📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Brand Lead, Rare Disease, Marketing
🔹 Company: Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals Inc.
🔹 Location: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
🔹 Job Type: Hybrid (1-2 days on-site per week)
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: July 1, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site (Hybrid)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading the development and execution of marketing strategies for the Rare Diseases brand
- Ensuring annual commercial objectives are achieved, including sales, margin targets, and other KPIs
- Facilitating cross-functional collaboration and alignment to meet or exceed brand objectives
- Managing marketing budgets and delivering comprehensive business reviews
- Working closely with Business Unit leadership to contribute to the development and realization of Business Unit vision and plans
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, leadership, and collaboration to successfully manage complex marketing strategies and cross-functional teams.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Direct the development & implementation of creative/innovative, patient-centric and appropriate brand marketing strategies and plans that are fully integrated across the team to ensure seamless execution
✅ Ensure all annual commercial objectives associated with the brand are achieved, including sales, margin targets, and other KPIs
✅ Facilitate and ensure effective and efficient cross-functional collaboration and alignment to meet or exceed brand objectives
✅ Develop, recommend and manage marketing budgets
✅ Develop and deliver clear and comprehensive business reviews as required
✅ Identify & align all required resources – internally and externally – to ensure effective and seamless achievement of goals, including identifying, negotiating with and managing third-party/external vendors to support plans and activities
✅ Work closely with Business Unit leadership to contribute to the development and realization of Business Unit vision and plans
ASSUMPTION: The responsibilities listed above are not exhaustive and may evolve based on business needs and priorities.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) required; MBA or advanced scientific degree strongly preferred
Experience: At least 10 years of biopharma commercial leadership experience, including at least 5 years in marketing or marketing-related functions focused in rare diseases or specialty areas. Demonstrated experience with liver disease, hepatology or GI is strongly preferred. Extensive experience in US Marketing and US product launch is required. Strong competitive market experience is also required.
Required Skills:
- Proven leadership and strategic planning skills
- Strong knowledge of marketing disciplines and their application
- Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills
- Ability to build and maintain effective cross-functional relationships
- Proven ability to manage budgets and deliver results
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Familiarity with rare diseases and specialty care
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with liver disease, hepatology, or GI
- Experience in pharmaceutical sales
- Experience with product launches in the US market
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong background in marketing, leadership, and a proven track record in the biopharma industry are most likely to succeed in this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: CAD 150,000 - 200,000 per year (Based on industry standards for a Marketing Director with 10+ years of experience in the biopharma industry)
Benefits:
- Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
- Retirement savings plan with company match
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Generous time-off policies
- Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexible work arrangements available
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a Marketing Director with the required experience level. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as skills, experience, and market conditions.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Ipsen operates in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, focusing on transformative medicines in Oncology, Rare Disease, and Neuroscience.
Company Size: Ipsen is a mid-sized company with approximately 6,339 employees globally, providing a collaborative and agile work environment.
Founded: Ipsen was founded in 1929 and has since grown into a global specialty-driven biopharmaceutical company focused on innovation and specialty care.
Company Description:
- Patient-focused: The patient is at the heart of everything Ipsen does, and improving their outcomes is the deliverable of every strategy.
- Employee care: Ipsen cares for its employees, who are the ambassadors making a real difference.
- Bold leadership: Ipsen attracts and develops bold, agile, entrepreneurial individuals who take full ownership of their decisions.
- Growth opportunities: Ipsen offers a wealth of fulfilling challenges and growth opportunities in a fast-moving, game-changing organization.
Company Specialties:
- Pharmaceuticals
- Specialty care: oncology, neuroscience, endocrinology
- Research: peptides, toxins, and primary care
Company Website: ipsen.com
ASSUMPTION: Ipsen's focus on patient-centricity, employee care, bold leadership, and growth opportunities creates a unique and attractive work environment for candidates.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the senior management level, reporting directly to the Business Unit leadership.
Reporting Structure: The Brand Lead will have direct reports, including marketing team members and external vendors, and will collaborate with cross-functional teams across the organization.
Work Arrangement: This role is hybrid, with 1-2 days on-site per week, offering flexibility for remote work.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential progression to a more senior marketing role within the organization
- Expansion of responsibilities based on business needs and performance
- Professional development opportunities, such as training and mentorship programs
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to expand responsibilities and advance their career within the organization.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Ipsen's Cambridge office is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster innovation and creativity.
Office Location(s): Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Geographic Context:
- Cambridge is a vibrant, multicultural city located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), offering a high quality of life with access to excellent education, healthcare, and recreational facilities.
- The city is home to a thriving tech and biotech industry, providing ample networking and professional development opportunities.
- Cambridge is well-connected by major highways and public transportation, making it an attractive location for commuters.
Work Schedule: The work schedule for this role is full-time (40 hours per week), with flexible work arrangements available to accommodate individual needs and preferences.
ASSUMPTION: The Cambridge office provides a dynamic and engaging work environment, with easy access to urban amenities and a strong biotech industry presence.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application review
- Phone or video screening
- In-person or virtual interview with hiring manager
- Final round interview with key stakeholders
- Background check and offer extension
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic thinking and leadership skills
- Marketing expertise and industry knowledge
- Cross-functional collaboration and communication skills
- Budget management and financial acumen
- Alignment with Ipsen's company values and culture
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant marketing and leadership experience, as well as your familiarity with rare diseases and specialty care.
- Prepare examples of your past marketing strategies, their impact, and the results you achieved.
- Research Ipsen's company culture and values to demonstrate your alignment with their mission and vision.
ATS Keywords: Marketing, Brand Management, Strategic Planning, Leadership, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Market Analysis, Product Launch, Patient-Centric Approach, Negotiation, Hepatology, Oncology, Rare Diseases, Sales Experience, Innovation
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role will focus on assessing the candidate's strategic thinking, marketing expertise, and cultural fit with Ipsen's values and mission.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Marketing automation tools (e.g., Marketo, Pardot)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
- Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies required for this role are standard in the biopharma industry and can be easily mastered by candidates with relevant marketing experience.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Patient-centricity: Putting patients first in all decisions and actions
- Bold leadership: Taking ownership and driving results through innovative and entrepreneurial approaches
- Collaboration: Working together across functions, teams, and geographies to achieve common goals
- Excellence: Striving for the highest standards in all aspects of our work
- Integrity: Upholding the highest ethical standards in all our actions
Work Style:
- Agile and adaptable, able to pivot quickly in response to changing market conditions
- Collaborative and team-oriented, with strong communication and influencing skills
- Data-driven and analytical, with a focus on results and continuous improvement
- Innovative and creative, with a willingness to take calculated risks to drive growth
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you demonstrate patient-centricity in your marketing strategies and tactics?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you led a cross-functional team to achieve a significant business objective?
- How do you stay up-to-date with industry trends and market dynamics in the rare disease space?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who align with Ipsen's values and work style, and can demonstrate their fit through thoughtful self-assessment, are most likely to succeed in this role.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The complexity and sensitivity of rare disease marketing, requiring a deep understanding of patient needs and market dynamics
- The need to balance short-term tactical execution with long-term strategic planning
- The requirement to manage multiple stakeholders, including internal teams, external vendors, and regulatory bodies
- The need to adapt to changing market conditions and regulatory environments
ASSUMPTION: The Brand Lead, Rare Disease, Marketing role presents unique challenges that require a strategic, adaptable, and patient-centric approach.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Unlike traditional pharmaceutical marketing roles, this position focuses specifically on rare diseases, requiring a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities presented by these conditions.
- Compared to other marketing roles in the biopharma industry, this position offers a higher degree of strategic autonomy and the opportunity to make a significant impact on a smaller, more focused patient population.
- Career progression in this role may follow a path towards more senior marketing leadership positions within the organization, or potentially into other areas of the business, such as business development or general management.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique blend of strategic autonomy, patient focus, and growth potential, setting it apart from other marketing positions in the biopharma industry.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a patient-centric marketing campaign for a newly launched rare disease therapy, including market research, segmentation, messaging, and channel strategy
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to create and implement a competitive pricing strategy for a rare disease product, balancing patient access and financial sustainability
- Conducting a comprehensive market analysis and competitive landscape assessment for a rare disease therapeutic area, informing strategic planning and resource allocation
ASSUMPTION: The Brand Lead, Rare Disease, Marketing role offers a wide range of projects and initiatives, providing opportunities for candidates to apply their skills and gain valuable experience in the rare disease space.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the most significant marketing challenge facing the Rare Diseases business unit and how this role is positioned to address it?
- How does Ipsen support the professional development and growth of its marketing team members?
- Can you provide an example of a time when Ipsen's marketing team collaborated effectively with other functions, such as sales or medical affairs, to achieve a common goal?
- How does Ipsen measure the success of its marketing strategies and tactics, and how is this information used to inform future planning?
- What is the most rewarding aspect of working in marketing for rare diseases at Ipsen?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful, strategic questions during the interview process will help candidates gain a deeper understanding of the role, the team, and the company, and demonstrate their interest and engagement.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant marketing and leadership experience, as well as your familiarity with rare diseases and specialty care.
- Prepare examples of your past marketing strategies, their impact, and the results you achieved.
- Research Ipsen's company culture and values to demonstrate your alignment with their mission and vision.
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to inquire about the status of your application and reiterate your interest in the role.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
