What You’ll Do:

The KAI-9531 US Brand Lead will create Kailera’s first brand and plan its launch in the highly competitive obesity market. Working in close cross-functional collaboration with Medical Affairs, Market Access, the Product Team and others, the Senior Director will deliver market analysis and brand strategy, lead the development and execution of pre-launch/launch tactics, and over time build a dedicated brand team. The role reports to the Vice President of Global Marketing.

Required location: Waltham, MA (hub-based, onsite 3-4 days per week).

Responsibilities:

• Drive market understanding by conducting deep market analysis to identify customer needs and opportunities
• Champion the needs of people with obesity within the broad Kailera organization
• Serve as Commercial leader within the KAI-9531 cross-functional project team
• Build the brand positioning strategy, maintain its Target Product Profile and secure cross-functional alignment to these strategic beacons
• Develop brand identity, differentiation strategy, messaging, target patient and promotional campaign for KAI-9531
• Establish our Health Care Professional (HCP) engagement strategy
• Design the Consumer strategy of KAI-9531, including prioritizing and implementing direct-to-consumer (DTC) investments, developing our Patient Service offering, leveraging digital health platforms, telehealth, or retail pharmacy channels
• Build, manage, and inspire a winning brand team
• Design and oversee execution of the annual marketing plan including market research and strategic projects
• Over time, on-board our US Launch Team and prepare the launch of KAI-9531
• Lead the cross-functional brand team (to be established)
• Manage agency/consultancy selection process and oversee their performance

Required Qualifications:

• 10+ years in pharmaceutical or consumer health brand leadership in the USA
• Launch experience in a competitive field and proven ability to identify and capitalize on whitespace opportunities to differentiate and compete successfully
• Deep understanding of consumer behavior, segmentation, and activation strategies in healthcare, especially in chronic disease categories, with a track record of successfully engaging consumers.
• Demonstrated success in leading brand strategy from pre-launch through lifecycle management in both HCP and consumer-driven markets
• Expertise in translating clinical and scientific value propositions into compelling brand narratives that resonate with diverse stakeholders
• Stand-out leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to influence and drive strategy across medical affairs, market access, regulatory, and R&D functions
• Inspirational leader with experience managing and mentoring high-performing brand teams
• Ability to integrate behavioral science, patient insights, and digital engagement into brand strategy

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in obesity, diabetes or related metabolic diseases is strongly preferred
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with high ambiguity and strategic complexity
• Experience with novel go-to-market models, including omnichannel marketing, influencer partnerships, and branded service ecosystems
• International/Global experience

Education:

• MBA or advanced degree in life sciences, marketing, or related field preferred