Senior Director, External Communications

About the role

As the Senior Director, External Communications, you will report to the VP, Brand Marketing, to lead and shape our corporate narrative at a pivotal moment in our growth. In this role, you will oversee strategic external communications, with a focus on Public Relations, for the Medidata brand and Life Science Engagement (LSE) portfolio of brands.

About the Team

We are not looking for a traditional, tactical PR executioner. We are seeking a high-level strategist and executive translator—someone who can sit with leadership, deeply understand their business vision, and naturally translate that complex strategy into a compelling external story. You will ensure our business goals are perfectly aligned with and properly executed across our PR channels.

Responsibilities

• Leadership, Influence & Collaboration
• Executive Advisory: Serve as a key communications advisor to executive leadership, the Head of Marketing, and the VP of Brand Marketing. Act as a trusted partner who can extract and crystallize leadership's vision into public-facing strategies.
• Team & Agency Leadership: Directly manage and mentor two internal PR experts, fostering alignment, accountability, and professional growth, while ensuring our external PR agency partners are driving maximum impact.
• Cross-Functional Synergy: Build strong, collaborative relationships with the broader Marketing org, Product Marketing, Sales, Executive Leadership, and the Parent Company to ensure a unified message.
• Strategic Narrative & Public Relations
• Strategic Oversight: Set the overarching narrative and direction for external communications, ensuring all press releases, thought leadership, executive interviews, and media outreach are grounded in business strategy.
• Narrative Alignment: Ensure all PR channels accurately and compellingly reflect the company's long-term business goals, brand positioning, and executive priorities.
• High-Level Messaging: Establish frameworks, processes, and standards that ensure consistency, quality, and strategic clarity across all public-facing communication.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in corporate communications, brand strategy, or business-driven communications with progressive leadership responsibility.
• Strategic over Tactical: A proven track record as a business strategist or communications leader who influences how a company positions itself, rather than just executing PR tasks. (PR background is not required; a strong strategy and corporate narrative background is essential).
• Executive Partnership: Extensive experience partnering closely with senior executive leadership, including CEOs, with the ability to build trust and advise at the highest levels.
• People & Agency Management: Track record of building and leading high-performing teams and managing external agency partners to drive consistent, high-quality execution.
• Industry Familiarity: Experience in a B2B environment is required; SaaS, healthcare, life sciences, or regulated industries are preferred.

Skills & Attributes

• Elite Strategic Thinker: Possesses strong operational instincts and the ability to connect corporate business objectives directly to messaging outcomes.
• Master Storyteller: An excellent editor and storyteller with a sharp eye for clarity, tone, and strategic impact.
• Collaborative Leader: A low-ego, highly collaborative leader who inspires teams and fosters a culture of high standards.

Pay

The salary range posted below refers only to positions that will be physically based in New York City. As with all roles, Medidata sets ranges based on a number of factors including function, level, candidate expertise and experience, and geographic location. Pay ranges for candidates in locations other than New York City, may differ based on the local market data in that region. The base salary pay range for this position located in New York is $157,500-$200,000.

Benefits

Base pay is one part of the Total Rewards that Medidata provides to compensate and recognize employees for their work. Most sales positions are eligible for a commission on the terms of applicable plan documents, and many of Medidata's non-sales positions are eligible for annual bonuses. Medidata believes that benefits should connect you to the support you need when it matters most and provides best-in-class benefits, including medical, dental, life and disability insurance; 401(k) matching; flexible paid time off; and 10 paid holidays per year.

Inclusion Statement

Compensation for the role will be commensurate with experience. The total expected compensation range will be between $157500 and $210000, representing the base salary (or annualized salary based on estimated hourly compensation) and target bonus.