Sr./Exec. Director, Scientific Communications

Kalvista Pharmaceuticals - Cambridge, MA

Full-time - Senior

Cambridge, MA

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

As the Senior/Executive Director, Scientific Communications, you will be a key member of the Medical Affairs team at KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc. This role is pivotal in leading and being accountable for innovative, competitive, and impactful medical communications throughout the lifecycle of our assets. You will develop and deliver comprehensive communication strategies that align closely with product-specific communication objectives, the Scientific Platform, and the Integrated Medical Communication Plan. This will result in the creation of collateral materials that support both internal and external needs, outreach, and education. Your responsibilities will include planning and executing relevant communication tactics for the assigned therapeutic area. This encompasses the development of scientific slide decks, field medical materials, training curriculum and content, as well as materials for Medical Symposia and Congresses, all in collaboration with other medical and cross-functional colleagues. You will lead a team that includes personnel responsible for medical communications, publications, medical information, and training, ensuring that all communications are scientifically accurate and fair-balanced. In this role, you will interact primarily with the Head of Medical Affairs and other functional medical partners, including Outcomes Research, Field Medical, Program Management, and Global cross-functional groups such as commercial, market access, regulatory, clinical development, and legal/compliance. Your ability to demonstrate a full understanding of the therapeutic area strategy will be crucial in translating that into fully aligned communication for products and emerging assets. You will also be responsible for overseeing the planning and execution of publications, maintaining in-depth knowledge of medical communications trends, and managing vendor relationships to ensure project delivery aligns with timelines and objectives.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate a full understanding of the therapeutic area strategy and translate that into fully aligned communication for products and emerging assets.
• Liaise with external key stakeholders such as opinion leaders, investigators, partners, and vendors for medical communication and scientific curriculum development.
• Develop strategic medical communications strategies and plans, in alignment with brand objectives and based on cross-functional input.
• Drive the compilation of data to create scientifically accurate and fair-balanced content that communicates complex medical and scientific concepts.
• Align and coordinate with the Head of Medical Affairs to monitor the performance of goals and delivery of medical communications plans.
• Lead day-to-day management and development of a scientific platform and narrative for consistency across all medical communication tools.
• Oversee the planning and execution of publications.
• In partnership with field medical leadership, oversee the development of disease area-specific and product-focused materials.
• Develop medical congress strategy and plans, including execution of key congress tactics.
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of medical communications trends and the evolving digital medical communications landscape.
• Oversee budget and relationships with vendor(s) and/or consultants to deliver projects in alignment with timelines and objectives.
• Oversee medical and promotional review activities in collaboration with Legal, Compliance, and Regulatory colleagues.

Requirements

• PharmD or Ph.D. in biological science or related field or MD required.
• 10+ years of related experience at a pharmaceutical company required.
• Minimum of 5 years in medical affairs including leadership roles in medical communication function required.
• Experience leading individuals and cross-functional teams required.
• Experience in Medical Affairs/R&D functions, including medical communications, with demonstrated results required.
• Experience in the development and ownership of omnichannel strategy and/or digital engagement strategy for medical affairs required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills required.
• Experience with resource allocation and vendor management required.
• Experience with managing budgets required.
• Rare Disease / Orphan Drug experience preferred.
• Understanding of pharmaceutical clinical development and product life-cycle management.
• Strong self-motivation and enthusiasm with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to understand and interpret medical/scientific data and develop strategic messaging.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in the pharmaceutical industry with a focus on rare diseases.
• Knowledge of compliance and regulatory standards in pharmaceutical communications.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• 401k retirement savings plan
• Paid holidays
• Professional development opportunities
• Flexible scheduling options