Title: Sr. Product Launch SME
Location: South San Francisco, California - Hybrid, onsite 2-3 days per week
Client Industry: Pharma/Life Sciences
Compensation: $90 - $105/hr.
We have partnered with our client in their search for a Senior Product Launch SME. This role will support our client's pharmaceutical launch excellence efforts by evaluating and refining existing launch playbooks for global therapy launches. The consultant will partner with senior commercial, medical, market access, and operations stakeholders to reorganize content into practical, scenario-based and role-based guidance. Success will be measured by improved usability, stronger stakeholder adoption, and high-quality materials that clearly distinguish required versus optional launch planning components.
Responsibilities
- Evaluate existing pharmaceutical launch playbooks and identify opportunities to improve structure, clarity, usability, and adoption
- Refine launch excellence materials aligned to L-36 and L-12 planning frameworks
- Reorganize "one size fits all" content into scenario-based and role-based guidance for key launch team audiences
- Distinguish required, optional, and scenario-dependent launch planning components across geographies and launch types
- Facilitate whiteboarding sessions with senior stakeholders to shape content direction, framing, and implementation priorities
- Partner with commercial, medical, market access, and operations stakeholders to ensure guidance reflects how launch teams work day to day
- Improve slide-based materials for story flow, layout consistency, information pull-through, and executive-ready presentation quality
- Support change management and adoption planning to help launch teams use the refined framework effectively
Skills Required
- Deep knowledge of pharmaceutical and life sciences product launches, including global launch sequencing and regulatory considerations
- Strong working knowledge of L-36 and L-12 launch planning frameworks
- Experience refining existing launch excellence frameworks, playbooks, toolkits, or operating models
- Commercial strategy and operations fluency across marketing, medical, market access, and cross-functional launch milestones
- Content design and information architecture experience for complex strategic or operational materials
- Ability to translate theoretical frameworks into practical, actionable guidance by role
- Senior client-facing facilitation skills, including workshop design, whiteboarding, and stakeholder alignment
- Strong attention to detail across content logic, slide design, formatting, framing, and executive-level communication
- Ability to synthesize complex inputs into clear, structured recommendations
- Change management and adoption strategy experience for commercial or cross-functional teams
Education & Work Experience
- Relevant degree or equivalent experience in life sciences, business, healthcare, or a related field
- 8+ years of experience in pharmaceutical or life sciences consulting, commercial strategy, launch excellence, or product launch operations
- Prior experience supporting global therapy launches or launch readiness initiatives
- Experience working with senior commercial, medical, market access, and cross-functional launch stakeholders
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About Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry unleashes potential in people, teams, and organizations. We work with our clients to design optimal organization structures, roles, and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward and motivate their workforce while developing professionals as they navigate and advance their careers. To learn more, please visit Korn Ferry at www.Kornferry.com
