Director, Patient Advocacy

About the role

Alfasigma is a privately held global healthcare company founded over 75 years ago in Italy, where it remains headquartered today in Bologna and Milan. The Group operates in over 100 markets spanning Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Africa. Over three years ago, Alfasigma embarked on a transformative journey to become a truly global innovative healthcare company with a leading focus on Gastrointestinal (GI) health, experiencing remarkable growth, nearly doubling revenues, expanding geographically, and integrating several key acquisitions. The company has evolved its portfolio, expanded into rare and specialty segments, and strengthened its pipeline and people's capabilities.

As Alfasigma continues to strengthen its leadership position in hepatology, the Director, Patient Advocacy will serve as a strategic leader and champion for the patient voice across the organization. This hybrid position is based in Morristown, NJ (3 days per week onsite) and reports into the Head of US Medical Affairs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a patient advocacy strategy that reflects the evolving needs of individuals living with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) and other rare liver diseases.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with national, regional, and global patient advocacy organizations, with a focus on rare disease and hepatology communities.
• Serve as the internal expert on patient and caregiver perspectives, ensuring patient insights are incorporated into clinical development, medical affairs initiatives, patient support programs, marketing materials, market access activities, and commercial strategy.
• Identify and communicate unmet needs, barriers to diagnosis, treatment access challenges, and quality-of-life considerations impacting patients with PBC and rare liver diseases.
• Lead, attend, and gather patient community insights through advocacy partnerships, advisory boards, patient meetings, and community engagement activities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop patient-centered educational resources, disease awareness initiatives, and support programs that address the needs of patients.
• Represent Alfasigma within the rare disease and hepatology advocacy communities, serving as a trusted partner and ambassador for the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree; Master’s Degree highly preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in patient advocacy, patient engagement, patient support, community relations, or related functions within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or healthcare sectors.
• Ability to travel as needed to patient advocacy meetings, scientific congresses, and community events (up to 25%, including overnight and weekends).
• Ability to work onsite in the Morristown, NJ office on a hybrid basis (3 days per week).
• Demonstrated understanding of the rare disease patient journey, including challenges related to diagnosis, treatment access, reimbursement, adherence, caregiver burden, and quality of life.
• Deep understanding of patient advocacy, patient engagement, and patient-centered healthcare, with demonstrated experience supporting rare disease communities; hepatology or gastroenterology experience strongly preferred.
• Established track record of building trusted relationships with patient advocacy organizations, patient leaders, caregivers, and other key external stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of current compliance, legal, regulatory, and industry requirements governing interactions with patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and patient advocacy organizations within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
• Ability to gather and communicate patient and caregiver insights to inform organizational strategy, clinical development programs, disease awareness initiatives, and patient support services.
• Proven ability to develop and execute strategic patient advocacy plans that align patient needs and to lead cross-functional initiatives/drive alignment across Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Corporate Affairs, Market Access, Commercial, Legal, and Compliance functions.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, project management, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining adherence to compliance standards.
• Excellent communication, presentation, stakeholder management, and partnership-building skills.
• Budgeting, planning, and operational management skills, including experience managing grants and sponsorships.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with company match
• Rewards and recognition program
• Health care benefits (medical, prescription drugs, dental, and vision insurance)
• Short and long-term disability coverage provided
• Plan coverage for domestic partners
• Paid parental leave benefits and adoption assistance
• Tuition reimbursement assistance
• A generous Paid Time Off program that includes 20 vacation days, 11 holidays, 4 personal days, and 2 volunteer days per calendar year
• Numerous well-being and work/life programs

Pay

The anticipated salary range for this position is $190,000 to $250,000. Actual salaries may vary based on various factors including, but not limited to, experience, skillset, and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of our total compensation package.