Medical Science Liaison Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Senior Medical Science Liaison

This field-based Senior Medical Science Liaison role sits within a growing Medical Affairs team and focuses on serving as a trusted scientific partner to external experts in the autoimmune, neuromuscular, and cell therapy communities. The position supports a southern U.S. territory, with an emphasis on the southwest and significant travel within Texas, and is ideal for an experienced field medical professional who wants to help shape Medical Affairs strategy while working on innovative mRNA cell therapies in autoimmune disease.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong, compliant scientific relationships with key opinion leaders, investigators, and healthcare professionals across neuromuscular and cell therapy centers in both academic and community settings.
• Engage in high-quality, peer-to-peer scientific exchange on clinical data, study design, and disease-state topics related to autoimmune disease and the company’s investigational programs.
• Serve as a scientific resource for external stakeholders by responding to unsolicited medical and scientific inquiries in accordance with all applicable compliance requirements.
• Support clinical trial execution by maintaining ongoing engagement with investigators, collaborating with study sites, and providing appropriate trial awareness and recruitment support activities.
• Collect, synthesize, and communicate field insights on treatment practices, emerging research, unmet medical needs, and competitive developments to inform Medical Affairs strategy and planning.
• Help shape territory engagement plans and key opinion leader mapping in alignment with broader Medical Affairs priorities and objectives.
• Contribute to Medical Affairs conference planning, including identification of strategic congresses, planning key opinion leader engagement, and coordinating scientific presence and activities.
• Represent the organization at scientific congresses and meetings, facilitate scientific exchange, capture key insights, and communicate learnings to internal stakeholders.
• Support advisory boards and other scientific meetings, including preparation of scientific materials and systematic capture of feedback to inform strategic direction.
• Participate in patient advocacy initiatives and outreach efforts, as appropriate, to support education and community engagement.
• Maintain up-to-date scientific knowledge in autoimmune disease, rare neuromuscular disease, and cell therapy, ensuring that all field activities align with internal policies and regulatory expectations.
• Partner cross-functionally with Clinical Development, Medical Affairs, and other internal teams to support shared scientific, strategic, and operational objectives.
• Travel extensively within the assigned territory, approximately 60–70%, including occasional weekends, to support field engagements, conferences, and scientific meetings.

Essential Skills

• Advanced degree required: MD, DO, PharmD, PhD, NP, or PA.
• At least 3+ years of relevant field medical, scientific exchange, or clinical trial support experience.
• Experience in autoimmune disease, rare neuromuscular disease, cell therapy, or autologous gene therapy.
• Demonstrated expertise in Medical Affairs, including scientific exchange and external stakeholder engagement.
• Proven ability to prepare and deliver high-quality scientific presentations to diverse audiences.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with key opinion leaders, investigators, and healthcare professionals.
• Ability to conduct in-depth scientific discussions on clinical trials, study design, and disease-state topics.
• Experience working with key opinion leaders (KOLs) and developing or executing KOL engagement strategies.
• Ability to support clinical trials, including site collaboration, enrollment strategy, and clinical trial awareness activities.
• Capability to work independently in a field-based role while managing a high volume of travel (approximately 60–70%), including occasional weekends.
• Proven ability to organize, lead, and execute high-level projects in a dynamic environment.
• Demonstrated success working collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
• Self-driven attitude with flexibility, resilience, and an innovative approach to problem-solving.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Background in cell therapy, including exposure to or understanding of autologous gene therapy approaches.
• Experience engaging with rare disease communities, particularly in rare neuromuscular diseases.
• Familiarity with enrollment strategy and site engagement tactics for clinical trials.
• Comfort representing an organization at scientific congresses and advisory boards, including planning and execution of scientific activities.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including mapping and prioritizing key opinion leaders and centers of excellence.
• Interest in and ability to participate in patient advocacy and outreach initiatives.
• Motivation to contribute to Medical Affairs strategy development, not only execution.
• Enthusiasm for working in a clinical-stage biotechnology environment focused on innovative mRNA cell therapies in autoimmune disease.

Work Environment

This is a remote, field-based role supporting the southwest U.S., with most travel concentrated in Texas and overall travel expectations of approximately 60–70%, including occasional weekends. The position reports into the Medical Affairs leadership team and operates within a collaborative, cross-functional environment that includes Clinical Development and other internal partners. The organization is a clinical-stage biotechnology company working at a potentially transformative point in its evolution, with a strong focus on innovative mRNA cell therapies in autoimmune disease. Team members work in a fast-paced, science-driven setting where they can help shape Medical Affairs strategy, contribute to conference and advisory board planning, and build relationships with leading neuromuscular and cell therapy experts across both academic and community centers.

This is a Permanent position based out of Gaithersburg, MD.

The pay range for this position is $240000.00 - $275000.00/yr.

Company Benefits Company Benefits Company Benefits

This is a hybrid position in Gaithersburg,MD.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 31, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

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