Commercial Lead Slovenia & Croatia, Rare Diseases

The Commercial Lead Rare Diseases (CLRD) leads the development and implementation of the strategic and tactical plan for the Rare Disease (RD) business within the local Marketing Company (MC).

The CLRD provides marketing and sales leadership, drives innovation and is directly accountable for the success of the RD business (marketing and sales) within the local MC.

The CLRD is responsible for pro-actively identifying business opportunities, propose innovative solutions to improve end-to-end patient journey, presenting value propositions aligned to stakeholder needs and objectives, and recommending solutions to drive and develop business.

CLRD ensures that all activities are compliant and aligned with Cluster and Global stakeholders.

Key responsibilities:

• Shapes, developes and successfully implements strategic and tactical commercial plans for the Rare Diseases business

• Participates in business and strategy planning including forecasting, market analysis and setting of pricing and reimbursement strategy during planning process, for the respective business
• Works with the BUD and cross-functional team on shaping RD business direction, ensuring the critical success factors for the country are supported
• Leads the creation of innovative and highly effective strategic brand plans
• Ensures that through a deep understanding of the patient journey, the respective brand plans deliver essential short-term growth and long-term brand success
• Works with cross-functional team to develop clear country value propositions for patients and individual healthcare systems/healthcare professionals; and ensures that these are aligned with the Global brand team strategy
• Ensures engaging operational and tactical implementation of the respective brand plans, analysing, anticipating and, where possible, shaping marketplace changes and identifying and maximising new growth opportunities
• Implements a truly cross-functional account planning and customer engagement strategy for the RD business, regularly seeks cross-functional feedback to ensure it is functioning effectively, and explores new and innovative approaches
• Leads all launches within the RD business in line with the respective brand plans and brand operating plans
• Oversees the budget management for the brands within the RD business

Leading Rare Diseases Marketing

• Understands and articulates the patient’s perspective from the moment of diagnosis and throughout their journey
• Analyses market and insights to deliver effective and competitive strategic and tactical marketing plan(s) for the respective brand
• Creates a sustainable, long-term relationships with external stakeholders relevant for RD business

Deliver on plans and achieve sales goals on budget:

• Drives sales performance to meet or exceed expectations while managing investments within approved budget.

• Coordinate appropriate actions externally and internally via a well-defined, detailed account/territory plan.

Being compliant

• Successfully completes all training requirements, including product examinations
• Complies with all external regulations and internal policies
• Ensures compliance with the AZ Code of Ethics, Global External Interactions Policy and Standards and Privacy Policy and Standards, especially when interacting with Patient Groups and Customers/ KOLs

Professional qualifications and experience:

• University education in Medicine, Pharmacy or Science
• Experience in innovative pharma company
• Specialty business experience, including preference in Rare Diseases
• Strong marketing and strategic planning skills, experience of preparing successful launch plans with proven success
• Capability to integrate scientific knowledge with gathered external and internal insights to develop patient-centred brand strategies
• Ability to lead smaller project teams that involve different internal stakeholders
• Proven ability to understand, assimilate and communicate scientific information and to develop lasting relationships with a broad base of key stakeholders in complex clinical environment
• Solid understanding of the local healthcare system pricing and reimbursement
• Ability to provide high quality inputs to Senior Management and to oversee organizational processes and budget

Professional experience:

• Experience in omnichannel/digital marketing
• People leadership experience
• Experience in Sales Management

Personal characteristics:

• Learning agility
• Motivated and driven to achieve result
• Patient oriented
• Collaborative and inclusive
• Accountable
• Resilient

Personal skills:

• Strategic and creative thinking
• Proven leadership skills
• Communication and presentation skills
• Negotiation and argumentation skills
• Teamwork

Other skills:

• Proficiency in English language
• MS Office proficiency
• Driving licence

Date Posted

Closing Date

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.