Country Manager, Switzerland

at  Ascendis Pharma

Are you passionate about bringing new pharmaceutical products to market? Do you have extensive experience in establishing, growing, and managing affiliates, and are you driven to bring products to patients? If so, this is your chance to join Ascendis Pharma as our new Country Manager, Switzerland.
Ascendis Pharma is a fast-growing biopharmaceutical company with locations in Denmark, United States and EU Commercial offices in Munich, Madrid, Milan, London and Paris.
We are applying our TransCon technology to build a leading, fully integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. Guided by our core values of patients, science, and passion, we use our TransCon® drug development platform to fulfill our mission of developing new and potentially best-in-class therapies to address unmet medical needs. Today, we have a growing pipeline of product therapies in development, each designed to be a best-in-class therapy.
The role
As Country Manager you will establish and lead our Swiss affiliate, drive the launch of our endocrinology pipeline, and significantly contribute to our commercial expansion.
The position is based in Zürich, Switzerland and you will report to Anders With Fogstrup, Head of Europe 1, based in Copenhagen.

Your key responsibilities will be

• Leadership and P&L accountability for building and leading the Ascendis Pharma Swiss affiliate
• Developing a comprehensive business case and launch plan for Switzerland
• Driving market access, customer engagement, external awareness, and product advocacy
• Engaging with external stakeholders to position Ascendis as a leader in rare disease endocrinology in Switzerland
• Recruiting and managing a high-performing team
• Collaborating with European and global resources to align the Swiss affiliate with Ascendis’ global organization
• Establishing strong relationships with KOLs, regulators, payors, and other key stakeholders

Your first priorities will be to set up our affiliate in Switzerland, secure attractive market access for our portfolio products, and establish a strong presence with relevant stakeholders.

Qualifications and skills

• A master’s degree in business administration, Health Policy, or Health Economics
• Documented successful track-record as a General Manager or 10-15 years of experience in Market Access, Pricing/Reimbursement, Marketing, or Sales.
• A deep understanding of success factors for rare disease markets in Switzerland
• Experience working across multiple geographies and market access environments
• A strong track record of working with stakeholders to define and implement market access strategies
• Leadership experience in cross-functional teams and country management with P&L responsibility
• Professional fluency in German and English; other European language skills are a plus

Key competencies
You are a proactive, team-oriented leader with a can-do attitude and a strong entrepreneurial mindset. You thrive in dynamic, fast-paced environments where short lines of communication and an open, collaborative working atmosphere are the norms. As a self-starter, you excel at navigating ambiguity, creating structure from scratch, and driving results with limited oversight.
Your ability to build strong relationships—both internally and externally—will be crucial as you establish the Ascendis Pharma affiliate in Switzerland.

In addition to your leadership and strategic skills, you possess:

• Able to stay focused and drive progress despite challenges or setbacks in a competitive market.
• Capable of quickly identifying obstacles and devising creative, effective solutions to overcome them.
• Experienced in working across different geographies and adept at understanding and integrating local market nuances.
• You can build trust with KOLs, payors, and patient organizations, fostering long-term partnerships that will be essential for the success of Ascendis in the Swiss market

You are driven by a desire to make an impact, not just by meeting business objectives, but by improving the lives of patients through innovative treatments. Your blend of strategic vision, operational excellence, and people-focused leadership will be key to ensuring the successful launch and long-term growth of Ascendis in Switzerland.
Apply now
Applications will be evaluated when received, so please apply as soon as possible.
For more details about the position or the company, please contact Tina Lorenzen, Talent Acquisition Partner at tlo@ascendispharma.com
If you are passionate about contributing to the field of rare diseases and eager to make a difference at Ascendis Pharma, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity. Join us in our mission to advance therapeutic innovations and improve patient lives worldwid

• Leadership and P&L accountability for building and leading the Ascendis Pharma Swiss affiliate
• Developing a comprehensive business case and launch plan for Switzerland
• Driving market access, customer engagement, external awareness, and product advocacy
• Engaging with external stakeholders to position Ascendis as a leader in rare disease endocrinology in Switzerland
• Recruiting and managing a high-performing team
• Collaborating with European and global resources to align the Swiss affiliate with Ascendis’ global organization
• Establishing strong relationships with KOLs, regulators, payors, and other key stakeholder