Executive Director, Corporate Communications

About the Role

The Executive Director, Corporate Communications is a senior leadership role responsible for architecting and driving the company’s global corporate communications strategy. Reporting to the Chief Communications Officer, this individual will be a key member of the communications leadership team and serve as a trusted strategic counsel to the C-suite and other senior executives. This role requires a visionary leader who will translate enterprise-level priorities into powerful, consistent narratives that safeguard and enhance the company’s reputation across all key stakeholders, including employees, patients, and the broader biopharma ecosystem.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership:
  • In partnership with the Chief Communications Officer, design and drive an integrated corporate communications strategy that directly supports long-term business objectives and enterprise goals.
  • Serve as a primary strategic communications advisor and counsel to the C-suite and senior executives, providing expert guidance on complex messaging, issues management, and reputational opportunities and risks.
  • Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of all executive visibility and thought leadership programs, including town halls, leadership meetings, and external-facing engagements.
• Employee Communications:
  • Architect and lead a comprehensive internal and employee communications strategy that fosters a culture of engagement, transparency, and alignment with the company’s mission and vision.
  • Build, scale, and optimize the employee communications function, implementing innovative channels and establishing a clear cadence of communication that measurably builds employee trust and confidence.
  • Direct enterprise-wide change management communications for critical initiatives (e.g., M&A, restructuring, digital transformation), ensuring employee adoption and sustaining morale through periods of ambiguity and transition.
• Brand & Corporate Reputation:
  • Own the evolution and stewardship of the company’s corporate brand, narrative, and voice to ensure a consistent and compelling identity across all global touchpoints.
  • Serve as the central hub for messaging consistency, aligning with Investor Relations, Legal, Human Resources, and Corporate Development for all corporate news, financial communications, and public disclosures.
  • Drive the corporate-level employer brand strategy in partnership with Talent Acquisition and HR to position the company as a premier destination for talent in the biopharma industry.
  • Translate highly complex scientific and R&D milestones into clear, impactful narratives for diverse stakeholder audiences.
• Media Relations:
  • Proven track record of securing coverage in top-tier and trade media outlets, with established relationships with key reporters.
  • Skilled at pitching stories, managing press inquiries, and positioning company narratives with major and industry-specific media outlets.
• Digital Communications:
  • Partner with the company’s global digital and social media lead to ensure cohesive pull-through of our digital strategy with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with the digital lead to contribute to a data-driven content strategy across all digital platforms, ensuring alignment with the corporate brand and narrative.
  • Understand digital communication trends and emerging channels to continuously contribute to evolving the company’s digital footprint.
• Team & Agency Management:
  • Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing corporate communications team, fostering a culture of excellence and strategic partnership.
  • Direct relationships with external communications, PR, and creative agencies to ensure exceptional quality, ROI, and efficient use of budget.
  • Establish and oversee a robust measurement framework to report on the business impact and effectiveness of all communications programs.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive communications experience, with significant leadership tenure in the biopharmaceutical or life sciences industry required.
• Demonstrated expertise in building and leading integrated communications programs encompassing employee communications, corporate brand, and digital strategy.
• Proven track record as a trusted advisor to C-suite executives, with the ability to influence and build consensus at the most senior levels.
• Deep experience leading communications through significant organizational change, including M&A, crisis, and business transformation within a public company.
• Exceptional executive presence with outstanding written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience building and managing high-performing teams and a network of external agency partners.
• Ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy and sound judgment in a fast-paced, matrixed, and highly regulated environment.

What Success Looks Like

• A cohesive and resonant corporate narrative that is consistently applied across all internal and external channels, driving measurable brand value.
• A highly engaged and informed employee base that demonstrates strong trust in leadership, as reflected in internal metrics.
• An elevated corporate brand and digital presence that measurably enhances talent attraction and stakeholder confidence.
• A high-performing, agile communications function that is viewed as an indispensable strategic partner to the business.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required in Communications, English, or a related field.
• Advanced degree (MBA, MA in Communications, or related field) strongly preferred.

For US-based candidates, the base pay range for this role is $256,000.00 - $384,000.00. Individual compensation will depend on factors such as qualifications, skills, experience, and job knowledge. The successful candidate may also be eligible for a discretionary annual cash bonus, equity grants, and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision insurance, 401k, and flexible paid vacation.