Senior Director, Medical Communications

Reporting to: Head of Global Medical Affairs

Location: Boston, MA, United States

Job Summary

Senior Director, Medical Communications is a leadership role, responsible for: Medical & Scientific Communications strategy and key deliverables, Medical Publications strategy and key deliverables, and oversight of Medical Information / Operations. This individual is an integral member of the global Medical Affairs Leadership Team (MALT); works in partnership with the broader Global Medical Affairs organization to develop and ensure pull-though of overall medical strategies for approved and investigational clinical programs; and manages direct reports. This role also ensures Medical Communications representation on internal cross-functional program strategy teams and contributes to the development of integrated program strategies. This position requires a professional with established personal and scientific credibility and self-awareness who works well in a collaborative cross-functional environment that includes Patient Advocacy, Diagnostics, Commercial, Regulatory, Clinical Development, Translational Research, Business Development, Corporate Communications and other functions within the broader organization.        

Key Elements and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with and contribute to the Medical Affairs Leadership Team (MALT)
• to develop overall Medical Affairs functional goals, objectives, strategy, and tactical plans aligned with the business and program goals in relation to medical/scientific communication
• Responsible and accountable for development and execution of
• Global Medical Communications strategy and key deliverables
• Across multiple clinical programs at varying stages of clinical development (investigational and post-approval)
• Incorporating Disease State and autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell - Gene Therapy (HSC-GT) Product medical education for Healthcare Provider (HCPs) and other external stakeholders
• Supporting cross-functional efforts for Diagnostics / Newborn Screening (NBS), Market Access/ Reimbursement, and Clinical Development medical education
• Applying effective project management skills to ensure timely completion of high-quality deliverables within budget.
• Global Publications strategy and key deliverables
• From publication plan development to publication production and distribution for post-approval, investigational, and translational research programs
• Coordinating with cross-functional teams and leading program specific publication strategy teams
• Overseeing editorial and production processes to ensure quality, consistency, and alignment with organizational goals
• Ensure the timely delivery of high-quality publications
• Oversee budgeting and financial planning for publication projects
• Ensuring compliance with copyright laws and ethical standards
• Engage with key stakeholders to gather feedback and improve publication quality
• Negotiate contracts and manage relationships with authors, freelancers, and vendors
• Coordinating the integrated review process for publication material to ensure
• Good publication practice, including published guidelines
• Medical, clinical, and scientific data accuracy
• Publication relevance, objectivity, balance and alignment with product portfolio
• Collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders, including authors
• Review of company corporate communication materials as needed
• Leading the development of Medical/scientific content
• In support of Medical Communications activities (such as scientific trainings, advisory boards, medical booth assets, medical symposia content, field medical team resources, etc.)
• Ensuring all medical communication content is regularly updated, accurate, and readily available for external use.
• Creation of cross-functionally aligned scientific communication platforms for disease state areas and drug products
• including crafting of lexicon and scientific narrative.
• ensuring consistency of scientific narrative across Medical Affairs materials.
• Oversight of Medical Information / Operations
• Overall Medical Information Strategy
• Development and Medical Information plans
• Leadership of an efficient and productive Medical Communications team by
• Fostering a team environment aligned with company values and culture
• Setting and maintaining team performance standards
• Drive Medial Communications team efforts to:
• Align and work internally with other functional and cross-functional strategic partners globally (London and Boston office, as well as remote).
• Build and maintain KOL relationships and have team representation of the company in key external meetings and congresses.
• Support patient advocacy efforts to build relationships with patient advocacy groups in relevant therapeutic areas and provide disease and product education.
• Support diagnostic efforts to build and maintain relationships with key diagnostic and NBS partners.
• Support clinical science and clinical operations in building and maintaining key clinical trail site relationships.
• Other responsibilities as assigned

Required Knowledge & Skills

• Substantial and proven Medical Communications / Publications experience in the biotechnology / pharmaceutical industry
• Required to possess thorough understanding of and experience with:
• Medical Communications / Publications function, strategy development and execution, and team roles / responsibilities
• People manager role and responsibilities
• Government and industry guidelines, regulations, laws, etc., for appropriate scientific/medical exchange, communication, and compliance with customers
• Preferred experience with one or more key therapeutic areas:
• Medical Communications role within the context of clinical development, product launch and life-cycle management
• Rare disease and/or neurology/genetics (neurometabolic) therapeutic landscape  
• Gene therapy and/or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)
• Medical Affairs Medical Excellence
• Skills and ability to:
• Develop internal relationships in a matrixed environment, as well as external relationships with Key Opinion Leaders and industry experts
• Exhibit excellent leadership and strategic skills with the ability to influence decisions, both internally and externally
• Generate team results in a cross-functional setting
• Assimilate / interpret new information and inform the business
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Work independently and lead teams in the execution of operational deliverables
• Identify departmental needs and partner with colleagues to proactively implement practical solutions
• Travel occasionally (10%) and sometimes overnight to, meetings, trainings, conferences, programs, etc. as required

Education

• Advanced Scientific / Healthcare Degree (PhD, PharmD, MD, NP, DVM, or similar)
• Fluency in both spoken and written English