Senior Director, Medical Affairs

Senior Director, Medical Affairs

Job Introduction

Thanks for checking out our vacancy, we're delighted you want to learn more about Dechra!

Dechra is a growing, global specialist within the world of veterinary pharmaceuticals. Our expertise is in the development, manufacture, marketing and sales of high quality products exclusively for veterinarians worldwide.

Here at Dechra, our values are embedded within our culture and thrive within our family of almost 2000 colleagues globally. From manufacturing to marketing, (D)edication, (E)njoyment, (C)ourage, (H)onesty, (R)elationships and (A)mbition are at the heart of our everyday operations and the way we do business

The Opportunity

At Dechra, Medical Affairs is a strategic pillar of the organization, partnering closely with sales and Marketing to shape the future of veterinary medicine. We are seeking a leader to build upon this foundation and elevate the influence, visibility, and impact of Medical Affairs across our business and within the veterinary profession.

As the Senior Director, U.S. Medical Affairs, you will lead and inspire a team of Medical Affairs veterinarians responsible for defining and delivering medical strategies across a diverse portfolio spanning dermatology, pain management, anesthesia, internal medicine, equine, and specialty products.

Reporting directly to the Vice President, Veterinary Professional Services & Medical Affairs, you will play a pivotal leadership role in shaping business priorities, influencing portfolio strategy, driving innovation, and delivering meaningful value to veterinary healthcare teams and the patients they serve.

This is a unique opportunity to lead a highly visible team, influence organizational strategy, strengthen scientific leadership, and help bring groundbreaking solutions to market within a rapidly growing global animal health company.

Role Responsibility

So, what will you be doing? This role has a broad and varied scope and the successful candidate will have responsibility for duties including:

Shape the Future of Medical Affairs

• Serve as the strategic leader for U.S. Medical Affairs, ensuring medical perspectives are integrated into critical business and brand decisions.
• Partner with Marketing and Commercial leaders to develop marketing/medical strategies that drive business growth and improve patient outcomes.
• Lead the development and execution of best-in-class medical affairs plans that strengthen product adoption, scientific credibility, and customer engagement.
• Create scalable frameworks, processes, and playbooks that elevate medical planning and execution across the portfolio.
• Ensure every brand has a clear medical strategy with measurable outcomes and defined success metrics.
• There will be opportunities for the Senior Director, Medical Affairs to take the full lead/or the lead on parts of a new product launch
• Actively participate in Therapeutic Focus and Category Insight groups
• Develops deep understanding of market trends, medical insights, market landscape, customer insights, and key drivers of performance

Lead a High-Performing Team

• Inspire, coach, and develop a team of Medical Affairs leaders.
• Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Empower team members to think strategically, challenge conventional approaches, and operate as influential business partners.
• Develop organizational capabilities that position Medical Affairs as a trusted and indispensable function within Dechra.

Drive Scientific Leadership and Customer Impact

• Champion customer-centric medical strategies grounded in deep insights from veterinarians, technicians, and key stakeholders.
• Strengthen relationships with key opinion leaders, specialists, researchers, and professional organizations.
• Help to lead strategic medical activities including advisory boards, speaker programs, educational initiatives, congress strategies, and expert engagement.
• Guide evidence generation initiatives that support both current and future portfolio growth.

Influence Cross-Functional Strategy

• Serve as a trusted thought partner to Commercial, Marketing, Regulatory, R&D, and Global teams.
• Identify emerging trends, unmet medical needs, and opportunities to advance care and opportunities for Dechra
• Support lifecycle management initiatives and launch excellence strategies for future innovations.
• Help evaluate, prioritize, and execute strategic investments in medical education, data generation, and customer engagement.
• Collaborates with the Global Marketing Technical Expertise department for therapeutic and product launch strategies and commercial lifecycle planning efforts.

Lead Innovation and New Product Launches

• Play a key leadership role in preparing the organization for successful product launches.
• Build and execute launch readiness plans that include medical education, external expert development, scientific data, and training.
• Lead selected launch initiatives where Medical Affairs serves as the primary strategic driver.

The Ideal Candidate

Here at Dechra we pride ourselves on being an inclusive employer and we embrace candidates from all walks of life. We're particularly excited to hear from those who have/are:

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or equivalent
• 7+ years of progressive veterinary clinical, industry, or medical affairs experience, including demonstrated leadership responsibilities for products and/or people
• Proven success leading cross-functional initiatives and influencing senior stakeholders in a matrixed environment.
• Active veterinary license, in good standing
• Experience leading and developing people or leading without authority and desire to lead people
• Experience in developing, executing and prioritizing medical strategies and plans aligning with broader company strategies
• Known for being a self starter, speaks up, collaborates, and shares opinions while working in a fast pace agile environment
• Strong strategic/analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with various stakeholders
• Ability to work and navigate in an environment of regulatory and legal processes
• Excellent judgment in conflict management and influence
• Demonstrate commitment to a high performing culture, empowering people to do their best work, and holds self and others accountable
• Ability to travel as required - up to 25-30% for industry conferences, professional meetings, and collaboration with key internal/external stakeholders.

About the Company

As a people first values-based culture, we provide free weekly wellness sessions focused on our employee's physical and mental wellbeing, and flexible work arrangements. We offer a generous employer 401k match and an other incentives for long-term financial wellness. Our full array of health, financial and voluntary benefit programs are what you would expect from a recognized Best Place to Work.