• At least 8 years work experience; minimum of 6 years of successful US pharmaceutical marketing experience, including product launch experience
• Global commercial experience preferred
• Experience in nephrology preferred (but not a requirement)
• Good understanding of R&D and drug-development processes
• Excellent communication and presentation skills to interface with cross-functional partners, alliance partners, and senior management
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong leadership and ability to work and lead cross-functional teams
• Combination of strong strategic thinking with the ability to execute tactical plans
• Ability and desire to work in a fast-paced environment