Director Bipolar Launch Lead (HCP)Function: Neuroscience Commercial
Reports To: Executive Director, HCP Marketing Strategy Lead
Location: Princeton, NJ (Hybrid)
Position SummaryThe
Director, Bipolar Launch Lead (HCP) will serve as the primary commercial brand point for COBENFY's entry into the bipolar disorder market in the US, preparing the organization for launch, building the executional and tactical framework across the marketing team, and establishing the commercial and medical foundations for a best-in-class US label expansion.
A foundational responsibility is leading the Global-to-Local transition for bipolar: translating Worldwide strategic outputs into a US plan attuned to the market, payer landscape, HCP & SMI ecosystem, and patient journey.
Beyond launch, this leader will partner with the cross-functional matrix and Market Development to shape bipolar market strategy pre- through post-launch, challenging the status quo for providers and patients with Bipolar I disorder - including leveraging COBENFY's schizophrenia presence to accelerate adoption and inform broader cross-indication synergies.
This leader will serve as a key strategic partner within the Brand Leadership Team (BLT), collaborating across Medical Affairs, Market Access, Market Development, Insights & Analytics, Customer Experience, Consumer/HCP Marketing, and Launch Excellence. This is a high-visibility, high-velocity role for someone energized by complexity, comfortable building from the ground up, and confident making consequential decisions in a fast-moving launch context.
Key Responsibilities:Global-to-Local Strategy Translation- Translate completed Worldwide strategic outputs into a differentiated, insight-driven US brand plan & go-to-market plan that reflects the nuances of the US market, payer landscape, HCP ecosystem, and patient journey
- Serve as the US commercial owner of the Global-to-Local transition, representing the US market perspective in global brand forums and cross-regional governance
- Surface U.S. market insights and in-market learnings to Global colleagues to inform ongoing brand strategy and life-cycle management decisions
US Bipolar Brand Strategy- Build and refine the US bipolar HCP commercial strategy, including brand positioning, HCP segmentation, messaging platform, creative development and strategic launch blueprint
- Diagnose launch inhibitors and accelerators within the U.S. bipolar market, translating findings into sequenced initiatives and resource recommendations
- Ensure the brand strategy is grounded in insight, clinically differentiated, and built to guide world-class launch execution
- Ensure all strategies, plans and tactics are aligned with legal and compliance requirements
Market Development & Cross-Indication Synergy- Partner with the Market Development team to embed bipolar strategic thinking into ongoing market shaping efforts, challenging the status quo for providers and patients with Bipolar I disorder, and ensuring alignment between pre-launch brand building and the broader launch strategy
- Identify and communicate commercial synergies across COBENFY's schizophrenia and Bipolar I indications, leveraging established brand presence to inform and accelerate Bipolar I adoption
Brand Leadership Team - Marketing Lead- Serve as a key strategic partner across Medical Affairs, Market Access, Insights & Analytics, Market Development, Customer Experience, and Consumer/HCP Marketing to ensure the bipolar strategy is fully integrated into the broader Neuroscience commercial plans
- Support development of U.S. brand plans across commercial, medical, MAx; contribute in the build of senior leadership business reviews and help define key performance metrics
- Partner with Marketing Excellence to ensure launch frameworks and plans are reviewed, refined, and adapted for BMS fit ahead of execution
Qualifications- BA/BS required; MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred
- 8+ years of pharmaceutical or biotechnology commercial experience, with significant psychiatry therapeutic area exposure
- At least one full product launch cycle with demonstrated accountability for HCP brand strategy, including pre-launch planning and in-market execution
- Proven experience developing brand positioning, HCP segmentation, and promotional strategy in a complex specialty or CNS environment
- Demonstrated ability to lead large diverse teams, influencing and aligning cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority in a matrixed organization
- Strong analytical and strategic planning skills with the ability to synthesize complex data into clear, actionable strategic direction
- Demonstrated comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-moving environments where strategy and execution must advance simultaneously
- Track record of building from the ground up, with the range to move between high-level strategic thinking and hands-on execution as the business demands
BMS Leadership Behaviors ExpectedExecute with UrgencyLaunch windows are time limited. Strategic foundations built today directly determine launch outcomes tomorrow
Innovate RelentlesslyBring fresh commercial thinking to a new indication, leveraging schizophrenia learnings while building for bipolar I relevance
Win with IntegrityNavigate a competitive, regulated environment with full scientific and promotional compliance
Include Diverse PerspectivesOrchestrate across worldwide and US teams, multiple indications, and diverse commercial functions with equal credibility
Passion for PatientsAnchor every strategic decision in the Bipolar patient's ability to access, initiate, and stay on appropriate therapy
Compensation Overview:Princeton - NJ - US: $198,130 - $240,083
The starting compensation range(s) for this role are listed above for a full-time employee (FTE) basis. Additional incentive cash and stock opportunities (based on eligibility) may be available. The starting pay rate takes into account characteristics of the job, such as required skills, where the job is performed, the employee's work schedule, job-related knowledge, and experience. Final, individual compensation will be decided based on demonstrated experience.
Eligibility for specific benefits listed on our careers site may vary based on the job and location. For more on benefits, please visit https://careers.bms.com/life-at-bms/.
Benefit offerings are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans in effect at the time and may require enrollment. Our benefits include:
- Health Coverage: Medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care.
- Wellbeing Support: Programs such as BMS Well-Being Account, BMS Living Life Better, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).
- Financial Well-being and Protection: 401(k) plan, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accident insurance, supplemental health insurance, business travel protection, personal liability protection, identity theft benefit, legal support, and survivor support.
Work-life benefits include:Paid Time Off
- US Exempt Employees: flexible time off (unlimited, with manager approval, 11 paid national holidays (not applicable to employees in Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico or Rayzebio employees)
- Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico and Rayzebio Exempt, Non-Exempt, Hourly Employees: 160 hours annual paid vacation for new hires with manager approval, 11 national holidays, and 3 optional holidays
Based on eligibility*, additional time off for employees may include unlimited paid sick time, up to 2 paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military needs and an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas and New Years Day.
All global employees full and part-time who are actively employed at and paid directly by BMS at the end of the calendar year are eligible to take advantage of the Global Shutdown.
*Eligibility Disclosure: The summer hours program is for United States (U.S.) office-based employees due to the unique nature of their work. Summer hours are generally not available for field sales and manufacturing operations and may also be limited for the capability centers. Employees in remote-by-design or lab-based roles may be eligible for summer hours, depending on the nature of their work, and should discuss eligibility with their manager. Employees covered under a collective bargaining agreement should consult that document to determine if they are eligible. Contractors, leased workers and other service providers are not eligible to participate in the program.
On-site ProtocolBMS has an occupancy structure that determines where an employee is required to conduct their work. This structure includes site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design jobs. The occupancy type that you are assigned is determined by the nature and responsibilities of your role:
Site-essential roles require 100% of shifts onsite at your assigned facility. Site-by-design roles may be eligible for a hybrid work model with at least 50% onsite at your assigned facility. For these roles, onsite presence is considered an essential job function and is critical to collaboration, innovation, productivity, and a positive Company culture. For field-based and remote-by-design roles the ability to physically travel to visit customers, patients or business partners and to attend meetings on behalf of BMS as directed is an essential job function.