Job Title:
Executive Director, Field Medical Affairs
Location:
Remote
Position type:
FLSA:
Full time
Exempt
Department:
Finance ID:
Medical Affairs – 2501
2501-101509-BF
Profoundly Improve People’s lives by Revolutionizing the Delivery of RNA Therapeutics
At Avidity Biosciences, we are passionate about the impact of every employee in realizing our vision of improving people’s lives by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics. Avidity is revolutionizing the field of RNA with its proprietary AOCs, which are designed to combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the precision of oligonucleotide therapies to address targets and diseases previously unreachable with existing RNA therapies. If you are a committed, solution-oriented thinker, join us in making a difference and become part of our growing culture that is integrated, collaborative, agile and focused on the needs of patients.
Avidity Biosciences, Inc.'s mission is to profoundly improve people's lives by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics - Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOCs™). Utilizing its proprietary AOC platform, Avidity demonstrated the first-ever successful targeted delivery of RNA into muscle and is leading the field with clinical development programs for three rare muscle diseases: myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Avidity is broadening the reach of AOCs with its advancing and expanding pipeline, including programs in cardiology and immunology through internal discovery efforts and key partnerships. Avidity is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information about our AOC platform, clinical development pipeline, and people, please visit www.aviditybiosciences.com and engage with us on LinkedIn and X.
The Opportunity
We seek an Executive Director, Field Medical Affairs, to join our rapidly growing team during this pivotal time. In this high-impact role, you will have the unique opportunity to build, lead, and shape a field-based Medical Science Liaison (MSL) and Medical Value Liaison (MVL) team, ensuring they are aligned with Avidity's mission to transform patient care. In addition, training and resource development will be a key responsibility of this position. Reporting to the Vice President, Global Medical Affairs, this role will be a key member of the Medical Affairs Leadership Team and is central to our strategic launch readiness and scientific engagement initiatives.
What You Will Contribute
Team Leadership & Development
- Recruit, hire, and onboard a high-performing field-based medical team, including MSLs and MVLs across the U.S.
- Provide ongoing coaching and mentorship, offering constructive feedback and development opportunities.
- Foster a collaborative and innovative team culture.
- Establish KPIs and metrics to evaluate and measure effectiveness of the MSL and MVL teams.
- Develop and oversee onboarding and training program for field teams.
- Oversee development of field medical resources, including scientific materials, training programs, and communication tools.
- Serve as a core member of the Medical Affairs Leadership Team.
Strategic Planning & Execution
- Develop strategic and tactical plans for team structure, geographic coverage, and deployment.
- Contribute to strategic planning initiatives, including advisory boards, medical education programs, and congress engagement.
- Lead medical launch readiness planning, including field resource alignment, congress engagement, payer education, and post-launch insight capture.
Scientific & Stakeholder Engagement
- Represent Avidity at various scientific and clinical congresses.
- Develop and oversee MSL engagement strategies to support scientific exchange with key opinion leaders (KOLs), , healthcare providers, and external stakeholders.
- Provide oversight of MVL strategic planning for payor engagement strategy including payor tailored messaging
- Build key external stakeholder maps to include KOLs, HCPs, payors, etc
Cross-functional Collaboration
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Clinical Development, Market Access, Commercial, and Regulatory to integrate field medical efforts into broader launch and lifecycle plans.
- Work closely with clinical teams to support clinical trial site recruitment and patient enrollment, as needed.
- Ensure optimal field representation and recognition across cross-functional initiatives as a key contributor to organizational success.
Compliance & Governance
- Provide leadership in generating insights and ensuring compliant communication of scientific data.
- Demonstrate, and lead by example, compliant behavior in all aspects of company work.
- Ensure compliance with company policies, legal standards, and industry regulations.
What We Seek
- PharmD/PhD/MD required.
- Minimum 15+ years of pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry experience.
- Minimum 2+ years’ experience at the prior level.
- Minimum 8+ years in a management or leadership role of people or function.
- Demonstrated success in building and managing high-performing MSL teams. Proven ability to build and sustain diverse, inclusive, and high-performing teams aligned to a mission-driven culture.
- Significant expertise in supporting pre-launch and launch activities, particularly in rare diseases or innovative therapeutics (RNA-based therapies preferred).
- Strong understanding of the healthcare landscape, including KOL engagement, clinical trial data, and medical education.
- Experience implementing or optimizing digital field medical platforms (e.g., Veeva CRM, analytics dashboards), and using data to drive performance and insights.
- Familiarity with HEOR, real-world evidence, and value demonstration strategies for payer and reimbursement support.
- Highly motivated, decisive, and results-oriented with the flexibility and creativity to excel in a rapidly growing and changing environment.
- Analytical thinker with excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to changing priorities and deadlines.
- Proven track record of excellent communication and collaboration skills, including recognition by cross-functional partners; works well independently while exhibiting professional maturity, confidence, and competence.
- Experience working with all levels of management and consulting with key business stakeholders.
- Skilled at positively influencing stakeholders in a team environment for greater outcomes.
- Outstanding business acumen; knows the industry, Avidity’s value proposition, key competitors, and other marketplace factors/dynamics.
- Ability to travel extensively and must possess a valid driver’s license. Weekend travel may be required.
What We Will Provide To You
- The base salary range for this role is $356,250 - $393,750. The final compensation will be commensurate with such factors as relevant experience, skillset, internal equity and market factors.
- Avidity offers competitive compensation and benefits, which include the opportunity for annual and spot bonuses, stock options, and RSUs, as well as a 401(k) with an employer match. In addition, the comprehensive wellness program includes coverage for medical, dental, vision, and LTD, and four weeks of time off.
- A commitment to learning and development which includes a variety of programming internally developed by and for Avidity employees, opportunities for job-specific training offered by industry, and an education reimbursement program.
