Director, Scientific Training & Development

The Director, Scientific Training & Development is a director-level role responsible for leading scientific and clinical training strategy for designated Medical Affairs field teams. The position develops, governs, and delivers phase-appropriate curricula that build and sustain MSL scientific competency, communication effectiveness, and field readiness. Working in close partnership with Field Medical Affairs leadership and cross-functional stakeholders, the Director translates business priorities, emerging evidence, and field observations into measurable learning programs and targeted development support.

Scientific Training Strategy and Curriculum

• Lead the strategic direction, development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Medical Affairs training and education strategy in partnership with Medical Affairs leadership.
• Design and maintain curricula for new-hire onboarding, ongoing development, advanced therapeutic education, case-based learning, competency assessments, and certification.
• Create, maintain, and update scientific training materials, slide decks, FAQs, mechanism-of-action resources, disease-state summaries, and assessments using current evidence, prescribing information, publications, and congress data.
• Establish and maintain a measurable, behavior-based MSL competency framework aligned with organizational goals and field standards.
• Assess training effectiveness using defined performance indicators and learner feedback; identify gaps and implement improvement or remediation plans.
• Maintain training processes and documentation, including the training matrix, with appropriate version control and audit readiness.

MSL Onboarding, Field Development, and Coaching

• Lead new-hire MSL onboarding, including presentation training, recurring check-ins, curriculum completion support, and final certification.
• Partner with MSL Regional Directors to identify scientific training needs and convert field-ride observations into targeted upskilling, coaching, and remediation activities.
• Conduct ad hoc field work as requested by the applicable MSL Regional Director.
• Coach MSLs on scientific insight capture, synthesis, and communication, while reinforcing consistent expectations for engagement planning, documentation, and follow-up.
• Support scientific training at regional and franchise-level meetings and provide timely education tied to data readouts, publications, pipeline milestones, and competitor developments.
• Coordinate onboarding support for other Medical Affairs personnel, as appropriate.
  

Congress and Cross-Functional Support

• Lead scientific readiness activities before and after major congresses, including review of relevant data, development of scientific summaries and internal materials, and coordination of Medical Affairs attendee information.
• Collaborate with the Thought Leader Engagement team and Field Medical Affairs leadership to build scientific readiness for congress activities, thought-leader interactions, and insight capture.
• Attend selected congresses to provide real-time scientific interpretation, support Medical Affairs activities, and observe field scientific communication during MSL engagements.
• Plan and execute educational seminars with internal and external subject-matter experts for Medical Affairs and, as needed, other Alkermes stakeholders.
• Liaise with Commercial Training, Marketing, Sales Leadership, R&D, Corporate Affairs, Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance to coordinate appropriate, compliant Medical Affairs contributions and training support.
• Ensure training content is accurate, fair balanced, and developed in accordance with applicable legal, regulatory, compliance, and review requirements.
• Evaluate internal and external training programs, consultants, and vendors, and recommend solutions that address identified learning needs.
  

Operational Excellence

• Standardize field practices and ensure consistent access to current training resources across the field medical organization.
• Proactively communicate across teams to maintain alignment, clarify ownership, and support timely execution.
• Contribute to budget planning and manage assigned training activities within approved resources.

• Advanced scientific or clinical degree preferred (e.g. PharmD, MD, NP/CNS, PhD). A master's or bachelor's degree with relevant experience may be considered.
• Adult learning and scientific training experience required.
• Approximately 5 or more years of relevant pharmaceutical, biotechnology, Medical Affairs, research and development, pharmacology, clinical, or scientific education experience; depth of experience should be commensurate with a director-level role.
• Experience leading complex projects and working with cross-functional teams required.
• Psychiatry or neuroscience experience and/or previous experience as a professor, preceptor, or scientific educator considered.
• Experience reviewing scientific literature and clinical data required; experience presenting or publishing scientific data preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated scientific, strategic, and creative thinking, with the ability to translate complex information into effective learning experiences.
• Strong written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate with scientific rigor and appropriate fair balance.
• Ability to assess clinical and scientific information and present a highly professional scientific profile of products, disease states, pipeline assets, and relevant competitive developments.
• Strong organization, coordination, planning, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to resolve emerging issues by mobilizing internal teams and external experts.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships across levels and functions and to adapt communication style to the audience.
• Ability to remain supportive, solutions-oriented, and effective under pressure.
  

Work Environment

• This is a preferred hybrid position based in Waltham, Massachusetts.

• The role requires approximately 15% travel, including field work, internal meetings, training programs, and selected medical congresses.

Alkermes has recently adopted a hybrid working environment to support and meet the needs of employees and this role will operate in a flexible environment with 60% of time in the office and 40% from home. This position is eligible for the hybrid workplace model, requiring work to be completed onsite at our Waltham, MA office at least 3 days per week. This role is not eligible for fully remote work.

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $220,000 to $250,000. In addition, this position is eligible for an annual performance pay bonus. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, training, knowledge, and experience. Alkermes offers a competitive benefits package. Additional details can be found on our careers website: www.alkermes.com/careers#working-here
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