DescriptionPosition Summary:
The Director, Marketing will lead the development and execution of Satsuma Pharmaceuticals' U.S. marketing strategy for its portfolio of innovative therapies for the acute treatment of migraine. This individual will be responsible for developing brand strategy and implementing integrated marketing initiatives that drive awareness, engagement, adoption, and sustained utilization across key customer audiences. The Director will play a critical role in commercial launch readiness and lifecycle brand management, partnering closely with Sales, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Commercial Operations, Regulatory, Legal, and Corporate Communications to ensure a coordinated customer experience across channels. The ideal candidate is an experienced pharmaceutical marketer with a proven track record of developing brand strategy, leading integrated and omnichannel marketing initiatives, and supporting successful product launches. The successful candidate participates with senior management to establish strategic plans and objectives for the marketing function, effectively cascading functional strategy and contributing to development of organizational policies, with a master-level understanding of the function and how it fits within the company and competitive environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the development and execution of U.S. marketing strategy, including annual brand planning, tactical execution, and lifecycle management.
- Translate business segment strategy into functional marketing plans and guide execution, participating in corporate development of methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for programs and people.
- Develop integrated marketing campaigns that effectively communicate the product's clinical profile, value proposition, and differentiation across customer audiences and channels.
- Drive commercial launch planning and execution, ensuring marketing initiatives support brand objectives, sales readiness, and customer engagement.
- Partner with Sales Leadership to develop promotional tools, sales force resources, training materials, and customer engagement programs that optimize field effectiveness.
- Lead development of core brand messaging, promotional campaigns, visual identity, and customer-facing materials consistent with regulatory requirements and brand strategy.
- Develop and execute omnichannel marketing initiatives across digital, non-personal, personal, and other customer engagement channels.
- Collaborate with Medical Affairs to ensure scientific alignment across promotional and educational initiatives while maintaining compliance with applicable regulations.
- Partner with Market Access to incorporate payer insights, access considerations, and value messaging into overall marketing strategy.
- Collaborate with Market Research, Commercial Analytics, and Business Intelligence to generate actionable customer insights, evaluate marketing performance, and optimize investments.
- Monitor competitive dynamics, market trends, treatment guidelines, and customer feedback to identify opportunities and inform strategic planning.
- Contribute to development of strategies for the marketing function or multiple departments, exercising judgment on complex issues where problems are not clearly defined and fundamental principles may not fully apply.
- Lead congress and event strategy, including promotional activities, exhibit planning, customer engagement initiatives, and coordination with Medical Affairs.
- Develop relationships with key external stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, key opinion leaders, investigators, and professional organizations and patient support groups to support education and brand visibility.
- Hire, develop and manage marketing team in support of AtzumiTM. Direct the activities of the marketing function through lower management, accountable for actions that impact departmental budgets.
- Manage external agencies, media partners, creative vendors, and consultants to ensure high-quality execution, budget stewardship, and timely delivery of marketing programs.
- Ensure all promotional materials and marketing activities comply with FDA regulations, OPDP guidance, industry codes, and internal review processes.
- Manage marketing budgets, forecast program investments, and evaluate return on investment to maximize commercial impact.
- Proactively identify, assume, and execute additional responsibilities, initiatives, and special projects as business needs evolve.
Minimum Requirements Education/Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Life Sciences, or a related field required.
- Demonstrated mastery of the marketing function and how it fits within the overall company and competitive environment, with the ability to make final decisions on implementation and ensure operational effectiveness.
- MBA or other advanced degree preferred.
- 10+ years of pharmaceutical or biotechnology commercial experience, including significant responsibility for marketing and brand strategy.
- Demonstrated success developing and executing marketing strategies supporting product launches and commercial brands.
- Experience marketing specialty pharmaceutical products; neurology, migraine, CNS, or pain management experience strongly preferred.
- Experience developing integrated and omnichannel marketing strategies and customer engagement programs.
- Strong understanding of pharmaceutical promotional regulations and promotional review processes.
- Experience partnering with Sales, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Commercial Operations, Regulatory, and Legal in a cross-functional commercial organization.
- Experience managing external agencies, vendors, and marketing budgets.
- Product launch experience strongly preferred.
- Strategic marketer with demonstrated ability to translate customer insights into impactful commercial strategies.
- Strong understanding of customer journeys, channel optimization, and integrated marketing.
- Proven ability to develop compelling brand messaging grounded in clinical evidence, customer insights, and market dynamics.
- Excellent analytical skills with experience using market research, customer insights, and commercial performance metrics to inform decision-making.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize multiple initiatives in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
- Exceptional communication, presentation, and influencing skills with the ability to build consensus across cross-functional teams.
- Collaborative leader with experience working effectively across Commercial, Medical, Regulatory, Legal, and Executive Leadership.
- Demonstrated ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution in a lean, growth-oriented organization.
- High degree of business acumen, accountability, creativity, and customer focus.
- Willingness to travel approximately 25-50% to support customer engagements, conferences, field meetings, and company events.
- Proven ability to direct the activities of a functional area through lower management, accountable for actions that impact departmental budgets.
Benefits and Pay:
The expected salary range for this position is $200,000.00 - $230,000.00 USD. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors permitted by law.
Satsuma Pharmaceuticals is committed to providing its employees with benefit options that are comprehensive, competitive, and that individual employees can tailor to their and their families' specific needs. Eligible employees are offered Health Insurance, Dental & Vision Insurance, Healthcare & Dependent Care FSA, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), 401(k) Savings Plan, Long-term Incentive Plan, Life Insurance, Accident & Disability Insurance, Telemedicine, Generous Paid Time Off, and Company Holidays.