Director, Commercial Training, Communication, and Engagement

Company Description

Deciphera, a member of ONO, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing important new medicines to improve the lives of people with cancer. We are leveraging our proprietary switch-control kinase inhibitor platform and deep expertise in kinase biology to develop a broad portfolio of innovative medicines.

Enabled by our proprietary drug discovery platform, Deciphera has developed a diverse pipeline of wholly-owned drug candidates. QINLOCK (ripretinib) is Deciphera’s switch control inhibitor developed for the treatment of fourth-line GIST. QINLOCK is approved in Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United States, and the United Kingdom. We wholly own QINLOCK and all of our drug candidates with the exception of a development and commercialization out-license agreement for QINLOCK in Greater China. In addition to QINLOCK, we have identified and advanced multiple product candidates from our platform into clinical studies, including vimseltinib and DCC-3116.

We offer an outstanding culture and opportunity for personal and professional growth guided by our “PATHS” Core Values and how we work together. We are proud to be Great Place to Work Certified 2023 and rank #25 on Fortune’s Best Places to Work Small and Midsized Biotech Companies in 2023.

Job Description

Deciphera is seeking a seasoned, dynamic commercial leader with extensive product launch experience to lead the company’s commercial training, engagement and brand communications capabilities. The Director will be responsible for CTCE strategy and execution for the company’s broad and diverse oncology portfolio including its lead asset QINLOCK, a highly-selective, broad-spectrum KIT and PDGFRa kinase switch control inhibitor currently on the market for the treatment of GIST, and prepare for the launch of vimseltinib, an orally administered, potent and highly selective switch-control kinase inhibitor of CSF1R, currently in development for the treatment for tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT). The Director of CTCE is a critical commercial role that will be instrumental to Deciphera’s continued success in driving brand results for multiple assets, maintaining a best-in-class field team and cultivating the commercial team culture.

What You’ll Do:

• Play a critical role in evolving and leading the vision, structure, talent base, and capabilities of the commercial organization, with a focus on the sales team. This includes leading a high-performing training function, franchise communications, and development of optimal engagement strategies across the commercial team.
• Partner with members of the commercial leadership team (CLT) to:
  • Develop all training to prepare for the launch in a new disease state
  • Guide commercial strategy of multiple brands and pull through execution
  • Develop and implement new organizational capabilities with a focus in rare disease and maintain a best-in-class sales force
  • Lead communications across the sales and marketing team and act as a liaison across commercial functions
  • Establish and cultivate a positive team culture based on respect, trust, integrity, professionalism, humility, continual improvement, putting patients first, and “doing the right thing.”

Training Responsibilities:

• Partner with fellow CLT members to establish the concepts of learning, development, and continual improvement as core competencies of the commercial organization.
• Define and continually evaluate the commercial team’s training and effectiveness needs based on robust market insights, organization structure and roles, and commercial objectives, strategy, and performance.
• Develop and/or source tailored training content that meets specific commercial needs in collaboration with internal subject matter experts and external vendors/consultants. Content topics could include:
  • Clinical content – disease state, patient journey, current and evolving diagnostic and treatment paradigms, unmet needs, ripretinib, vimseltinib and competitor product profiles.
  • New hire/onboarding – in partnership with HR to communicate corporate info, benefits, IT support, HR processes; sales acumen and product/disease state overview.
  • Customer insights – key insights into the needs and perspectives of Deciphera’s key customers including academic vs. community physicians, mid-level prescribers (NP/PA), nurses, pharmacists, payers.
  • Commercial strategy, tools, and tactics – marketing strategy, core messages, materials, and programs; market access strategies and programs; med info processes.
  • Commercial systems/processes and analytics (e.g., CRM, Concur, speaker portal, etc.)
  • Business acumen – selling skills and territory planning and execution.
  • Compliance – work with legal to deliver necessary training to ensure compliance with all policies and procedures.
• Successfully develop and implement a multi-modality approach to content delivery to optimize impact.
• Develop and implement methods for measuring the impact of training initiatives and for identifying and addressing education gaps.
• Ensure outstanding project management and operational excellence within the CTCE function.

Communication and Commercial Engagement Responsibilities:

• Develop a clear communication plan to streamline information sharing across the commercial team.
• Lead commercial engagement initiatives directed at building connectivity, celebration, and career development across the team.
• Liaise with the commercial HR business partner and CLT to identify and integrate corporate and commercial-specific function initiatives.
• Role involves moderate travel (up to approximately 30% of time).

What You’ll Bring:

• BS/BA degree in business, life sciences, or related discipline. Advanced degree preferred (e.g., MBA, MPH, NP, PharmD, PhD).
• Twelve (12) or more years of experience within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries including at least 5 years in commercial training and effectiveness roles.
• Oncology launch experience is highly valued; oral oncolytic or rare/orphan market experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to devise and deliver large, complex initiatives/programs that have measurable impact on the organization.
• Outstanding planning and project management skills.
• Experience building new commercial capabilities in preparation for product launches is required.
• Prior experience leading franchise communications and/or operations preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability and willingness to work effectively and seamlessly at multiple “altitudes” within the organization.
• Must be a resourceful, creative problem solver who seeks out, and is receptive to, new ideas and approaches.
• Must be a true team player – authentic, humble, professional.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and lead people.
• Highly skilled at influencing cross-functional teams as an equal partner.
• Demonstrated ability to act with a sense of urgency, take initiative and bring new ideas to the forefront.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to changes in the work environment.

Additional Information

Deciphera offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package that includes the following:

• Non-accrual paid time off
• Summer vacation bonus
• Global, company-wide summer and winter shutdowns
• An annual lifestyle allowance
• Monthly cell phone stipend
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Life and Supplemental life insurance for family
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Health savings account
• Flexible spending account for either health care and/or dependent care
• Family Planning benefit

Deciphera is committed to equal employment opportunity and values diversity.