Company Overview:
Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics, Inc., a subsidiary of Innoviva, Inc., is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative solutions for patients and healthcare providers in the fields of Critical Care and Infectious Diseases.
Our mission to deliver innovative, life-saving medicines for serious unmet medical conditions drives us every day and contributes to building a sustainable business for the long term. It also inspires our entrepreneurial culture which fosters innovation, collaboration, and a relentless commitment to the people we serve. Patients are at the center of everything we do because everyday matters. Every employee is encouraged to take initiative, explore new ideas, and turn challenges into opportunities that can potentially transform lives, especially those suffering from serious and difficult-to-treat illnesses.
Our products marketed in the U.S. include:
- GIAPREZA (angiotensin II) is a vasoconstrictor to increase blood pressure in adults with septic or other distributive shock.
- XACDURO (sulbactam for injection; durlobactam for injection) is a new treatment designed specifically to treat hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (HABP) and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP) caused by susceptible strains of bacteria called Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex in adults.
- XERAVA (eravacycline) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI).
- ZEVTERA (ceftobiprole) is a newly approved advanced-generation cephalosporin antibiotic and the only FDA-approved cephalosporin specifically designed to treat adult patients with Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (bacteremia) including those with right-sided infective endocarditis. In addition, Zevtera is approved in adult patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI), and adult and pediatric patients (3 months to less than 18 years old) with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP).
- Nuzolvence (zoliflodacin) for oral suspension is a first-in-class, single-dose oral antibiotic for the treatment of uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older weighing at least 35 kg.
Summary of Position:
Reporting to the Vice President of Marketing, the Brand Lead will lead the launch and commercialization of NUZOLVENCE (zoliflidacin), a new product for the treatment of uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea, with direct responsibility for Marketing and Sales. Reporting to the Vice President of Marketing, the Director, Commercial Lead will be responsible for the launch, commercialization, and long-term growth of Nuzolvence (zoliflodacin) in the United States. This individual will serve as the franchise leader, developing and executing an integrated commercial strategy spanning marketing, sales, market access collaboration, strategic partnerships, customer engagement, and launch readiness.
The Brand Lead will build and lead a new team and capabilities required to support the launch in early 2027 and drive continued post-launch growth. This role will develop and drive an integrated, cross-functional commercial strategy, build strong relationships with key customers, opinion leaders, and strategic partners; and work closely across Marketing, Sales, Market Access, Medical Affairs, and other functions to ensure strong launch readiness and execution.
Operating in a lean and entrepreneurial biotech environment, the Commercial Lead will build the commercial capabilities, processes, and team required to support a successful launch and drive sustained business performance. The individual will work cross-functionally across Marketing, Sales, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Business Development, Regulatory Affairs, and Finance to deliver business objectives while keeping patients at the center of decision-making.
The ideal candidate has significant experience in both HCP and Consumer Marketing, launching new products in the pharmaceutical industry, working closely with Sales, and people management. Experience in the STD market (e.g., HIV) and/or Public Health is strongly preferred.
Responsibilities:
Commercial Strategy & Marketing
- Own the commercial strategy and business performance for NUZOLVENCE (zoliflidacin) across pre-launch, launch, and growth phases.
- Develop differentiated HCP, patient, and account-based marketing strategies.
- Translate customer insights into impactful personal and digital engagement programs.
- Lead agency relationships and promotional planning.
- Develop integrated brand HCP and patient/customer strategies grounded in segmentation, customer journeys, behavioral insights and unmet needs, translating insights into differentiated engagement strategies across personal and non-personal channels.
- Ensure that marketing plans are based on customer insights and drive positive customer engagement.
- Lead the development of annual and multi-year marketing plans, including budget allocation and resource management.
- Sales Leadership Build, coach, and lead a high-performing national sales organization.
- Establish performance expectations and accountability measures.
- Collaborate closely with Sales leadership to optimize field effectiveness and customer engagement.
- Build relationships with key opinion leaders, accounts and healthcare systems.
- Establish KPIs, monitor performance, analyze sales trends and competitive dynamics to inform strategy and execution.
Alliance & Strategic Partner Leadership
- Identify, develop and manage strategic alliances and external partnerships that extend commercial capabilities, accelerate launch execution and support brand growth. Establish clear partnership objectives, governance, roles, performance expectations and KPIs; work cross-functionally to ensure partnerships deliver measurable value for the brand and customers.
Market Access
- Partner closely with Market Access, ensuring alignment of the payer strategy to the brand strategy.
Organizational and People leadership
- Build the commercial organization and capabilities required for launch and growth, including organizational design, talent development, ways of working and scalable commercial processes appropriate for a growing biotech.
Experience & Education:
- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred.
- 10 plus years in pharma with leadership roles across Sales and Marketing with a deep understanding of the US healthcare market.
- Experience in the STI market (e.g., HIV) and/or Public Health strongly preferred.
- Proven track record of building and leading high-performing customer-facing teams.
- Significant experience launching new pharmaceutical brands and leading pre-launch and launch planning and execution.
- Experience developing and executing HCP and consumer marketing strategies.
- Demonstrated experience working cross-functionally with Sales, Market Access, Medical Affairs, and other key functions.
Skills and Abilities:
- Proven track record of implementing innovative solutions that span people, processes and technology.
- Proven experience in developing and managing strategic alliances and external partnerships to extend commercial capabilities and accelerate growth.
- Strong leadership skills with demonstrated ability to build, develop, coach, and motivate high-performing teams.
- Strong analytical skills with ability to analyze data, interpret insights, and make data-driven decisions.
- Demonstrated ability to drive alignment and execution across cross-functional, matrixed teams that create alignment, enable rapid decision-making and drive shared accountability for execution.
- Demonstrated adaptability and agility - comfortable operating in a growing organization and a fast-pasted, evolving commercial environment.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence without authority.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position.
Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.