Vice President Head of Epilepsy - R&D
About the job
- MD and PhD with specialization in Epilepsy.
- Board Certification in Neurology or subspecialties.
- A minimum of 10 years of experience in drug development in both academia and the pharmaceutical industry.
- National or international recognition as an academic epileptologist and/or epilepsy drug developer.
- Significant experience in clinical research and trial leadership and investigator-initiated studies.
- A strong track record of publications, conference presentations, and scientific leadership roles.
- An established network across academic centers, clinical trial sites, and epilepsy organizations.
- Proven experience leading and developing teams in a global matrixed organization.
- The ability to proactively lead through change and ambiguity.
- The ability to effectively communicate complex ideas concisely with impact within executive-level forums.
- The ability to effectively lead cross-functional teams and successfully leverage internal and external partnerships.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to lead and represent department functions on project teams in a matrix organization.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with collaborative interpersonal skills.
- The ability to travel up to 10%–20% of the time.
- Develop and shape epilepsy clinical development strategy aligned with the portfolio, regulatory expectations, and unmet needs.
- Define clinical endpoints, trial designs, and patient populations across epilepsy development programs.
- Integrate scientific insights, literature, and competitive intelligence into actionable program strategies.
- Steward epilepsy programs through governance to align budget and timeline expectations.
- Execute multiple epilepsy programs according to budget and timeline.
- Serve as the accountable R&D leader for the Jazz Scientific Advisory Board in Epilepsy.
- Serve as a leading external scientific voice by building trusted relationships with epilepsy experts and stakeholders.
- Engage academic epileptologists and experts to inform strategy, evidence generation, and trial design.
- Represent the company at congresses, symposia, and regulatory interactions as an epilepsy clinical expert.
- Drive collaborative research initiatives with academic institutions and external partners advancing epilepsy science.
- Establish and oversee collaborative research aligned with strategic priorities.
- Identify emerging scientific opportunities and innovative technologies to advance epilepsy therapeutic development.
- Bridge preclinical discoveries and clinical development to enhance the probability of success for epilepsy programs.
- Translate mechanistic insights and biomarkers into clinical hypotheses, endpoints, and decision frameworks.
- Partner with nonclinical teams to refine target validation and support translational development strategies.
- Provide R&D leadership at enterprise-wide epilepsy forums to advance the epilepsy pipeline, commercial portfolio, and category leadership.
- Influence Executive Committee and Board stakeholders through clear, data-rich scientific presentations.
- Mentor internal teams and contribute to capability building in epilepsy expertise across the organization.
- Embed patient and caregiver perspectives into development strategy through meaningful community engagement.
- Partner with advocacy organizations and patients to incorporate patient-centricity into trial design and endpoint selection.
- Ensure development programs reflect diversity, access considerations, and real-world patient priorities.
- Manage and develop high-performing teams in a global organization.
- Build leadership capability through mentoring, coaching, and talent development programs to enhance performance and engagement.
- Foster a learning culture featuring innovation and operational excellence.
- Lead through change while building trust and credibility across the enterprise.
About the company
Jazz Pharmaceuticals develops and markets therapies in neuroscience and oncology. Its products include Xyrem and the lower-sodium option Xywav for narcolepsy, Epidiolex for seizures in severe epilepsy, and oncology medicines Zepzelca for small cell lung cancer and Vyxeos for AML, with Epidiolex being cannabidiol-based. The company grows its portfolio through a mix of in-house R&D and strategic acquisitions that broaden its specialty-drug lineup and global reach. Its goal is to expand approved treatments and the pipeline to help patients with limited options by building a diversified, specialty-focused portfolio.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Dublin, Ireland
Founded
2003
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Q2 2026 revenue hit $1.21 billion; Jazz raised full-year guidance to $4.68 billion.
- Actio's ABS-1230 adds first-in-class KCNT1 epilepsy upside after the September 15, 2026 close.
- Oncology revenue exceeded $1 billion in 2025, driven by Zepzelca and Ziihera.
What critics are saying
- Xywav faces Lupin, Teva, and Tris patent fights; generic entry threatens 2027 cash flow.
- Xywav and EPIDIOLEX still dominate value; one patent loss or safety issue would crush earnings.
- Jazz paid $820 million for Actio before registrational proof; ABS-1230 can still fail.
What makes Jazz Pharmaceuticals unique
- Ziihera launched August 2026, targeting $3B-$5B across HER2-positive tumors.
- EPIDIOLEX holds exclusivity into the late 2030s and now funds four new trials.
- Xywav's low-sodium oxybate formulation keeps narcolepsy patients despite generic Xyrem pressure.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Paid Vacation
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
↑ 1%2 year growth
↑ 0%Jazz Pharmaceuticals reported its oncology revenue surpassed $1 billion in 2025, marking a 32% year-over-year increase. The growth follows three recent product launches, including zanidatamab, Modeyso and Zepzelca's FORTE regimen. The company raised zanidatamab's estimated peak-sales opportunity to $3 billion-$5 billion. Jazz aims to increase HER2-directed treatment adoption in gastroesophageal cancer, where only 60% of eligible HER2-positive patients currently receive such therapy. Jazz estimates the US incidence of HER2-positive gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma at approximately 8,000 patients, with a labelled population of 3,000 to 4,000 patients. The company is also developing zanidatamab for biliary tract cancer, colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and breast cancer. Jazz maintains commercial investment whilst preserving financial flexibility for acquisitions across oncology, epilepsy and sleep disorders.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals' stock has risen 29.7% over the past six months, outpacing the S&P 500 by 17 percentage points to reach $240.49 per share. However, analysts point to concerning trends in the company's fundamentals. The company's adjusted operating margin has declined by 2.6 percentage points over five years, despite revenue growth that should have improved economies of scale. Its trailing 12-month adjusted operating margin stood at 41.7%. Additionally, Jazz Pharmaceuticals' five-year average return on invested capital was just 2.7%, below the typical cost of capital for healthcare companies. This suggests mediocre efficiency in deploying capital for growth. The stock currently trades at 9.6× forward price-to-earnings ratio. Analysts consider this valuation reasonable but believe the company's weakening fundamentals present downside risk.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals has priced an upsized $1.1 billion private offering of 1.875% exchangeable senior notes due 2032, up from the previously announced $1.0 billion. The offering, conducted through its wholly-owned subsidiary Jazz Investments I Limited, is expected to close on 31 August 2026. The notes will mature on 15 September 2032 and are exchangeable at an initial rate of 2.8150 ordinary shares per $1,000 principal amount, equivalent to an exchange price of approximately $355.24 per share. This represents a 42.5% premium above the last reported sale price on 26 August 2026. The company will use net proceeds of approximately $1,079 million for general corporate purposes. Concurrently, Jazz Pharmaceuticals agreed to repurchase approximately $225 million of its ordinary shares from note purchasers at $249.29 per share, using existing cash on hand.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals has launched Ziihera in the US following FDA approval for first-line treatment of HER2-positive, unresectable or metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. The drug can be used with tislelizumab and chemotherapy, or with chemotherapy alone for certain patients. In the Phase III HERIZON-GEA-01 trial, Ziihera-based regimens reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 35%. The triplet regimen extended median overall survival to 26.4 months, a 28% reduction in death risk versus trastuzumab. Jazz estimates the US addressable market at 3,000–4,000 patients annually and raised Ziihera's peak sales outlook to $3 billion–$5 billion. The company plans to leverage existing commercial infrastructure whilst pursuing additional cancer indications and international regulatory filings.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals reported a strong second quarter with revenue of $1.21 billion, beating analyst estimates of $1.12 billion and representing 15.5% year-on-year growth. The company raised its full-year revenue guidance to $4.68 billion from $4.38 billion. CEO Renée Galá attributed the performance to strong demand for flagship products like Xywav and Epidiolex, alongside accelerating uptake of new oncology therapies. Operating margin improved to 20.5%, up from negative 65.6% in the prior year quarter. However, adjusted earnings per share of $5.71 missed analyst expectations of $6.18. During the earnings call, analysts focused on Epidiolex's growth drivers, Xywav's sustainability amid potential generic competition, and zanidatamab's upcoming approval prospects.