Originally published February 2026. Updated periodically to reflect current pharma hiring and leveling signals.
Pharma Career Positioning: Why Narrative Signals Level
Your resume is only the outward expression.
It’s the narrative and positioning behind it that move the needle.
In pharma and life sciences, strong professionals are often doing work at the next level long before their title reflects it. Yet when they go to market, they’re evaluated based on what their materials signal — not just what they’ve done.
Because pharma is structured, hierarchical, and risk-aware, hiring teams rely heavily on signal to determine level.
That means career progression isn’t just about experience.
It’s about how clearly the market understands the level you operate at.
This is where positioning matters.
Why Positioning Matters More Than Experience in Pharma
Many Director-ready professionals get hired as Senior Managers.
Many VP-ready leaders are considered “strong Directors.”
The gap usually isn’t capability.
It’s positioning.
Hiring teams look for signals of:
- ownership
- scope
- decision authority
- launch accountability
- portfolio impact
If those signals aren’t clear, they default to the safest interpretation of your level.
Your resume reflects your experience.
Your narrative determines how that experience is interpreted.
Signals by Level: Brand Marketing Example
Here’s how positioning differs across levels in pharma brand marketing.
Senior Manager / Associate Director
Focus: execution leadership
Signal: strong operator
- Leads workstreams within brand strategy
- Drives tactical planning
- Influences but doesn’t own final decisions
- Manages components of budget
- Supports launch execution
Materials at this level emphasize delivery and cross-functional collaboration.
Director / Senior Director
Focus: strategy ownership
Signal: accountable for outcomes
- Owns brand strategy and lifecycle planning
- Leads cross-functional brand team
- Drives investment decisions
- Responsible for brand performance
- Influences global alignment
Director-level positioning should clearly show ownership of strategy and results, not just participation.
VP / Head of Marketing
Focus: portfolio leadership
Signal: enterprise decision influence
- Oversees multiple brands or therapeutic area
- Allocates resources across portfolio
- Manages Directors
- Advises GM or BU leadership
- Shapes pipeline and investment strategy
The shift is from brand ownership to portfolio accountability.
Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
Focus: enterprise performance
Signal: company-level accountability
- Owns commercial strategy across portfolio
- Leads marketing, sales, access, analytics
- Aligns with CEO and board
- Responsible for revenue trajectory
- Shapes long-term growth strategy
At this level, positioning must signal enterprise thinking and investor-level responsibility.
Second Function Example: Medical Affairs
Level confusion happens here frequently.
Senior Manager / Associate Director
- leads programs
- manages vendors
- supports strategy
Director
- owns medical strategy for indication
- leads MSL team
- influences evidence plan
VP / Head of Medical Affairs
- sets global medical strategy
- aligns with R&D and commercial
- oversees multiple indications
Chief Medical Officer
- enterprise scientific leadership
- pipeline strategy
- regulatory and investor interface
Across functions, the shift is consistent:
from execution → ownership → enterprise accountability.
The CLEAR Framework Applied to Pharma
Positioning work for pharma leaders follows five elements.
Clarity
Define the next credible role and level.
Language
Translate experience into scope, ownership, and outcomes.
Execution
Align resume, LinkedIn, and interview narrative.
Alignment
Ensure the move strengthens long-term trajectory.
Reputation
Reinforce signal across materials and conversations.
When these align, the market understands where you operate.
Why Resume Updates Alone Don’t Fix This
Many professionals start by updating their resume.
But if positioning isn’t clear first, the resume remains descriptive rather than directional.
Once the narrative is defined, the resume becomes a reinforcement tool.
Again:
Your resume is the outward expression.
Your positioning determines level.
FAQ: Pharma Career Positioning
Because materials often emphasize activity rather than ownership.
If scope, decision authority, and impact aren’t clear, hiring teams default to a lower level.
It’s how clearly the market understands your level, scope, and direction.
Positioning determines whether you’re considered for Senior Manager, Director, or VP roles.
It should show ownership of strategy, budget influence, cross-functional leadership, and business outcomes — not just execution.
By showing portfolio scope, leadership of leaders, and enterprise decision influence.
Before rewriting the resume. Direction and level should be defined first.
Closing
In pharma, career progression isn’t just about doing strong work.
It’s about making that work legible at the right level.
Your resume is only the outward expression.
It’s the narrative and positioning behind it that determine whether the market sees you at the level you’re ready for.
Learn more about my work with pharma and life sciences leaders.
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