Senior Director, Global Medical Affairs

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Centessa Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, is a clinical-stage company developing orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonists as a new class of medicines for the treatment of narcolepsy and potentially other sleep-wake disorders. Centessa’s lead investigational candidate – cleminorexton (formerly ORX750) – is being developed for narcolepsy type 1, narcolepsy type 2, and idiopathic hypersomnia. Centessa's OX2R agonist portfolio includes additional clinical and preclinical-stage assets with potential utility across a broader range of neurological, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric conditions. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Centessa was recognized as a Great Place to Work® in 2026.
Description of Role
The Senior Director, Global Medical Affairs, will serve as the Global Medical Affairs Lead for Centessa's lead orexin receptor 2 agonist program. This strategic leadership role is responsible for developing and executing the global medical strategy across the product lifecycle, with a primary focus on launch readiness, scientific leadership, evidence generation, external engagement, and cross-functional partnership.
The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience leading global medical affairs activities for one or more successful product launches and possess a strong track record of partnering with commercial, market access, HEOR, clinical development, regulatory affairs, patient advocacy and regional medical teams to deliver integrated launch strategies. The individual will serve as the medical voice of the asset, ensuring that scientific evidence, stakeholder insights, and patient needs are incorporated into key business decisions.
This role reports to the Head of Medical Affairs and will partner closely with senior leadership across the organization.
Key Responsibilities
Global Medical Strategy & Leadership
Lead the global medical affairs strategy and tactical execution plan for cleminorexton
Serve as the Global Medical Affairs Lead and core member of the cross-functional asset team
Ensure alignment of medical strategy with corporate objectives, clinical development milestones, and commercialization plans
Establish long-range medical affairs planning to support regulatory approvals, launch readiness, and lifecycle management
Identify emerging scientific opportunities, evidence gaps, and stakeholder needs to inform future development
Global Launch Excellence
Lead medical launch preparedness activities across major global markets
Partner with commercial, market access, HEOR, regulatory affairs, and regional medical teams to develop integrated launch strategies
Collaborate with medical affairs colleagues to ensure deliverables are aligned with strategy and launch timelines, including scientific platforms, training content, medical information resources, publications, congress activities, and insights generation
Support pre-launch and launch planning activities, including collaborating with HEOR and market access for global payer engagement strategies and value communication
External Scientific Engagement
Build and maintain relationships with global key opinion leaders, investigators, professional societies, and patient advocacy organizations.
Lead scientific advisory boards, expert consultations, and other insight-gathering initiatives.
Represent Centessa at major scientific congresses and industry meetings.
Serve as a credible scientific ambassador and subject matter expert for orexin biology and sleep-wake disorders.
Cross-Functional Partnership
Act as a strategic partner to commercial, market access, HEOR, regulatory, clinical development, patient advocacy, and corporate affairs
Contribute medical expertise to brand strategy, payer engagement, disease-state education, and scientific communication initiatives
Strategic partner for development of scientific platforms, publication strategies, educational programs, and medical training
Provide medical review and guidance for externally facing scientific materials in compliance with applicable regulations and company policies
Qualifications
Required
Advanced scientific or clinical degree (MD, PharmD, or PhD)
Minimum 10 years of Medical Affairs leadership experience with 5 years global experience preferred
Experience in neuroscience, sleep medicine, neurology, psychiatry, or rare disease
Demonstrated experience leading at least one successful global product launch (North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific markets highly preferred)
Experience serving as a global medical lead for late-stage development or commercial products
Strong understanding of global medical affairs, evidence generation, payer evidence requirements, and commercialization readiness
Proven ability to drive strategy in a matrix environment
Proven track record of collaborating closely with commercial, market access, HEOR, regulatory affairs, and clinical development organizations
Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills
Work Location
The Sr. Director, Global Medical Affairs role is remote, based in the US, with occasional travel (~20%).
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Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$177,000 - $338,800
Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.
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