Director, Medical Science Liaison - Epilepsies

Location:   This position may be performed remotely, but requires the flexibility and willingness to travel as needed. The Opportunity Praxis is seeking a Director, Medical Science Liaisons to lead and develop the field medical team supporting our epilepsy portfolio, including relutrigine, through pre-launch and launch. Reporting to the Head of Field Medical Affairs, this people-leadership role is responsible for hiring, coaching, and developing a high-performing team of Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs); translating medical strategy into a compliant, high-impact field medical plan; and ensuring consistent, high-quality scientific exchange across a defined set of high-priority academic and community neurology centers.   This is a field-based leadership role operating within a highly focused engagement model in rare and developmental epilepsies. Along with the Head of Field Medical Affairs, you will set the direction for the MSL team’s scientific engagement, oversee KOL and center prioritization and territory alignment, and ensure the team communicates emerging clinical data accurately and compliantly while surfacing meaningful field insights that shape strategy.   Working in close Praxis partnership, you will champion aligned execution of pre-launch and launch activities and serve as a key bridge between field intelligence and medical strategy in a dynamic, evolving environment.   Success in this role requires proven people-leadership, strong scientific acumen, sound judgment, and the ability to build and inspire a team that engages credibly in complex clinical discussions while operating with independence in the field.   Primary Responsibilities Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of epilepsy MSLs, setting clear objectives, performance expectations, and individual development plans    Build and scale a high-performing Field Medical organization, including workforce planning, succession planning, talent assessment, onboarding strategy, and capability development   Establish field medical operating standards, performance expectations, and excellence frameworks to ensure consistent execution and scientific credibility across the team   Lead territory design, resource allocation, and organizational planning to ensure optimal coverage of key centers, investigators, and stakeholders throughout pre-launch and launch   Translate Medical Affairs strategy into an actionable field medical plan, including engagement priorities, scientific objectives, and team success metrics    Oversee KOL and center engagement strategy, territory alignment, and account planning across priority academic and community neurology centers    Ensure the team delivers accurate, balanced, and compliant scientific exchange on disease state, clinical data, and the relutrigine clinical profile in rare and genetic epilepsies    Build team capability and readiness for pre-launch and launch, including onboarding, scientific training, and field coaching on SCN2A, SCN8A, and broader epilepsy populations    Aggregate, synthesize, and elevate field insights to inform medical, clinical, and commercial strategy, and report on field medical activity and impact    Partner cross-functionally with internal Praxis leadership to ensure aligned execution    Represent Field Medical Affairs at scientific congresses, advisory boards, and internal governance forums    Manage field medical operations, including CRM utilization, metrics and reporting   Establish, monitor, and enforce compliance with regulatory requirements, company policies, SOPs, and industry standards across all field activities   Maintain current expertise in the rare epilepsy landscape, competitive environment, and evolving treatment paradigms, and ensure the team stays scientifically current   Qualifications and Key Success Factors Advanced clinical or scientific degree (PharmD, PhD, or MD; NP, PA, or RN with relevant experience)    Substantial Medical Affairs / MSL experience in biotech or pharma, including demonstrated people-leadership or field-management experience    Proven success leading geographically dispersed field medical teams, including experience managing managers and/or leading organizations through periods of growth, transformation, or launch    Experience establishing field medical strategy and operating models in pre-launch and launch environments   Demonstrated ability to influence senior executives and drive cross-functional alignment without direct authority   Experience supporting Market Access initiatives, including Managed Care strategy, payer engagement, and reimbursement activities   Experience managing budgets, headcount planning, and organizational resource allocation   Strong scientific acumen with the ability to coach the team through complex clinical and data discussions in rare patient populations    Demonstrated ability to translate medical strategy into field execution and measurable results    Experience in neurology or CNS disorders required; rare or genetic epilepsy experience strongly preferred    Product launch and pre-launch experience strongly preferred    Excellent cross-functional leadership, influence, and communication skills   Ability to manage competing priorities, budgets, and resources with strong organization and attention to detail   Willingness to travel up to ~75%, including field co-travel, scientific congresses, and internal meetings   The physical and mental requirements of our roles include but are not limited to regular use of a computer, devices or other office equipment, clear communication, and occasional movement.  You'll need comfort with screen work, basic hand coordination, and focus.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions. Compensation & Benefits At Praxis, we believe that taking care of our people (and their people) is imp