Associate Director, Thought Leader Strategic Marketing Liaison

About Calliditas Therapeutics

Calliditas is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing, and commercializing novel treatments in orphan indications, with an initial focus on renal and hepatic diseases with significant unmet medical needs.

Calliditas’ lead product, developed under the name Nefecon, has received full approval by the FDA under the trade name TARPEYO® and by the European Commission under the trade name KINPEYGO®. TARPEYO/KINPEYGO® is the first treatment approved for IgA nephropathy by the FDA and EMA, respectively.

Calliditas also has a pipeline to address a variety of diseases, including primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), Alport Syndrome and solid tumors (SCCHN).

In 2024, Calliditas Therapeutics was acquired by Asahi Kasei.

Position summary

The Thought Leader Liaison (Midwest) will play a critical role in developing and executing an overarching thought leader strategy and tactics for TARPEYO in collaboration with key matrix team members. The TLL is a field-based marketing role that exists to strengthen the positioning of TARPEYO, as well as to continue to build Calliditas Therapeutics’ reputation and credibility in the nephrology and rare disease spaces. TLLs drive results through advocacy development, insights generation and cross-functional collaboration. Key functions include thought leader strategy and engagement, conference management, speaker bureau development, and multi-disciplinary account strategy. TLLs support cross-functional commercial execution and serve as key liaisons between thought leaders, organized customer groups, e.g., healthcare institutions, physician advocacy groups, etc., and internal marketing, medical, and commercial teams. The individual will be responsible for gathering customer insights to inform brand strategy and planning. The Thought Leader Liaison (Midwest) will report to the Senior Director, National Thought Leader Liaison (TLL) Team Leader.

The territory covers Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Key tasks and responsibilities

• Develop and implement TARPEYO Thought Leader strategy for Midwest region
• Engage with key opinion leaders and serve as their primary point of contact for marketing
• Cultivate relationships with key opinion leaders and emerging opinion leaders to be viewed as a trusted partner
• Help establish brand thought leader advocacy through product and disease education
• Lead and direct insight gathering among opinion leaders including one-on-one engagements, small group meetings, national and regional advisory boards and steering committees to gather actionable information, coordinating with other functions.
• Monitor the competitive landscape, treatment protocols and other market trends, report findings to marketing, provide actionable recommendations and pull through tactical initiatives
• Facilitate connecting opinion leaders to the appropriate internal subject matter experts as needed. Manage commercial advisory boards / steering committees.
  Identify, profile, cultivate and maintain long-term relationships with leadership at key professional societies
• Share management of all aspects of conferences, serving as the primary contact for budgeting, contracting, logistics, attendance, and pull through.
  Lead product theaters at key congresses (materials, invitations, speaker management).
• Manage onsite customer meetings, responsible for coordinating reaching out, setting objectives and follow ups.
• Manage speakers and serve as the primary contact for regional speakers, speaker training, and field force.
• Based on customer insights, develop commercial strategy / tactics for key regional accounts (large institutions, group practices, and key community centers). Drive execution of special projects.

Education and experience requirements

• BS/BA or equivalent required preferably in Marketing, Business Administration or other similar degree; an MBA or other advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 8+ years pharmaceutical sales/or marketing experience in specialty or rare disease
• Nephrology experience is preferred
• At least 2 years of previous TLL experience required
• Ability to travel approximately 60-70% 

Reasons to join the Calliditas Team

• Be a part of a global leader in IgA-Nephropathy and a rapidly growing commercial-stage pharmaceutical company within specialty products with strong growth ambitions and a strong pipeline
• Fast paced small company environment
• A unique corporate culture
• Dedicated, experienced and highly skilled colleagues
• Participate on bonus and benefit programs

Welcome to join the Calliditas Team!

Calliditas provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, pregnancy or any other legally protected status. For a copy of the Affirmative Action Plan and EEO Statement, contact .

Calliditas is an E-Verify employer.

 Calliditas består av ett kreativt team av forskare, kliniker, och andra ämnesexperter som med medkänsla engagerar sig för personer med sällsynta sjukdomar som står inför höga medicinska behov. Vår framgång som företag beror på vår förmåga att fungera som ett enat team, och vi är fast beslutna att tillhandahålla en säker, stimulerande och uppmuntrande miljö där varje anställd ges möjlighet att blomstra och bidra till vårt uppdrag.