Rare Disease Business Manager Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Rare Disease Business Managers lead commercial strategy for specialty therapeutics, a field where employers routinely sponsor H-1B visa and O-1 visas for candidates with biotech or pharma backgrounds. Competition for qualified talent is tight enough that sponsorship is common, even for mid-level roles. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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The Global Medical Director, Rare Disease (SMA) Medical Education role is part of Rare Disease (SMA/ALS) Global Medical team, a strategic partner within Biogen that helps inform medical practice across our therapeutic areas and pipeline to improve meaningful patient outcomes. As a key member of this team the incumbent reports into to the Rare Disease (SMA/ALS) Global Medical Lead and is the accountable lead for shaping and driving the global medical education strategy for Biogen's Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) portfolio — spanning marketed assets — in close collaboration with Clinical Development, the Product Development (PDC), regional/ICOE medical teams, and commercial/market access partners.
What You’ll Do
Strategy
- Lead the long-range planning, development and execution of the Global SMA medical education strategy, tactics, and budget, advancing critical scientific narratives across regions and aligning with Biogen's Global Medical Plan and portfolio priorities.
- Serve as the Global medical expert for the SMA portfolio, guiding lifecycle management and evidence strategy across the treatment journey.
- Lead publication planning, KME/scientific engagement strategy and education plans for the SMA franchise, shaping treatment optimization and standard-of-care narratives ahead of evolving clinical practice.
Scientific Leadership
- Provide medical oversight and direction across clinical development programs and lead scientific positioning and strategy.
- Own the neurofilament light chain (NfL) narrative and biomarker positioning, driving alignment across initiatives, functions, and regions, and resolving inconsistencies in the scientific story.
- Partner with Evidence Generation Medical Director on the global SMA evidence generation strategy, including real-world evidence, biomarker development, and registrational study support, in close collaboration and alignment with regional clinical experts and cross-functional partners.
- Present data at global medical affairs events, including advisory boards, trainings, congresses, and medical education events; build and nurture relationships with external stakeholders (HCPs, healthcare institutions, advocacy groups) across the global SMA therapeutic landscape.
Governance & Execution
- Serve as the global medical contact for key functions/stakeholders (e.g., Clinical Development, PDC, regional/ICOE medical teams, Commercial, Market Access, Legal/Compliance, Value & Evidence Generation) and as global medical lead for aligning processes, decision making, medical tactics, and metrics through a robust operating rhythm.
- Provide medical review and direction across publications and scientific communications (abstracts, posters, manuscripts), Medical Information (including complex/non-standard escalations), and affiliate/regional support requests; reinforce and train governance processes for scientific narrative, publication content, and agency involvement.
- Lead end-to-end planning and content development for global SMA medical symposia (e.g., the WMS Medical Symposium), including speaker engagement, contracting, and coordination with regional medical teams and cross-functional partners.
- Lead medical training strategy and planning tied to congress readouts, new manuscript data, and key scientific topics, including delivery of training materials and support for related Q&A; contribute to development/adaptation of medical materials (presentations, briefs, talking points) per review requirements.
- Co-lead recurring cross-functional medical forums, including a monthly meeting to align global SMA medical teams and a quarterly insights forum to synthesize medical insights and inform planning.
Leadership
- Lead from where you are, coach each other, creating a positive team climate in alignment with Biogen's culture.
Who You Are
You are a scientific or clinical professional with a passion for science and deep scientific knowledge. You have a marked curiosity about healthcare and business opportunities. You keep patients, payers and physicians top of mind in your daily work and collaborate across regions to solve critical scientific and business challenges.
Required Skills
- MD, PhD, PharmD or comparable advanced degree
- Minimum of 8 years of pharmaceutical industry experience, preferably with prior work in regional/global roles. Substitution of industry work with relevant clinical practice experience in neuromuscular or rare disease may be considered.
- Relevant experience in Rare Disease required (preferably SMA and/or neuromuscular disease)
- Experience in developing medical education, evidence generation required
- Experience and expertise with biomarker strategy, digital medical solutions, processes, and systems
- Strong working knowledge of global regulations as relevant to Medical Affairs
Preferred Skills
- Experience with medical launch as well as products at different stages of the lifecycle
- Demonstrated ability to effectively lead and collaborate with global, regional, and/or affiliate medical teams to ensure regional activities are executed in alignment with global medical strategy and ensuring the insights and needs from them are known and properly addressed
- Ability to manage projects and take initiative to solve complex and challenging problems
- Experience managing and developing a global team of Medical Affairs professionals
Job Level: Management
Additional Information
The base compensation range for this role is: $225,000.00-$310,000.00
Base salary offered is determined through an analytical approach utilizing a combination of factors including, but not limited to, relevant skills & experience, job location, and internal equity.
Regular employees are eligible to receive both short term and long-term incentives, including cash bonus and equity incentive opportunities, designed to reward recent achievements and recognize your future potential based on individual, business unit and company performance.
In addition to compensation, Biogen offers a full and highly competitive range of benefits designed to support our employees’ and their families physical, financial, emotional, and social well-being; including, but not limited to:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, & Life insurances
- Fitness & Wellness programs including a fitness reimbursement
- Short- and Long-Term Disability insurance
- A minimum of 15 days of paid vacation and an additional end-of-year shutdown time off (Dec 26-Dec 31)
- Up to 12 company paid holidays + 3 paid days off for Personal Significance
- 80 hours of sick time per calendar year
- Paid Maternity and Parental Leave benefit
- 401(k) program participation with company matched contributions
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Tuition reimbursement of up to $10,000 per calendar year
- Employee Resource Groups participation
Why Biogen?
We are a global team with a commitment to excellence, and a pioneering spirit. As a mid-sized biotechnology company, we provide the stability and resources of a well-established business while fostering an environment where individual contributions make a significant impact. Our team encompasses some of the most talented and passionate achievers who have unparalleled opportunities for learning, growth, and expanding their skills. Above all, we work together to deliver life-changing medicines, with every role playing a vital part in our mission. Caring Deeply. Achieving Excellence. Changing Lives.
At Biogen, we are committed to building on our culture of inclusion and belonging that reflects the communities where we operate and the patients we serve. We know that diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives make us a stronger and more innovative company, and we are focused on building teams where every employee feels empowered and inspired. Read on to learn more about Biogen.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. Biogen is an E-Verify Employer in the United States.
About This Role
The Global Medical Director, Rare Disease (SMA) Medical Education role is part of Rare Disease (SMA/ALS) Global Medical team, a strategic partner within Biogen that helps inform medical practice across our therapeutic areas and pipeline to improve meaningful patient outcomes. As a key member of this team the incumbent reports into to the Rare Disease (SMA/ALS) Global Medical Lead and is the accountable lead for shaping and driving the global medical education strategy for Biogen's Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) portfolio — spanning marketed assets — in close collaboration with Clinical Development, the Product Development (PDC), regional/ICOE medical teams, and commercial/market access partners.
What You’ll Do
Strategy
- Lead the long-range planning, development and execution of the Global SMA medical education strategy, tactics, and budget, advancing critical scientific narratives across regions and aligning with Biogen's Global Medical Plan and portfolio priorities.
- Serve as the Global medical expert for the SMA portfolio, guiding lifecycle management and evidence strategy across the treatment journey.
- Lead publication planning, KME/scientific engagement strategy and education plans for the SMA franchise, shaping treatment optimization and standard-of-care narratives ahead of evolving clinical practice.
Scientific Leadership
- Provide medical oversight and direction across clinical development programs and lead scientific positioning and strategy.
- Own the neurofilament light chain (NfL) narrative and biomarker positioning, driving alignment across initiatives, functions, and regions, and resolving inconsistencies in the scientific story.
- Partner with Evidence Generation Medical Director on the global SMA evidence generation strategy, including real-world evidence, biomarker development, and registrational study support, in close collaboration and alignment with regional clinical experts and cross-functional partners.
- Present data at global medical affairs events, including advisory boards, trainings, congresses, and medical education events; build and nurture relationships with external stakeholders (HCPs, healthcare institutions, advocacy groups) across the global SMA therapeutic landscape.
Governance & Execution
- Serve as the global medical contact for key functions/stakeholders (e.g., Clinical Development, PDC, regional/ICOE medical teams, Commercial, Market Access, Legal/Compliance, Value & Evidence Generation) and as global medical lead for aligning processes, decision making, medical tactics, and metrics through a robust operating rhythm.
- Provide medical review and direction across publications and scientific communications (abstracts, posters, manuscripts), Medical Information (including complex/non-standard escalations), and affiliate/regional support requests; reinforce and train governance processes for scientific narrative, publication content, and agency involvement.
- Lead end-to-end planning and content development for global SMA medical symposia (e.g., the WMS Medical Symposium), including speaker engagement, contracting, and coordination with regional medical teams and cross-functional partners.
- Lead medical training strategy and planning tied to congress readouts, new manuscript data, and key scientific topics, including delivery of training materials and support for related Q&A; contribute to development/adaptation of medical materials (presentations, briefs, talking points) per review requirements.
- Co-lead recurring cross-functional medical forums, including a monthly meeting to align global SMA medical teams and a quarterly insights forum to synthesize medical insights and inform planning.
Leadership
- Lead from where you are, coach each other, creating a positive team climate in alignment with Biogen's culture.
Who You Are
You are a scientific or clinical professional with a passion for science and deep scientific knowledge. You have a marked curiosity about healthcare and business opportunities. You keep patients, payers and physicians top of mind in your daily work and collaborate across regions to solve critical scientific and business challenges.
Required Skills
- MD, PhD, PharmD or comparable advanced degree
- Minimum of 8 years of pharmaceutical industry experience, preferably with prior work in regional/global roles. Substitution of industry work with relevant clinical practice experience in neuromuscular or rare disease may be considered.
- Relevant experience in Rare Disease required (preferably SMA and/or neuromuscular disease)
- Experience in developing medical education, evidence generation required
- Experience and expertise with biomarker strategy, digital medical solutions, processes, and systems
- Strong working knowledge of global regulations as relevant to Medical Affairs
Preferred Skills
- Experience with medical launch as well as products at different stages of the lifecycle
- Demonstrated ability to effectively lead and collaborate with global, regional, and/or affiliate medical teams to ensure regional activities are executed in alignment with global medical strategy and ensuring the insights and needs from them are known and properly addressed
- Ability to manage projects and take initiative to solve complex and challenging problems
- Experience managing and developing a global team of Medical Affairs professionals
Job Level: Management
Additional Information
The base compensation range for this role is: $225,000.00-$310,000.00
Base salary offered is determined through an analytical approach utilizing a combination of factors including, but not limited to, relevant skills & experience, job location, and internal equity.
Regular employees are eligible to receive both short term and long-term incentives, including cash bonus and equity incentive opportunities, designed to reward recent achievements and recognize your future potential based on individual, business unit and company performance.
In addition to compensation, Biogen offers a full and highly competitive range of benefits designed to support our employees’ and their families physical, financial, emotional, and social well-being; including, but not limited to:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, & Life insurances
- Fitness & Wellness programs including a fitness reimbursement
- Short- and Long-Term Disability insurance
- A minimum of 15 days of paid vacation and an additional end-of-year shutdown time off (Dec 26-Dec 31)
- Up to 12 company paid holidays + 3 paid days off for Personal Significance
- 80 hours of sick time per calendar year
- Paid Maternity and Parental Leave benefit
- 401(k) program participation with company matched contributions
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Tuition reimbursement of up to $10,000 per calendar year
- Employee Resource Groups participation
Why Biogen?
We are a global team with a commitment to excellence, and a pioneering spirit. As a mid-sized biotechnology company, we provide the stability and resources of a well-established business while fostering an environment where individual contributions make a significant impact. Our team encompasses some of the most talented and passionate achievers who have unparalleled opportunities for learning, growth, and expanding their skills. Above all, we work together to deliver life-changing medicines, with every role playing a vital part in our mission. Caring Deeply. Achieving Excellence. Changing Lives.
At Biogen, we are committed to building on our culture of inclusion and belonging that reflects the communities where we operate and the patients we serve. We know that diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives make us a stronger and more innovative company, and we are focused on building teams where every employee feels empowered and inspired. Read on to learn more about Biogen.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. Biogen is an E-Verify Employer in the United States.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Rare Disease Business Manager
Target biotech and rare disease specialty pharma employers
Companies like Sanofi Genzyme, BioMarin, and Alexion have established immigration programs and routinely sponsor H-1B visas for commercial roles. Smaller rare disease biotechs often sponsor too, especially when filling niche therapeutic area expertise.
Lead with your rare disease or orphan drug experience
Employers justify H-1B specialty occupation status more easily when your background directly matches the therapeutic area. Patient advocacy experience, KOL relationships, and payer access knowledge in rare disease make your sponsorship case significantly stronger.
Understand how your degree field affects your petition
H-1B approval requires a degree in a field directly related to the role. Life sciences, pharmacy, health economics, or business degrees with biotech concentration typically satisfy this. A general business degree alone may require additional documentation.
Ask about sponsorship early, but frame it as logistics, not a red flag
Bring up visa sponsorship after demonstrating your value, ideally in the second interview or offer stage. Frame it as a straightforward process your previous employers have navigated, not as a complication requiring special consideration from the hiring team.
Consider O-1A if your rare disease track record is strong
If you have publications, speaker engagements, rare disease awards, or a history of leading high-impact launches, the O-1A visa may be worth exploring. It bypasses the H-1B lottery and is approved at higher rates for demonstrably accomplished candidates.
Use Migrate Mate to filter specifically for sponsoring employers
Not every job posting that sounds like a match will offer sponsorship. Migrate Mate surfaces roles from employers with active visa sponsorship histories, so you spend your time on opportunities that are actually accessible given your immigration situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Rare Disease Business Manager role qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, provided the employer can demonstrate the position requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific specialty. Rare Disease Business Manager roles typically qualify because they require specialized knowledge in life sciences, health economics, or pharmaceutical commercialization. USCIS scrutinizes business roles more than clinical ones, so a well-documented job description and a degree in a directly related field strengthen the petition considerably.
Which visa types are most relevant for this role?
The H-1B visa is the most common path, particularly for candidates already in the U.S. on OPT or another nonimmigrant status. The O-1A is worth considering if you have a strong record of rare disease launches, speaking engagements, or peer-reviewed contributions. Australians may qualify for the E-3 visa, which has no lottery and faster processing. Browse currently open roles on Migrate Mate to see which visa types sponsoring employers in this space support.
Does my degree field matter for getting sponsored in this role?
It matters significantly. USCIS requires that the offered position qualifies as a specialty occupation and that your degree is in a field directly related to it. Life sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, health economics, public health, and business degrees with biotech or healthcare concentration are the strongest fits. A general MBA or unrelated bachelor's degree may require additional evidence, such as advanced coursework or professional certifications, to support the specialty occupation argument.
How selective are rare disease pharma companies about sponsoring commercial roles?
Selectivity varies by company size and pipeline stage. Established rare disease companies with large commercial teams, such as those focused on enzyme replacement therapies or gene therapies, have mature HR and legal infrastructure for sponsorship. Earlier-stage biotechs may sponsor on a case-by-case basis when the candidate has a specific therapeutic area background they cannot easily hire domestically. Your leverage increases when you bring existing payer relationships, patient advocacy networks, or formulary access experience in the specific disease area.
What happens to my visa status if the rare disease product I'm hired to commercialize gets a setback?
Your H-1B status is tied to the employer, not the specific product. If the company restructures your role rather than terminating you, your status generally remains valid as long as you maintain a qualifying position. If you're laid off, you have a 60-day grace period to find a new sponsoring employer, change status, or depart. Some rare disease biotechs include severance provisions that account for immigration status, so it's worth clarifying this before accepting an offer.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Rare Disease Business Manager jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.