Cipher Pharmaceuticals is seeking an accomplished executive leader to oversee and accelerate the next phase of growth for its U.S. business unit. This highly profitable division has established a strong commercial foundation and is now positioned for significant expansion, with a strategic focus on growing its U.S. market presence through new product acquisitions, portfolio expansion, and enhanced commercial execution. The organization’s objective is to aggressively expand its U.S. footprint through both global and U.S.-specific product acquisition opportunities, requiring a highly motivated, entrepreneurial, and innovative leader capable of identifying growth opportunities, executing strategic initiatives, and building high-performing teams.
Overview:
The U.S. Business Unit Leader (or General Manager) is a senior executive responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and strategic direction of the Company’s U.S. operations, serving as the primary leader of the U.S. division and holding full responsibility for the business unit. This role carries full accountability for the division’s P&L and oversees core business functions including sales, marketing, commercial operations, business strategy, and overall organizational performance, while providing secondary oversight to local human resources and finance functions. This position is critical to the Company’s next phase of growth, with a strong focus on expanding the U.S. business through product acquisitions, portfolio development, enhanced commercial execution, and strategic market expansion. The Business Unit Leader will be responsible for identifying and executing growth opportunities across both existing and new product lines while ensuring alignment with broader corporate objectives. The successful candidate will drive revenue growth, profitability, operational excellence, and organizational effectiveness while building a high-performance, commercially focused organization. As a key member of the executive leadership team, this individual will serve as the primary integrator across departments, ensuring strong cross-functional alignment, accountability, and sustained business performance in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
Key Responsibilities:- Business & Commercial Growth
- Primary skill set & competency of the successful candidate is to develop strategies to grow the US business product portfolio
- Expertise in account management, market access, payor verticals, trade/channel optimization and possessing a network of relationships in this area is essential to the role
- Lead U.S. commercial strategy, including management of sales managers & representatives, key account managers and digital marketing team members is also essential
- Strong interpersonal skills to interact with internal and third-party stakeholders
- Identify and capitalize on new market opportunities, partnerships, and revenue streams
- Oversee the execution of developed go-to-market strategies which have been approved by the group executive team
- Experience with implementing and operating Direct-to-Patient and/or commercial/payor platforms considered an asset
- Operational Leadership
- Act as the primary liaison between U.S. operations and corporate leadership
- Provide oversight and direction across local business unit functions, including commercial, HR, operations, regulatory and finance teams
- Enforce group corporate policies, controls and procedures at the local business unit
- Ensure efficient and scalable operational processes that support business growth
- Drive accountability and alignment across leadership to meet organizational goals
- Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) mainly across commercial areas, but additionally all areas of the local business
- Implement performance management frameworks to track and improve execution
- People & Organizational Leadership
- Primary focus on building a commercial sales-oriented organization to drive growth objectives
- Oversee human resources strategy, including talent acquisition, retention, succession planning, and employee engagement
- Foster a performance-driven culture aligned with company values and objectivesEnsure organizational structure supports current and future business needs
- Business & Financial Leadership
- Own and manage the full U.S. business unit P&L, with accountability for revenue growth, margin expansion, and overall earnings performance
- Develop and execute strategic business plans to achieve short- and long-term financial objectivesEnsure accurate forecasting, budgeting, and timely financial reporting in partnership with group finance objectives
Qualifications/Skills/Requirements:
10+ years of senior leadership experience within the pharmaceutical industry, preferably within specialty pharma, small to mid-sized organizations Proven success managing full P&L accountability and leading multi-functional business units with responsibility across commercial, operations, finance, and people leadership Strong sales leadership experience, including direct oversight of sales teams, sales managers, field representatives, and commercial performance management within a pharmaceutical environmentDemonstrated success developing and executing sales strategies that drive revenue growth, market penetration, prescription growth, and overall commercial performance Strong background in commercial operations, including account management, market access, payor verticals, trade/channel optimization, and product commercialization Demonstrated experience driving business growth through product acquisition strategy, portfolio expansion, new product launches, and market development opportunities Strong entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to operate with agility, urgency, and an ownership mentality in a lean, growth-oriented environmentDemonstrated success operating within smaller pharmaceutical companies or entrepreneurial business environments where hands-on leadership and cross-functional ownership are critical High-drive, self-motivated executive with a strong sense of accountability, decisiveness, and responsibility for business outcomes Experience supporting M&A evaluations, commercial due diligence, integration planning, and post-acquisition execution is strongly preferred Proven ability to build, scale, and lead high-performing teams during periods of significant commercial growth and organizational expansion Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization Strategic thinker with strong operational execution capabilities and a focus on accountability and measurable performance Bachelor’s degree required; MBA strongly preferred. Advanced healthcare or life sciences degrees such as PharmD, MD, PhD, MSc, MPH, or MHA are considered strong assets depending on industry background and commercial experience
