Associate Director, Scientific Communications

Duration: 6 months - covering mat leave -

start date would be july 27th or august 10th but july 27th is prefered

Location: Gaithersburg MD or Boston - MA if open in time. hybrid must go onsite 3 days a week!!

Working Hours: normal business hours 3 days a week onsite

Interview Process:

2 virtual intervierws

1) 30 minute with HM

2) 45 to 1 hour panel

What you'll do

The R&D Communications Director will support Global Corporate Affairs to help tell the R&D story externally, uncovering, developing and delivering opportunities to showcase the great science and outstanding people we have in our teams. This will help position Client as the best science-led organisation in the industry and the partner and employer of choice.

The role will involve working closely with R&D scientists from discovery to development, as well as Global Corporate Affairs colleagues, developing multi-layered campaigns across digital, social and traditional media to bring the science of drug discovery and development to life. The content and stories you develop will need to resonate with a wide range of primarily external audience groups including collaborators, recruits and media.

Responsibilities:

Development and delivery of an integrated external communications plans to strengthen Client's reputation as a scientific leader in science and technology platforms, across external stakeholders & channels

Provide communications support and coaching to Expert Function Leaders, like Discovery Sciences and Clinical operations with regard to communicating scientific messages and external communications generally e.g. social

Serves as counsellor and support for executive communications/external engagements for R&D leaders. Includes supporting key activities such as media interviews and speaking engagements.

Showcase and amplify scientific publications relating to R&D science and tech, and highlight and support scientists across our digital platforms

Ability to identify proactive comms opportunities and devise tactics that showcase R&D and are aligned with the overall strategy

Support PR execution for partnering activities related to R&D science and tech, including development of press releases, statements, Q&As. Prepare for potential issues.

Closely partner with Client Global Media and digital communications teams on relevant communications activities and identify opportunities for engagement and collaboration

Support the markets to effectively communicate about Client's scientific programmes and What Science Can Do

Establish measures of success and implement relevant evaluation tools for all communications activities

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Education:

Essential

Established track record of delivering impactful, content rich communications programmes across multiple channels and stakeholders with demonstrable measures of success

Understanding and experience of creating scientific / technical content, ideally in biopharmaceutical context

Experience of working with the media

Experience of working with regional and market communicators to support excellent local delivery

Exemplary native English-level written and verbal communications skills

Team worker with high level of personal accountability

Desirable

Entrepreneurial approach and desire to challenge the status quo

Confidence around senior leaders and comfortable delivering alternative viewpoints

Strong channel management, digital skills and knowledge of technology options

Able to develop and maintain networks across business and cultural boundaries

Ability to undertake global travel will be required, primarily between other Client Strategic Science Centres

SPOTLIGHT CALL NOTES:

Summary External Comms Associate Director Role

• Candidates must have pharmaceutical or therapy area communications experience, specifically with R&D or early therapy area pipeline communications (not just generalist pharma experience).
• Candidates who only have platform-type activities or diagnostics/publications/congresses without direct pipeline/therapy area comms are not a good fit.
• Strong preference for candidates with direct pipeline communications and early therapy area experience.
• Contract is 5 6 months maximum; unlikely to extend beyond this.
• Position requires working on-site (hybrid model: 3 days on-site, 2 days remote) in either Maryland or Massachusetts-no fully remote options or reduced on-site time.
• Experience with digital platforms (e.g., LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram) is needed, but candidate does not need to be a digital "expert"; familiarity with running social campaigns and using platform/social technologies expected.
• No requirement for Salesforce or similar digital systems.
• Corporate communications experience is not required, but experience within a large pharma company is preferred to ensure understanding of big pharma operations.