General Manager, Brazil

At argenx, we build our culture from the collective power of the team and the knowledge that together, we are better. We are all co-owners of this company; we recognize that each individual performance contributes to the broader purpose. We align the personal growth of our employees with the shared goals of the organization. 

We work hard to identify how each employee can contribute to achieving the unthinkable; we stand shoulder-to-shoulder building on each other’s strengths. We believe in empowerment; lifting each other to higher levels of performance while also holding each other accountable.

The General Manager will play a pivotal role in building argenx presence in Brazil from the ground up. As our GM for Brazil, you will have the responsibility for the full P&L for the Brazilianoffice, leading all commercial functions and liaising with key functional areas to ensure the development and execution of the commercial strategy for all argenx products.  This leader will oversee all aspects of establishing the company's local operations, including legal entity formation, regulatory, compliance, office setup, logistics, and building a local team. As a strategic leader with hands-on experience, this role requires someone capable of balancing high-level decision-making with day-to-day operational tasks.

The General Manager must be comfortable navigating the complexities of launching a new entity in the pharmaceutical space, particularly in a highly regulated market, and must possess deep expertise in rare diseaseand hospital business, government and private market.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a long-term strategy for argenx expansion in Brazil, aligning with global objectives and ensuring the successful establishment of operations in the country.

Stakeholder Management: Oversee the establishment of a legal entity, secure necessary regulatory approvals, and ensure compliance with all local regulations. Lead the search and selection of office locationsand the development of banking relationships and logistics planning to support future commercial operations. Serve as the primary point of contact for local government agencies, healthcare stakeholders, and partners. Build relationships with key opinion leaders (KOLs), patients associations and maintain a strong presence within the Brazilian pharmaceutical ecosystem.

Regulatory & Compliance: Navigate complex regulatory frameworks, ensuring adherence to ANVISA,CONITEC,ANS and other relevant authorities. Work closely with the global regulatory team to prepare for product launches.

Team Building & Development:Attract top talent to raise the company’s awareness and long-term success in the region. Build dynamic and sustainable yet lean and flexible (agile) team organization with high ownership. 

Cross-functional Leadership: Initially manage through third parties for commercial, legal, HR, financial, and logistics functions, ensuring effective coordination across all areas of the business. Drive connectivity within the argenx group globally: bring to life the vision of an argenx group company consisting of peer sites, in contrast to the HQ-affiliate thinking of the past. 

Hands-on Approach: Take a proactive, hands-on approach to addressing challenges, ensuring operational readiness while maintaining a strategic outlook. Be ready to execute tasks that range from high-level strategy to detailed logistics planning.

Qualifications

Proven experience in a General Manager or senior leadership role within the pharmaceutical industry, with a preference for experience in immunology and rare disease. Experience working in both established pharmaceutical companies and smaller biotech start-ups. Track record of successfully leading a company through the operational setup phase, including legal, logistical, and regulatory functions. Experience managing relationships with regulatory bodies like ANVISA,MoH,CONITEC, ANS and understanding the Brazilian healthcare system.

Demonstrated ability to navigate regulatory environments, set up legal entities, and manage operational logistics. Strategic mindset combined with a hands-on approach to business challenges. Experience in building and leading high-performing teams, with strong people management skills. Excellent understanding of the Brazilian legislation, tax systems, regulatory, commercial, and healthcare landscape. Bi-lingual Portuguese and English.

Demonstrated track record in: 

• Exceptional patient impact and business results in the region

• Earning trust from others in leading the team  

• Demonstrating people development 

• Innovation/innovative ways of building the business and building the organization 

• High level of Integrity. Compliance and business ethics is an absolute must 

 Culture traits:

• Strong fit to argenx Culture and Values 

• True passion for patients (always consider patients as our top purpose) 

• Strong focus on one team spirit based on mutual trust 

• Demonstrate and role model for our five Cultural Pillars towards the team (walk the talk) 

• Always ready to try new things, curious and has an affinity for the science 

• Humble 

• Empathetic  

• Optimistic; can-do attitude 

• Outstanding thinker.....and do-er 

• Culturally aware and savvy – demonstrated success in inter-cultural setting 

Leadership attributes:

• Ability to envision and build strategies for 3 – 5 years out into the future 

• Ability to energize, inspire and motivate others  

• Ability to enable and empower teams cross function/regions  

• Entrepreneurship; ready to challenge on new things/approaches 

• Servant leadership; to accomplish the shared objectives by supporting, serving  others  

• Allow diverse opinions yet can decide on a clear direction when needed 

• Integrate diverse talents and people; inclusively not exclusively 

• Persuading communication capability towards diverse audiences and stakeholders 

• Can express ideas, explain complex topics in very simple and easy terms  

• Ability to influence and impact, garnering respect and creating a positive spiral in the organization for sustainable success 

• Trustworthy partner for any external and internal stakeholders 

• Forgiving – allow mistakes to learn from them 

• Sincere and integral - remain the same towards up, lateral and below