Medical Affairs Lead, Global Rare Diseases - Contractor

This is what you will do

We are seeking a strategic and collaborative Medical Affairs professional to lead capability development across the global Medical Affairs organization. This 12-month contract role will accelerate the performance of key roles—such as MSLs, Medical Advisors, and Medical Directors—by enhancing both scientific depth and business acumen. You will partner closely with Medical Strategic Operations, HR, L&D, Compliance, and affiliate teams to ensure training initiatives are aligned, impactful, and scalable. This role offers exposure to global medical strategy, rare disease portfolios, and professional development in a dynamic, matrixed environment.

You will drive the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of capability-building programs that enable Medical Affairs teams to deliver scientific excellence, patient-focused impact, and operational effectiveness. Working at the intersection of medical strategy, HR, and learning & development, you will ensure that training and development initiatives are targeted, measurable, and aligned with organizational priorities.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Needs Assessment & Strategy: Conduct capability assessments across Medical Affairs functions; define global learning priorities aligned with portfolio and organizational goals. Partner with HR to tailor competency frameworks to Medical Affairs’ unique scientific and strategic requirements. 
• Learning Design & Delivery: Develop and implement role-based learning journeys for MSLs, Medical Directors, and Scientific Communications team members; lead onboarding, scientific training, compliance education, and soft skill programs (e.g., strategic thinking, communication). Translate learnings into practice through case studies, simulations and field-based applications that reinforce performance-driven behaviors.
• Program Management: Establish frameworks to track training progress, completion, effectiveness, and impact; ensure scalability across regions and affiliates.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner with HR, L&D, Compliance, Legal, and Commercial teams to align content, avoid duplication, and incorporate field insights. Coordinate with HR and Medical leadership to design training that reinforces performance and accountability. Ensure learning initiatives complement broader talent development strategies.
• Vendor and Platform Oversight: Manage learning tools and digital platforms to enhance engagement and measure adoption.
• Best Practices & Innovation: Benchmark against industry standards; apply adult learning principles and digital innovation; foster a community of practice for knowledge sharing and continuous improvement. Champion coaching and peer-learning networks that accelerate capability building and a continuous learning culture.

You will need to have

• 5+ years of experience in Medical Affairs, Scientific Training, Learning & Development, or related pharma/biotech roles.
• Solid understanding of the Medical Affairs function, including MSL, Medical Director, Scientific Communication and Medical Information roles.
• Experience designing and delivering adult learning programs in scientific or regulated environments.
• Strong project management and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Familiarity with Learning Management Systems (LMS) and digital training tools.
• Ability to work in a matrix organization and lead without direct authority.
• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, or related field; advanced degree (PharmD, PhD, MD) or relevant certifications preferred.

We would prefer for you to have

• Experience in rare disease or specialty therapeutic areas.
• MBA or additional leadership / organizational development training.
• Experience with digital learning, e-learning design, or learning technology platforms.
• Knowledge of Medical Affairs operations, evidence generation, and strategic planning.
• Experience managing global or multi-affiliate teams.
• Familiarity with regulatory and compliance requirements for training in pharma.
• Experience in change management or capability embedding initiatives.
• Track record of measuring training impact using KPIs or performance outcomes.
• Strong analytical skills for capability assessment and gap analysis.
• Experience in mid-sized or growing pharma organizations with matrix reporting structures.