AstraZeneca
Senior Brand Manager – Rare Disease
- Permanent
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Experience 5 - 10 yrs
Job expiry date: 15/04/2026
Job overview
Date posted
02/03/2026
Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Salary
AED 40,000 - 50,000 per month
Compensation
Job description
The Senior Brand Manager – Rare Disease (Gulf Markets) is a full-time position within the Commercial Team based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, responsible for developing and implementing rare disease brand strategies across Gulf Markets. Reporting to the Franchise Head and working closely with the Gulf Franchise Head, the role supports AstraZeneca’s expansion in rare diseases following the acquisition of Alexion in 2021. Rare diseases represent a high-growth therapy area with rapid innovation and significant unmet medical need, with over 7,000 rare diseases known globally and less than 1% having an approved treatment. The Senior Brand Manager leads the brand planning process for the assigned portfolio, defining brand positioning within the competitive landscape including key messages, programs, and initiatives, and adapting global AZ brand strategy to local market needs through tailored tactics and execution plans. Responsibilities include developing and coordinating implementation of marketing programs, managing costs, ensuring launch readiness and planning pre- and post-launch activities, building a solid marketing mix through appropriate channels, and designing programs to enhance customer experience. The role requires deep understanding of the patient journey to design tailored programs addressing diagnostic and management gaps, particularly patient finding activities, and shaping the ecosystem for diagnosis and management of complex disorders. The manager leads forecasting during business planning, contributes to market research planning, monitors KPIs via a brand dashboard, and develops and implements KOL management and KEE management plans. The position manages advertising and support agencies in implementing global communication tools and developing local marketing and promotional materials for field teams, supports execution of promotional events from concept to content delivery, and ensures compliance with the Code of Conduct, Company Values, Marketing procedures, local laws, and ethical standards. The role requires a minimum of 8 years of pharmaceutical experience, including 5 years in Specialty Brand Marketing, proven new product launch experience leading cross-functional teams from 12 months pre-launch through post-launch, experience in rare diseases, orphan drugs, and potentially haematology, nephrology, neurology, or rare endocrine therapy areas, with availability for travel within Gulf Markets and experience influencing at senior level.
Required skills
Key responsibilities
- Develop and lead the brand planning process for assigned rare disease portfolio by defining brand strategy, brand positioning within the competitive landscape, key messages, programs, and initiatives, and adapting the global AZ brand strategy to Gulf Markets in close collaboration with the Franchise Head and cross-functional team.
- Drive new product launch excellence by ensuring launch readiness and comprehensive planning from 12 months pre-launch through post-launch, coordinating cross-functional team activities, building a robust marketing mix through appropriate channels, and executing key initiatives that enhance customer experience and maximize early uptake.
- Develop and coordinate implementation of marketing programs for assigned brand(s) including cost management, agency oversight, and execution of global communication tools adapted for local markets, ensuring timely delivery of promotional materials for the field team.
- Lead forecasting during the business planning process, contribute to the market research plan, and monitor KPIs through a structured brand dashboard to track performance, identify gaps, and optimize marketing investments in alignment with business objectives.
- Build a robust understanding of the patient journey and shape the ecosystem for diagnosis and management of complex disorders by designing tailored programs addressing patient finding gaps and improving access and awareness within rare disease pathways.
- Develop and implement comprehensive KOL management and KEE management plans, establish and maintain quality and trustful relationships with the relevant medical community, opinion leaders, influencers, and decision-makers, and ensure frequent engagement with field teams, HCPs, and KOLs in compliance with local requirements.
- Ensure strict adherence to business ethics, Code of Conduct, Company Values, Marketing procedures, and local laws, while supporting field teams in execution of promotional events from concept design to content delivery and performing additional duties within the position’s scope as assigned by the Line Manager.
Experience & skills
- Hold a Science degree and/or Master’s degree in a scientific discipline, providing the clinical and scientific foundation required to lead rare disease marketing strategies and engage effectively with healthcare professionals and key opinion leaders.
- Demonstrate a minimum of 8 years of pharmaceutical experience, including at least 5 years of marketing experience in Specialty Brands, with proven capability in developing and executing brand strategy within complex therapeutic areas.
- Exhibit proven new product launch experience including comprehensive launch readiness planning and leadership of cross-functional teams from 12 months pre-launch through post-launch, ensuring alignment across Commercial, Medical, and other stakeholder functions.
- Show experience in shaping the ecosystem for diagnosis and management of complex disorders, including patient journey mapping, patient finding initiatives, and implementation of programs that address unmet medical needs in rare diseases and orphan drugs.
- Possess strong experience in rare disease marketing and preferably haematology, nephrology, neurology, or rare endocrine therapy areas, with exposure to niche markets and orphan drugs, and experience in Gulf markets beyond UAE considered advantageous.
- Demonstrate ability to influence at senior level with excellent communication, presentation, influencing, and project tactical management skills, along with resilience to operate effectively in a fast-changing environment and manage multiple stakeholders.
- Display strong leadership profile with potential for progression to a more senior role, solid KEE management and KOL management capabilities, availability for travel within Gulf Markets, and consistent adherence to high standards of ethics, integrity, and compliance with all applicable laws and internal policies.