Medical Manager Rare Diseases – Balkans

Medical Manager Rare Diseases – Balkans

AstraZeneca Rare Diseases is a dedicated business unit focused on delivering transformative medicines for patients with high unmet need. We combine deep scientific expertise, innovative clinical development, and patient-centered partnerships to accelerate access and improve outcomes in rare diseases. In the Balkans Cluster, we work closely with healthcare professionals, payers, and patient organizations to build sustainable value and scientific leadership.

About the Role

The Medical Manager, Rare Diseases for the Balkans works closely with the Medical Lead for Rare Diseases and cross-functional teams to deploy and adapt the AZ International Medical Affairs strategy across Balkans Cluster markets. The role includes developing and implementing brand strategies and tactics, leading scientific exchange, and collaborating with local MSLs to build AstraZeneca’s medical and scientific leadership in assigned therapeutic areas. This is an external and internal customer-facing role, responsible for expert engagement, data generation activities, advisory boards, and scientific meetings. As a Nominated Signatory, the Medical Manager reviews and approves medical activities and materials within the respective therapeutic areas to ensure ethical, compliant, and scientifically balanced communication.

Responsibilities

• Scientific information management and KEE engagement: Identify, map, and partner with national and regional/local Key External Experts (KEEs), advocacy groups, and PAGs; maintain up-to-date knowledge of the therapeutic area, AZ and competitor products.
• Scientific exchange and education: Hold regular scientific meetings with KEEs and influence groups; share data, publications, and slide decks; appropriately respond to unsolicited requests on unapproved products/uses in an objective, balanced, and non-promotional manner.
• Medical information governance: Fulfil medical information processes and ensure fair-balanced scientific communication with HCPs; facilitate continuous medical education events for HCPs.
• Medical value and access support: Provide scientific/clinical information across key products to KEEs, Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), Private Health Insurances (PHI), and decision makers; partner with Marketing and Sales/Key Account Managers on prioritized accounts; contribute to payer discussions to generate value and to access plans at key accounts.
• Insights and strategy for access: Bring field insights to country access managers and the international network; support innovative access models across different payer systems; build relationships with recognized authorities in managed markets/healthcare systems.
• Cross-functional collaboration and brand strategy: Inform AZ on local medical landscape, practice trends, and knowledge gaps; support pre-launch activities for new TAs, products, and line extensions; share HCP insights and congress highlights; monitor competitor activities.
• Local clinical research enablement: Participate in development and conduct of local/regional studies, including non-interventional studies; upon request, assist clinical trials with scientific support, site selection, operational issues, and feasibility assessments.
• Compliance and Nominated Signatory responsibilities: Review and approve medical activities and materials within the TA, ensuring adherence to ethical standards, codes, and local regulations.

Essential Skills

• Education in MD, PharmD, or PhD in a scientific discipline.
• Proven track record in Medical Affairs within an innovative pharmaceutical company.
• Strong knowledge in relevant rare disease therapeutic areas.
• Ability to understand and formulate plans within complex healthcare systems.
• Validated ability to build effective relationships internally and externally.
• Excellent presentation, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Excellence in leadership, strategic thinking, project management, relationship management, and analytical/problem-solving.
• Proven ability to communicate and comprehend scientific, economic, and humanistic concepts with sophisticated technical audiences.
• Experience in managed care/payer environments is highly preferred.
• Training or experience in health economics, pharmacoeconomics, or healthcare policy is highly preferred.
• Fluency in English and Croatian or Slovenian.

Desirable Skills

• Insight into multiple Medical Affairs functions (MSL operations, medical information, evidence generation, compliance).
• Extensive knowledge of recent technical and regulatory developments in rare diseases.
• Additional experience engaging payers and managed markets.
• Further training or experience in health economics, Pharmacoeconomics, outcomes research, or healthcare policy.
• Demonstrated leadership in cross-functional or regional roles, including mentoring MSLs and leading scientific initiatives.

Why Join AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca Rare Diseases is a purpose-led business unit advancing transformative therapies for patients with high unmet needs. You’ll join a science-driven organization with robust global R&D, evidence generation, and data capabilities, committed to ethical standards and patient centricity. We offer an inclusive culture, cross-border collaboration, and continuous development, empowering you to shape innovation, accelerate access, and improve outcomes for rare disease communities

Date Posted

Closing Date

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.