Executive Director, Field Medical Affairs

Position Summary

The Executive Director (ED), Field Medical Affairs is a senior leader within Medical Affairs responsible for defining and driving the overarching US field medical strategy across multiple therapeutic areas including rare disease and ophthalmology, overseeing engagement with external stakeholders including healthcare providers and formulary decision makers. This role leads and develops senior field leadership, aligning field medical operations with global and US Medical Affairs strategies to ensure scientific excellence, operational effectiveness, and strategic insight generation.

This role oversees both the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) field team and the Medical Value Liaisons (MVL) team, ensuring cohesive strategy, coordination, and execution across both groups. This leader will shape and scale field capabilities, support launch readiness, and champion cross-functional collaboration while maintaining compliance and fostering a culture of high performance.

Hybrid Based in our Waltham, MA offices, 2 days a week.

• Develop and lead the US field Medical Affairs strategy, ensuring alignment with global medical, clinical, and commercialization priorities
• Build and evolve scalable field engagement models and infrastructure to support current and future launch readiness and enable high performing field medical teams
• Provide strategic and operational leadership to senior field medical leaders ensuring aligned execution across all US field teams including both the MSL field team and the Medical Value Liaison (MVL) team
• Foster a culture of performance, development, and scientific excellence across all field medical teams
• Collaborate with global Medical Affairs counterparts to align field strategies and ensure consistency in scientific exchange and insight integration
• Oversee field medical excellence, ensuring consistency in engagement quality, insight capture, training, and metrics across therapeutic areas
• Partner with therapeutic area leads to develop and implement national and regional KOL and stakeholder engagement strategies
• Coach, mentor, and support senior field leaders to drive team development, performance management, and retention of top talent
• Establish a robust process for insight generation, synthesis, and dissemination to inform clinical development, market access and medical strategies
• Collaborate cross-functionally to strategically deploy and support field teams while ensuring compliance and alignment with organizational objectives

• Advanced degree (PhD, Pharm D, MD or equivalent) equivalent

• 10+ years of progressive leadership in Medical Affairs including significant field-based experience across multiple therapeutic areas
• Expertise in ophthalmology strongly preferred; additional expertise in rare disease, hematology, nephrology is preferred
• Proven track record building and optimizing field medical engagement models including experience supporting product launches and lifecycle management
• Demonstrated success in leading large, diverse field organizations and managing senior leaders with a focus on talent development, succession planning, and strategic execution

• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills with an ability to influence across levels and functions
• Thrives in fast-paced, evolving environments; biotech experience preferred

• Travel up to 50% required

Apellis offers a comprehensive benefits package, including a 401(k) plan with company match, inclusive family building benefits, flexible time off, summer and winter shutdowns, paid family leave, disability and life insurance, and more! Visit  to learn more.

Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company that combines courageous science and compassion to develop life‑changing therapies for some of the most challenging diseases patients face. We ushered in the first new class of complement medicine in 15 years and now have two approved medicines targeting C3. These include the first and only therapy for geographic atrophy,…