Director, Medical Science Liaison (Central)
Karius
Chicago, United States
December 03, 2025
Apply NowDirector, Medical Science Liaison (Central)
Chicago, IL
Commercial – Sales /
Full-time /
Remote
About Karius
Karius is a venture-backed life science company focused on transforming the way infectious diseases are diagnosed. Combining Next-Generation Sequencing and proprietary data analysis, Karius Spectrum can identify over 1,000 pathogens from a single blood sample and Karius Focus BAL can identify 500 pathogens with a BAL fluid sample, both tests providing a result with typical turnaround time in one business day. By unlocking the information present in microbial cell-free DNA, we're helping doctors quickly solve their most challenging cases, with a future vision of accelerating clinical trials, discovering new microbes, and reducing patient suffering worldwide.
Position Summary:
We are seeking an exceptional Director, Medical Science Liaison (MSL) to lead and develop our commercial-facing Medical Science Liaison team as we expand and accelerate clinical adoption of the Karius Test portfolio. Reporting to the Vice President of Sales, the MSL Director works closely with the Regional Sales Director to build and execute a coordinated scientific and commercial partnership strategy that enhances account development, increases clinical utilization, and drives successful adoption of Karius tests.
The MSL Director leads a team of MSLs responsible for educating clinicians, Lab Directors, and other healthcare stakeholders on the clinical value and utility of Karius tests. The team supports institutions in developing best practices and protocols to maximize test utility; cultivates clinical champions and key opinion leaders; and provides education and clinical context to the sales organization.
This role supports pre- and post-sale activities, ensures strong alignment between Medical and Commercial teams, and serves as a key conduit for clinical insights that inform marketing, evidence generation, product development, and customer-facing education programs. The MSL Director plays a critical role in building a high-performing, collaborative medical field organization that advances Karius’ mission to improve the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases through advanced microbial cell-free DNA technology.
Why Should You Join Us?
Karius aims to transform the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases through innovations in genomic sequencing and machine learning. Our platform delivers unprecedented insight into the microbial landscape, providing clinicians with a comprehensive test capable of identifying more than a thousand pathogens directly from blood and helping accelerate the development of therapeutic solutions. The products we offer today are among the most advanced diagnostic tools available to physicians seeking to improve care for patients with complex or unexplained infections.
Our tests are the result of exceptional work by our scientists, statisticians, engineers, and physicians—all united by a shared mission. As part of the Karius team, you will see firsthand how your work can have a meaningful, life-changing impact on patients and healthcare providers at scale.
Reports to: Vice President, Sales
Location: Central Region position with 7 territories in Central US, Mid West.
Primary Responsibilities:
Clinical and Scientific Influence with Business Impact
• Partner with Regional Sales Directors and Clinical Sales Managers (CSMs) to support pre- and post-sale activities, ensuring the MSL team assists with the clinical close of the sale and contributes directly to territory and regional performance goals.
• Provide medical and scientific expertise that strengthens account development, accelerates clinical adoption, and supports successful onboarding and expansion within customer sites.
Team Leadership and Coaching
• Recruit, hire, train, and lead a high-performing field team of Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs).
Coach and develop MSLs to effectively communicate clinical value, influence clinical decision-making, and support commercial objectives in partnership with Sales.
• Ensure the MSL team maintains high levels of clinical expertise and consistently delivers credible, compliant scientific engagement.
Clinician Engagement and Clinical Adoption
• Deliver and support formal presentations and educational programs (e.g., Grand Rounds, ASP meetings, roundtables) using peer-reviewed publications, clinical evidence, case studies, and approved materials.
• Assist institutions in developing and implementing best practices, protocols, and workflows to maximize the clinical utility of Karius tests.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clinicians, clinical champions, and future key opinion leaders (KOLs) to support clinical adoption and long-term success.
Identify, support, and elevate centers of excellence that can serve as benchmarks for other customer sites.
Cross-Functional Strategy and Field Alignment
• Support alignment and communication between Medical and Commercial teams to support seamless customer experience and consistent field execution.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Medical Affairs, and Product teams to relay clinical insights that inform marketing programs, sales initiatives, product development, and corporate strategy.
• Foster relationships with advisors, consultants, investigators, expert speakers, and strategic partners to enrich field education and support broader organizational objectives.
Medical Expertise, Evidence and Content Integrity
• Review promotional, educational, and marketing materials to ensure scientific and medical accuracy.
• Maintain deep and current expertise in infectious diseases, diagnostics, and clinical applications of the Karius Test through participation in internal meetings, committees, and ongoing medical education.
• Work closely with Medical Affairs, Medical Directors and Sales Training to ensure the field team remains up-to-date on the latest clinical evidence and relevant data.
• Contribute to clinical evidence generation strategies by providing field observations, customer feedback, and insights into emerging clinical needs.
What’s Fun About the Job?
Karius is operating at the edge of what is now known to be possible in diagnostics. With that, comes a wave of new and incredible challenges and opportunities. To deliver on that value, you will be tapping into some of the most advanced technologies, architecting and innovating where the current solutions simply don't suffice. You will get to see how much your work really matters.
Travel: Travel required up to 70%.
Physical Requirements:
Subject to extended periods of sitting and/or standing, vision to monitor and moderate noise levels. Work is generally performed in the field which requires the ability to extensively travel.
Position Requirements:
• Advanced clinical degree (e.g. PharmD, NP, PA-C) 5+ years experience managing a team is preferred.
• Experience in hospital based product or clinical process implementation, quality improvement projects, and/or diagnostic stewardship committee involvement, preferred.
• Experience in sourcing and recruiting top talent. Experience working in industry supporting sales teams with complex diagnostic sales is highly desirable.
• Measurable experience as a clinician or nurse is required. Familiarity with infectious disease diagnosis, treatment and/or microbiology/virology methods is required.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• Familiarity with Microsoft office; PowerPoint, Work and Excel, Microsoft Suite and contact management databases i.e Salesforce.
• Knowledge of medical institution hierarchy.
• Sales experience, a plus.
• Knowledge of Laboratory workflow and fiscal operations, a plus.
• Knowledge of cfDNA technology, a plus.
Personal Qualifications:
Has an entrepreneurial spirit and is comfortable multi-tasking and working in a fast-paced, ambiguous, growth-oriented environment. Strong presentation acumen, ability to manage and facilitate engaging discussions with both small and large groups. Ability to present technical information to audiences with various degrees of scientific and clinical expertise. Unquestionable personal code of ethics, integrity, confidentiality and ability to build trusting and professional relationships. Passionate about the mission and reputation of Karius while investing in the culture as the company grows.
Disclaimer
The above job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Responsibilities and duties may change or be adjusted to meet the needs of the company, and additional duties may be assigned as necessary. The job description is subject to change at any time at the discretion of Karius.
Equal Opportunity Employer
At Karius, we value a diverse and inclusive workplace and provide equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees and are committed to honor and invest in the full diversity of people, in our hiring, recruiting and development of employees across the Company. All qualified applicants for employment are encouraged to apply and will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity and gender expression (including transgender individuals who are transitioning, have transitioned, or are perceived to be transitioning to the gender with which they identify), religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. If you are unable to submit your application due to a disability, please contact us at and we will accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities.
$148,000 - $222,000 a year