Associate Director, Scientific Materials and Professional Training - 1764
Ascendis Pharma is a dynamic, fast-growing global biopharmaceutical company with locations in Denmark, Europe, and the United States. Today, we're advancing programs in Endocrinology Rare Disease and Oncology.
Here at Ascendis, we pride ourselves on exceptional science, visionary leadership, and skilled and passionate colleagues.
Guided by our core values of Patients, Science, and Passion, we use our TransCon® drug development platform to fulfill our mission of developing new and potentially best-in-class therapies to address unmet medical needs.
Our culture fosters a place where skilled, adaptable, and highly resourceful professionals can truly make their mark. We offer a dynamic workplace for employees to grow and develop their skills.
The Global Scientific Training Specialist plays a pivotal role in designing, delivering, and maintaining high-impact scientific training programs for Medical Affairs professionals worldwide. This role is responsible for creating engaging content, facilitating training sessions, onboarding new team members, updating curricula quarterly, managing learning systems, and mentoring Medical Affairs Fellows. The ideal candidate is a dynamic communicator with a passion for science education and a commitment to excellence in training delivery.
Key Responsibilities
1. Content Creation & Curriculum Development
- Research, design and develop scientifically accurate, engaging, and interactive training materials (e.g., presentations, eLearning modules, job aids etc.).
- Share content with subject matter experts to ensure content reflects the latest scientific and therapeutic area advancements and submit to content alignment.
- Conduct quarterly reviews and updates of training curricula to maintain relevance and compliance with regulatory standards.
2. Training Facilitation and Trainer Certification
- Lead live and virtual training sessions for global Medical Affairs teams, ensuring high levels of engagement and knowledge retention.
- Develop and support regional trainers in the conjunction with the learning academy making sure we maintain a collaboration with the medical directors.
- Utilize adult learning principles and innovative instructional design techniques to enhance learning experiences.
3. Onboarding & Continuous Learning
- Develop and execute both onboarding programs for new Medical Affairs team members, ensuring a smooth transition and foundational understanding of scientific and operational competencies.
- Monitor progress and provide feedback to ensure successful integration and performance.
4. Learning Management System (LMS) Administration
- Manage and update content within the LMS, ensuring accurate tracking of training completion and compliance.
- Collaborate with IT and instructional design teams to troubleshoot issues and optimize user experience.
5. Mentorship & Development
- Serve as a mentor to Medical Affairs Fellows, providing guidance, feedback, and support in their professional development.
- Facilitate learning pathways and career development discussions aligned with organizational goals.
6. Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with cross-functional teams including Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, and Commercial to align training initiatives with strategic objectives.
- Support global training rollouts and localization efforts to ensure cultural and regional relevance.
Requirements
- Minimum of Bachelor Degree in Life Sciences with clinical specialty
- Doctoral degree in life sciences preferred (PhD, PharmD, MD, or equivalent).
- 8+ years of experience in Medical Affairs, scientific training, or related field.
- Proven experience in instructional design, adult learning principles, and content development.
- Familiarity with LMS platforms and eLearning tools (e.g., Articulate, Adobe Captivate).
- Strong facilitation and presentation skills across virtual and in-person formats.
- Experience mentoring or coaching early-career professionals.
- Excellent communication, project management, and organizational skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a global, cross-functional, and remote environment.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in therapeutic areas relevant to the organization.
- Certification in training or instructional design (e.g., ATD, CPTD).
- Multilingual capabilities are a plus.
The estimated salary range for this position is $175-190K. Actual salary determination is dependent on a variety of factors some of which include: experience, qualifications, and geographic location. This position may be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus or an incentive compensation plan (eligibility varies based on role and position level), discretionary stock-based long-term incentives, paid time off, and a comprehensive benefits package.
Benefits
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Medical, dental, and vision plans
- Company-offered Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
- Company-provided short and long-term disability benefits
- Unique offerings of Pet Insurance and Legal Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Employee Discounts
- Professional Development
- Health Saving Account (HSA)
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Various incentive compensation plans
- Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance
- Mental Health resources
- Paid leave benefits for new parents
Ascendis Pharma is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
A note to recruiters:
We do not allow external search party solicitation. Presentation of candidates without written permission from the Ascendis Pharma Inc Human Resources team (specifically from: Talent Acquisition Partner or Human Resources Director) is not allowed. If this occurs your ownership of these candidates will not be acknowledged.