Head of MSLs

Satsuma Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company preparing to launch AtzumiTM (dihydroergotamine (DHE) nasal powder), a novel therapeutic product approved in the US for the acute treatment of migraine. AtzumiTM incorporates proprietary advanced powder and device technology (SMART – Simple MucoAdhesive Release Technology™) and is designed to be easy-to-use, easy-to-carry and for quick self-administration.

Position Summary:

The Senior Director, Head of MSLs, will build and lead Satsuma’s U.S. field medical organization. This leader will oversee recruitment, onboarding, scientific engagement planning, coaching, and performance management. The role will prepare MSLs for accurate, balanced scientific exchange with healthcare professionals and appropriate payer clinical audiences. Working with Scientific Communications, Medical Operations, and HEOR, the Senior Director will lead field training delivery, proficiency assessment, and launch readiness. Team size, territories, account coverage, and deployment timing will align with the finalized Medical Affairs operational plan. The successful candidate develops and provides field medical strategy, vision, and direction across the organization, cascading company-wide policies and practices and providing input to executive management, with decisions carrying long-term impact on the company’s launch readiness and market success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead recruitment, onboarding, development, and retention of MSL talent.

• Lead and develop the field medical organization through subordinate managers and team members, overseeing the successful execution of company-wide initiatives.

• Develop field medical engagement plans, account segmentation, territory recommendations, and coverage priorities aligned with Medical Affairs strategy and the finalized operational plan.

• Anticipate factors that could influence the company’s field medical strategy and market position, providing strategic direction across functional areas to support long-term compliance and business success.

• Lead field training needs assessment, training delivery, coaching, proficiency assessment, and certification. Partner with Scientific Communications on scientific content and HEOR on payer evidence training.

• Prepare MSLs to discuss migraine disease burden, treatment options, AtzumiTM clinical evidence, approved labeling, appropriate use, and evidence limitations.

• Coach MSLs on payer scientific exchange, including healthcare resource utilization, treatment patterns, real-world evidence, economic analyses, and limitations of available data.

• Partner with Scientific Communications, HEOR, and Medical Information to identify field content needs and establish pathways for scientific questions requiring additional expertise.

• Partner with executive leadership to cascade company-wide field medical policies and practices, ensuring consistent adoption and alignment with organizational goals.

• Lead scientific engagement with headache specialists, investigators, scientific experts, and appropriate payer clinical stakeholders.

• Direct field medical participation in congresses, advisory boards, and other scientific activities. Coordinate scientific content with Scientific Communications and logistics with Medical Operations.

• Establish field insight collection and reporting practices with Medical Operations. Assess recurring themes and communicate actionable findings to Medical Affairs leadership.

• Support evidence-generation initiatives through identification of research interests, evidence gaps, and potential investigators. Route proposals through established review processes.

• Manage the field medical budget, capacity, external support, and performance measures. Assess scientific proficiency, engagement quality, account plan execution, and insight usefulness.

• Partner with Medical Operations on field systems requirements, adoption, training, and documentation quality.

• Ensure field activities follow company standards for scientific exchange, unsolicited inquiries, adverse-event reporting, product complaints, and healthcare professional interactions.

• Collaborate with Market Access on scientific evidence needs while preserving Medical Affairs independence. Market Access retains ownership of pricing, contracting, access strategy, and coverage negotiation.

• Proactively identify, assume, and execute additional responsibilities, initiatives, and special projects as business needs evolve.

Minimum Requirements Education/Experience:

• Advanced clinical or scientific degree, including PharmD, PhD, MD, or an equivalent degree in a relevant discipline, required.

• 12+ years of relevant pharmaceutical or biotechnology Medical Affairs experience, including substantial field medical experience and demonstrated MSL leadership.

• Demonstrated experience recruiting, coaching, developing, and managing field medical teams.

• Experience supporting U.S. Medical Affairs launch readiness, including field onboarding, training, proficiency assessment, and deployment preparation.

• Strong ability to critically evaluate clinical evidence, study design, statistical findings, and evidence limitations.

• Demonstrated experience conducting and coaching balanced scientific exchange with healthcare professionals and scientific experts.

• Working knowledge of HEOR, real-world evidence, payer evidence needs, and limitations of economic and observational analyses.

• Experience developing account engagement plans, assessing field insights, and translating findings into Medical Affairs recommendations.

• Strong budget management, organizational, analytical, and program management skills.

• Experience using field medical systems and supporting consistent documentation, reporting, and adoption.

• Working knowledge of U.S. requirements and company standards applicable to field Medical Affairs and scientific exchange.

• Excellent communication, cross-functional collaboration, and leadership skills, with demonstrated scientific integrity and sound judgment.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and articulate company-wide field medical strategy, vision, and direction, with the ability to anticipate emerging risks and their impact on business success.

• Proven experience negotiating and influencing at the executive level, partnering with leadership to align field medical strategy with organizational goals.

• Neurology or headache experience is preferred. Migraine experience and payer scientific engagement experience are highly desirable.

• Experience building field medical capabilities in a growing biopharmaceutical organization preferred.

• Ability to travel nationally for team meetings, congresses, and field engagement; travel anticipated at up to 40%.

Benefits and Pay:

The expected salary range for this position is $245,000.00 - $305,000.00 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.

EEO & Employment Eligibility:

Satsuma Pharmaceuticals is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive company. We provide equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Satsuma Pharmaceuticals also complies with all applicable national, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification required of applicable law.