The Associate Director/Manager, Field Medical Affairs is a key member of Dendreon’s Medical Affairs leadership team and serves as a player-coach, providing national leadership for the U.S. Medical Science Liaison (MSL) team while maintaining direct field responsibilities across the Western United States (WA, AK, OR, ID, MT, WY, CO, ND, SD, NE, KS, CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM).

This role is responsible for ensuring consistent execution of medical strategy, maintaining scientific and compliance excellence, and fostering cross-functional collaboration with clinical, commercial, and regulatory partners. The position leads initiatives that drive scientific exchange, insight generation, evidence dissemination, and investigator support, contributing to Dendreon’s mission to advance innovative immunotherapies for prostate cancer.

NOTE: This role requires on-site presence at our Seal Beach, CA location minimum 4 days per week.

• Leadership & Strategy
• Lead, coach, and develop the U.S. Medical Science Liaison (MSL) team to ensure consistent execution of medical strategy, compliance with company policies, and excellence in scientific engagement.
• Provide direction on field medical strategy and operational objectives aligned with corporate and departmental goals.
• Serve as a senior member of the Medical Affairs leadership team, contributing to strategic planning, performance tracking, and resource allocation.
• Support development of medical affairs plans, annual goals, and budget forecasts.
• Scientific & Field Responsibilities
• Maintain personal field responsibility for KOL and HCP engagement within the Western U.S. region.
• Establish and strengthen peer-to-peer scientific relationships with thought leaders in oncology, urology, and immuno-oncology.
• Deliver accurate, balanced, and compliant scientific information to external stakeholders.
• Gather, analyze, and communicate field medical insights to inform strategy, evidence generation, and business planning.
• Represent Dendreon Medical Affairs at national and regional medical congresses, advisory boards, and scientific meetings.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner with Clinical Operations to identify investigators, support site qualification, and enhance clinical trial execution.
• Collaborate with Medical Communications, Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance, and Market Access to ensure alignment and compliance.
• Support Investigator-Initiated Trial (IIT) programs, including proposal review and progress tracking.
• Contribute to development of scientific content and internal training materials.
• Compliance & Operational Excellence
• Ensure that all activities are conducted in accordance with company SOPs, regulatory standards, and industry guidelines (PhRMA Code, OIG, FDA, etc.).
• Monitor and report MSL performance metrics and field activity outcomes.
• Drive continuous improvement across medical field operations, leveraging technology, analytics, and process optimization.
• Report monthly team activities using dashboard-based metric system.

Education:

• Advanced scientific or clinical degree required (PharmD, PhD, MD, DO, or equivalent). 

Associate Director Level:

• Minimum 10+ years of related experience in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, or life sciences industry.
• Minimum 5 years of experience as an MSL, including 3+ years in a leadership or mentoring role (team lead, regional director, or equivalent).
• Demonstrated success leading medical teams and executing national field strategies.
• Proven record of scientific credibility and thought leader engagement in oncology, immuno-oncology, or related therapeutic areas.
• Strong strategic thinking, decision-making, and organizational leadership skills.

Manager Level:

• Minimum 5+ years of related experience in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, or life sciences industry.
• Minimum 3 years of experience as an MSL, including 1+ years in an established leadership capacity (team lead, regional MSL manager, or direct people management)
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop medical staff and drive execution of medical strategies.
• Demonstrated proficiency in medical engagement, clinical research support, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Strong communication and analytical skills with a focus on scientific accuracy and compliance.

Preferred Experience

• Prior experience in cellular therapy or immunotherapy (prostate cancer experience preferred).
• Established relationships with oncology or urology Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs).
• Experience supporting Investigator-Initiated Trials (IITs) and clinical development programs.
• Familiarity with eQMS, CRM, and insight management systems.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results in a matrixed environment.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• Ability to travel up to 60% (domestic), including overnight stays and weekends.
• Must be able to attend conferences, scientific meetings, and site visits as required.
• This role operates in a standard office setting using standard office equipment.
• Role requires frequent use of video conferencing, standard office software, and digital collaboration tools.
• Must have the ability to lift 10 – 20 lbs.
• Must have the ability to work in an office environment around laboratories, manufacturing areas and equipment with exposure to blood, blood products or OPIM (other potentially infectious materials) while donning required personal protective materials