Director, Scientific Communications Rare Disease

Director, Scientific Communications Rare Disease

Kyowa Kirin is a global specialty pharmaceutical company backed by more than 70 years of breakthrough life science innovation, dedicated to discovering and advancing treatments for diseases in which unmet need is greatest. Based in Japan with worldwide operations, we work across the continuum from drug discovery to commercialization, guided by our commitment to patients and their families.

Our research teams, located in California and around the world, are focused on developing the next generation of antibody, cell, and gene therapies, with particular emphasis on bone and mineral disorders, hemato-oncology, and rare diseases. We accelerate development through collaborations with industry, academia, patients, and healthcare providers, and since 2018 we have introduced four new therapies serving patients with progressive illnesses often in need of new therapeutic alternatives.

Summary of Job:

The Director, Scientific Communications, Rare Disease is accountable for defining, driving, and continuously optimizing the scientific communications strategy for the Rare Disease Medical Affairs organization in North America. The role translates Medical Affairs strategic objectives into scientific communications priorities and sets direction for the planning, development, review, and implementation of scientific materials and educational programs that ensure the accurate, balanced, and compliant dissemination of scientific information.

Core focus of the role includes owning the strategy and lifecycle management of Field Medical materials; directing the scientific content and execution of Medical Advisory Boards, Scientific Symposia, Medical Education initiatives, and conference-related deliverables; and governing external Medical Communications agencies and Medical Education partners to including scope, quality standards, timelines, and budget, ensuring delivery of high-quality, scientifically accurate materials. The Director leads cross-functionally with Medical Affairs and other internal stakeholders to align scientific communications activities with organizational priorities, resolve competing priorities, and ensure compliance with applicable policies and regulatory requirements.

The Director represents Scientific Communications in governance and cross-functional leadership forums and serves as the senior point of accountability for scientific communications across the North America Rare Disease portfolio.

Essential Functions:

• Define and own the North America Rare Disease scientific communications strategy and annual plan, prioritizing initiatives and allocating resources against Medical Affairs strategic objectives.
• Direct data disclosure and scientific dissemination strategy associated with clinical trial milestones and major medical congresses for U.S. Medical Affairs and be accountable for its execution.
• Establish content and editorial standards for regional publications and scientific presentations and guide others in their development.
• Ensure regional publication priorities are secured within the global publication plan and own the localization of global publication activities to meet regional needs.
• Drive alignment across global and regional Medical Affairs teams to ensure consistency of scientific messaging and coherence with regional medical strategy, aligning stakeholders with competing priorities.
• Own the relationship with external medical communications agencies and vendors, setting scope and deliverable standards, directing timelines, and managing and being accountable for the scientific communications budget.
• Lead external expert engagement and steering committee activities, directing content strategy and the review and approval workflows.
• Set direction for scientific communications support of scientific and medical operations, including advisory board planning and execution, medical information initiatives, and Medical Science Liaison (MSL) training.
• Represent Medical Affairs at Medical Review Committee (MRC) and Promotional Review Committee (PRC) meetings, and be accountable for ensuring materials are scientifically accurate, current, appropriately substantiated, and properly referenced.
• Establish and govern standards ensuring all scientific communications activities are conducted in compliance with applicable SOPs, policies, regulatory requirements, ICMJE recommendations, Good Publication Practice (GPP) guidelines, and company compliance standards; serve as the escalation…