Reporting to the Senior Director, Field Medical Affairs, the Associate Director, Field Medical Affairs leads the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) organization and is responsible for developing and executing the field medical strategy that supports the scientific, clinical, and business objectives of the Advanced Diagnostics portfolio. This role drives external scientific engagement, evidence generation, and insight gathering while building strategic relationships with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), healthcare stakeholders, and professional societies. The Associate Director serves as a member of the North America leadership team, providing scientific leadership, ensuring operational excellence, and developing a high-performing field medical organization that delivers meaningful impact across the product lifecycle.

The Associate Director, Field Medical Affairs, provides strategic and operational leadership for the MSL team, ensuring effective execution of field medical activities and alignment with Medical Affairs priorities. Working cross-functionally with R&D, Clinical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, Marketing, Market Access, Public Affairs, and Commercial teams, this individual oversees scientific engagement, evidence-generation initiatives, congress strategy, and medical education programs while translating external insights into actionable recommendations that inform portfolio strategy and innovation. The role is accountable for talent development, performance management, field medical excellence, and fostering a culture of scientific integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement across North America and global Medical Affairs organizations.

This is a FIELD role supporting the North America & Canada Regions  

Key Responsibilities:

• Gather, analyze, and communicate scientific and clinical insights from external stakeholders to inform evidence generation, product development, medical strategy, and commercial decision-making.

• Lead portions of the Medical Affairs strategic planning process and drive execution of key medical objectives ensuring alignment with business objectives.

• Directly manage and develop a team of Medical Science Liaisons, establishing performance expectations, coaching plans, capability-building initiatives, and succession strategies.

• Drive collection, analysis, and communication of scientific and clinical insights from external stakeholders to inform evidence generation, product development, medical strategy, and portfolio planning.

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), investigators, academic institutions, healthcare organizations, and professional societies.

• Identify emerging scientific trends, competitive developments, healthcare system needs, evidence gaps, and barriers to adoption to inform organizational priorities.

• Lead development and execution of annual Field Medical plans, operational metrics, key performance indicators, and resource allocation strategies.

• Partner with internal stakeholders to provide scientific leadership and support across all stages of the product lifecycle, from innovation through commercialization.

• Represent the organization at scientific congresses, advisory boards, professional societies, and external scientific forums.

• Lead scientific congress planning and execution, including medical objectives, KOL engagement strategies, intelligence gathering, and internal dissemination of insights.

• Ensure scientific accuracy, compliance, and integrity across Field Medical interactions and activities.

• Serve as a scientific advisor to leadership teams by translating complex scientific information into actionable business recommendations.

• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, talent development, and continuous improvement across the Medical Affairs organization.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Deep scientific and clinical expertise in infectious diseases, microbiology, molecular diagnostics, or related laboratory medicine disciplines.

• Demonstrated leadership experience managing and developing Field Medical or Medical Affairs teams.

• Strong strategic thinking and ability to translate scientific insights into actionable organizational priorities.

• Proven ability to establish and maintain high-impact relationships with external scientific leaders and healthcare stakeholders.

• Advanced understanding of medical affairs principles, scientific exchange, compliance requirements, and evidence-generation strategies.

• Strong business acumen and ability to operate effectively within a highly matrixed global organization.

• Experience utilizing field medical insights to influence strategy, innovation, and portfolio decisions.

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and influencing skills across scientific, clinical, and executive audiences.

• Strong organizational and project leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders.

• Demonstrated commitment to scientific integrity, ethical conduct, and patient-centered decision-making.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of 10+ years of experience in Medical Affairs, Clinical Affairs, Scientific Affairs, diagnostics, life sciences, or healthcare.

• Minimum of 3-5 years of leadership experience, including direct management of Field Medical, MSL, or Medical Affairs professionals.

• Strong experience in microbiology, infectious diseases, molecular diagnostics, or clinical laboratory science required.

• Demonstrated success leading field medical strategy and execution across regional or national geographies.

• Demonstrated business acumen with the ability to connect scientific insights to commercial strategy, market adoption, customer needs, and organizational priorities.

• Proven track record building relationships with KOLs and leading external scientific engagement initiatives.

• Experience overseeing evidence-generation activities, scientific communications, publications, and congress strategy.

• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leadership and contribute to enterprise-level strategic decisions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced scientific degree preferred.

At BD, we prioritize on-site collaboration because we believe it fosters creativity, innovation, and effective problem-solving, which are essential in the fast-paced healthcare industry. For most roles, we require a minimum of 4 days of in-office presence per week to maintain our culture of excellence and ensure smooth operations, while also recognizing the importance of flexibility and work-life balance. Remote or field-based positions will have different workplace arrangements which will be indicated in the job posting.

For certain roles at BD, employment is contingent upon the Company’s receipt of sufficient proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In some locations, testing for COVID-19 may be available and/or required. Consistent with BD’s Workplace Accommodations Policy, requests for accommodation will be considered pursuant to applicable law.

Primary Work LocationUSA MD - Sparks - 7 Loveton Circle

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