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We are seeking a highly skilled and driven Associate Director, Commercial Strategy to oversee the growth and expansion of our cardiometabolic product portfolio. This role will focus on developing and executing commercial strategies specific to the cardiometabolic therapeutic area, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular and related conditions. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in the Saudi pharmaceutical space, experience with managing complex distribution networks, and a proven ability to drive market penetration and sales growth in this specialized field.

Associate Director Commercial Strategy Role Overview

The Associate Director, Commercial Strategy will play a critical role in shaping the commercial direction of our cardiometabolic products within the Saudi market. This includes:

• Leading the development and execution of commercial strategies for cardiometabolic products.
• Overseeing the design, implementation, and ongoing management of the distribution network.
• Building and nurturing relationships with key distribution partners.
• Monitoring developments in the cardiometabolic market and refining commercial strategies accordingly.

Responsibilities of the Associate Director Commercial Strategy

• Cardiometabolic Commercial Strategy: Lead the development and execution of commercial strategies for cardiometabolic products, identifying key market opportunities and tailoring approaches to private sector channels.
• Distribution Network Optimization: Oversee the design, implementation, and ongoing management of the distribution network for cardiometabolic products, ensuring product availability across all channels in alignment with demand forecasts and market dynamics.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and nurture relationships with key distribution partners, including wholesalers, third-party logistics providers and regional distributors in the cardiometabolic space.
• Market Intelligence: Monitor developments in the cardiometabolic market, including evolving patient needs, regulatory changes, and new private channels etc. to continuously refine and enhance distribution and commercial strategies.
• Regulatory & Compliance Leadership: Ensure full compliance with pharmaceutical regulations, including Good Distribution Practice (GDP) and other cardiometabolic-specific regulatory requirements. Stay up to date on industry guidelines and ensure distributors are aligned with compliance standards.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with marketing, sales, regulatory affairs, supply chain, and medical affairs teams to ensure alignment across functions and maximize product uptake in the cardiometabolic market.
• Market Penetration & Launch Support: Support new product launches and market penetration strategies for cardiometabolic products, including the coordination of distribution and promotional activities.
• Performance Monitoring & Reporting: Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to product distribution, sales performance, and partner relationships in the cardiometabolic segment.
• Strategic Problem-Solving: Address and resolve complex distribution and commercial challenges, ensuring swift and effective solutions to meet market demand and overcome supply chain or regulatory barriers.
• Innovative Distribution and Commercial Models: Developing and implementing innovative distribution and commercial models including tele-health solutions. This includes leveraging digital health strategies and partnerships to improve efficiency, patient adherence, and access to cardiometabolic products.
• Private Ecosystem Development: Effectively execute strategies to support market expansion initiatives through partnerships with pharmacy chains. Build and implement measurement plans and KPI sets to evaluate the success of these initiatives.

Qualifications for the Associate Director Commercial Strategy

To be considered for this Associate Director, Commercial Strategy role, candidates should possess the following qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Business, Pharmacy, or a related field. Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 10 years of experience in pharmaceutical or FMCG commercial and sales development. Cardiometabolic therapeutic area experience is a plus (e.g., cardiovascular, diabetes, obesity, metabolic disorders)
• Skills & Competencies:
  • Strong understanding of pharmaceutical distribution channels and commercial strategy within private markets in Gulf and Saudi.
  • Knowledge of regulatory and legal requirements specific to managing distribution in highly regulated markets.
  • Proven experience in managing distributor relationships, negotiating contracts, and optimizing supply chains.
  • Strong analytical, financial, and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, sales, regulatory, and medical affairs, to drive the success of cardiometabolic products.
  • Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence both internal and external stakeholders.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience with ERP systems.

Why Join Lilly as Associate Director of Commercial Strategy?

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