PHARMAFull-time
MSL oncology (East)
By Admin · Medical Affairs & MSL
KOLKATA (IN)ONSITEPOSTED: 9/2/2026
PHARMAFull-time
HIRING ORGANIZATIONTAKEDATechnology
ROLE DEFINITION & RESPONSIBILITIES
Job Overview & Purpose
Serve as a field-based scientific authority and primary Medical Affairs interface with the external scientific community across East India.
Facilitate high-quality, scientifically robust and compliant medical exchanges with key healthcare professionals (HCPs), Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and other stakeholders.
Execute Takeda's medical strategy for relevant oncology products and therapeutic areas.
Focus on scientific excellence, omnichannel engagement, agility and insight-driven field medical activities.
Communicate Takeda's scientific and clinical value in a patient-focused, accessible and scientifically accurate manner.
Capture structured, high-value insights from the external healthcare environment and relay them internally to help guide medical strategy and optimise field activities.
Territory & Geographic Scope
Primary listed location: Kolkata, India.
Geographic responsibility covers East India.
Operates as a regional field-based Medical Science Liaison.
The role requires substantial field travel, with willingness to travel approximately 60–70% of working time.
Functions as an individual contributor with no direct reports.
Scientific & Medical Engagement
Develop and implement territory-specific scientific engagement plans aligned with product launch objectives and therapeutic-area strategy.
Maintain advanced and current knowledge of the assigned therapeutic area and Takeda products.
Build trusted, long-term scientific relationships with KOLs, HCPs and other relevant stakeholders.
Conduct high-quality scientific exchanges focused on clinical evidence, therapeutic-area knowledge and patient outcomes.
Communicate scientific and clinical value clearly while maintaining a strict non-promotional approach.
Translate complex scientific information into patient-focused and accessible scientific discussions.
Dedicate the majority of working time to external KOL and HCP engagement.
Operate as the primary scientific and medical interface between Takeda and the external scientific community within the assigned territory.
Medical Strategy & Field Insights
Execute Takeda's medical strategy within the assigned territory.
Gather structured insights from HCPs and KOLs regarding clinical practice, patient needs, treatment landscapes and scientific opportunities.
Relay high-value field insights to internal Medical Affairs and cross-functional stakeholders.
Use external insights to support optimisation of medical strategy and field activities.
Support insight-led decision-making and territory prioritisation.
Contribute to scientific understanding of competitive specialty markets.
Omnichannel, Digital & Data-Driven Engagement
Use CRM systems to support planning, tracking and management of scientific engagements.
Apply analytics and data to prioritise and personalise stakeholder interactions.
Use digital and AI-powered platforms to improve scientific engagement where appropriate.
Support omnichannel engagement through appropriate combinations of field, digital and data-enabled interactions.
Demonstrate strong digital and analytical capability in field medical activities.
Tailor scientific communication based on stakeholder needs and actionable insights.
Scientific Events & Evidence Generation
Represent Medical Affairs at scientific congresses and professional events.
Participate in advisory boards and investigator meetings.
Support evidence-generation initiatives where applicable.
Engage with external scientific stakeholders to support understanding of evolving evidence and therapeutic-area developments.
Contribute scientific expertise and field insights to relevant medical initiatives.
Compliance, Regulatory & Ethical Responsibilities
Ensure all scientific interactions comply with Takeda policies and Standard Operating Procedures.
Follow applicable regulatory, legal and ethical standards governing pharmaceutical Medical Affairs activities.
Maintain strict separation between scientific medical engagement and promotional activity.
Perform the role in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and pharmaceutical industry codes.
Follow relevant industry standards such as EFPIA and applicable national pharmaceutical industry codes.
Apply full understanding of regulatory, legal and ethical frameworks governing non-promotional scientific engagement.
Balance patient, trust, reputation and business priorities when making territory-level decisions.
Operate within established risk, compliance and decision-making boundaries.
Cross-Functional Leadership & Influence
Lead through influence and example without formal line-management authority.
Guide cross-functional and account teams toward shared objectives.
Collaborate with Medical Affairs colleagues and other internal business partners.
Support account and territory teams through scientific expertise and actionable field insights.
Collaborate across functions and geographies.
Share best practices and insights that support broader enterprise success.
Support and guide less-experienced colleagues through knowledge sharing and positive role modelling.
Demonstrate self-leadership, adaptability and constructive change management.
Decision-Making & Autonomy
Work autonomously within established organizational and compliance guidelines.
Make and remain accountable for decisions within the assigned territory scope.
Make decisions that influence account and stakeholder outcomes.
Apply Takeda's decision framework when balancing Patient, Trust, Reputation and Business priorities.
Understand decision roles including Decide, Advise and Inform.
Make decisions using available information while maintaining speed, accountability and compliance.
Debate constructively, commit to decisions and execute actions within appropriate risk boundaries.
Innovation & Scientific Excellence
Apply strong scientific and technical knowledge to improve stakeholder engagement.
Share scientific knowledge and field insights across relevant teams.
Use CRM, analytics, digital tools and AI to improve prioritisation and personalisation.
Take sensible and compliant approaches to innovation in scientific engagement.
Continuously adapt engagement approaches based on changing scientific, stakeholder and competitive environments.
Performance & Business Impact
Set ambitious personal objectives and take ownership of measurable outcomes.
Deliver territory responsibilities with accountability, pace and execution discipline.
Balance scientific excellence with patient and business impact.
Support measurable outcomes for patients and the organization.
Operate effectively in competitive specialty markets with complex stakeholder needs.
Demonstrate enterprise orientation by supporting outcomes beyond the immediate territory when required.
Technical & Functional Expertise
Demonstrate solid and experienced therapeutic-area expertise.
Maintain strong product knowledge relevant to assigned responsibilities.
Apply advanced scientific knowledge to field medical interactions.
Demonstrate strong scientific communication capabilities.
Use digital, data and analytical skills to support scientific engagement.
Apply omnichannel engagement approaches to field medical activities.
Understand complex scientific and clinical information and communicate it appropriately to expert healthcare audiences.
Leadership & Culture Expectations
Demonstrate strong self-leadership.
Lead cross-functional partners through influence rather than formal authority.
Adapt positively to organizational and market change.
Role-model Takeda's culture pillars:
Patient-Centric.
People-Minded.
Respectful & Collaborative.
Decision Effectiveness.
Performance Culture.
Enterprise Orientation.
Foster constructive, collaborative and respectful relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Education Requirements
Advanced scientific degree required.
Preferred qualifications include PhD, PharmD or MD.
MSc is also considered acceptable.
Experience Requirements
Requires solid field medical or Medical Science Liaison experience.
Experience in competitive specialty markets is preferred.
The posting does not specify an exact minimum number of years; based on the seniority and requirement for solid MSL experience, the role is mapped to the 5+ Years experience category.
Required Professional Skills
Strong scientific communication.
Therapeutic-area and product expertise.
Field medical engagement experience.
Stakeholder and KOL relationship management.
Digital and analytical capabilities.
Omnichannel scientific engagement.
Insight generation and communication.
Cross-functional collaboration.
Independent decision-making within established guidelines.
English proficiency.
Ability and willingness to travel extensively.
Work Arrangement
Full-time regular employee role.
Field-based position with Kolkata as the listed location.
Significant territory travel of approximately 60–70% is expected.
Worker Type: Employee.
Worker Sub-Type: Regular.
REQUIRED VERIFIED SKILLS
Oncology
Medical Affairs
Medical Science Liaison
Field Medical
Scientific Communication
Therapeutic Area Expertise
Product Knowledge
KOL Management
HCP Engagement
Medical Strategy Execution
Scientific Exchange
Patient-Centric Communication
Field Insights
Omnichannel Engagement
CRM
Data Analytics
AI-Powered Platforms
Scientific Events
Advisory Boards
Investigator Meetings
Evidence Generation
Regulatory Compliance
Legal Compliance
Ethical Compliance
Non-Promotional Engagement
SOP Compliance
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Stakeholder Management
English Communication
Field Travel
COMPENSATION & REWARDS
Salary: Competitive / Disclosed upon candidate shortlisting
Salary and benefits are not disclosed in the provided job posting. Compensation for an experienced field-based Medical Science Liaison in oncology is typically influenced by scientific qualifications, oncology expertise, years of MSL experience, territory responsibility, travel requirements and overall Medical Affairs experience. Candidates should confirm the complete compensation structure directly during the recruitment process, including fixed salary, variable or performance-based incentives, travel allowances, insurance, retirement benefits, medical benefits and any other total-rewards components. Because this role requires significant field travel, candidates should also clarify travel expense reimbursement and territory-related support.
ORGANIZATION CONTEXT & CULTURE
Takeda is actively hiring for this position.
INDUSTRY: Technology
EXPECTED CAREER ROADMAP
This role provides a strong career pathway within Medical Affairs and oncology-focused field medical leadership. Successful performance can lead to progression into Senior Medical Science Liaison, Medical Advisor, Medical Manager, Therapeutic Area Lead, Regional Medical Lead or broader Medical Affairs leadership positions. The role develops high-value capabilities in oncology science, KOL engagement, medical strategy execution, evidence generation, omnichannel engagement and cross-functional influence. Extensive interaction with scientific leaders and participation in advisory boards, investigator meetings and evidence-generation activities can build expertise for strategic Medical Affairs, global medical roles and therapeutic-area leadership. Professionals who combine advanced scientific knowledge with strong leadership, digital capabilities and insight-led strategic thinking may progress toward regional or global Medical Affairs strategy positions.
APPLICATION ADVISORY
Tailor your resume to demonstrate oncology or specialty therapeutic-area expertise, field medical experience and scientifically credible engagement with KOLs and HCPs. Clearly highlight experience conducting non-promotional scientific exchanges, gathering field insights, supporting medical strategy and representing Medical Affairs at scientific events. Include examples of advisory boards, investigator meetings, evidence-generation initiatives and cross-functional collaboration where applicable. Prepare for interviews by reviewing oncology treatment landscapes, relevant clinical evidence and current Medical Affairs principles. Be ready to explain how you maintain scientific neutrality and compliance while communicating product evidence, how you prioritise stakeholders using insights and analytics, and how you manage extensive travel across a territory. Demonstrate familiarity with CRM systems, omnichannel engagement and digital or AI-enabled approaches to stakeholder engagement.
RECOMMENDED TRAINING
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