Associate Director, Global Scientific Communications Neurology

This is what you will do: 

The Associate Director (AD) of Global Scientific Communications, Neurology is responsible for facilitating the successful development and implementation of global communication strategies, publication plans and external medical education initiatives across a designated indication for the Neurology therapeutic area in alignment with Alexion brand and corporate strategies. The AD will collaborate with members of the Neurology Scientific Communications team and may also function as independent lead for specific therapeutic area programs as assigned by the program head (Sr. Director Neurology, Global Scientific Communications). The successful AD will engage with internal stakeholders including but not limited to Research, Clinical Development, Commercial, Biostatistics and Medical Affairs, as well as external authors, investigators, and publishers to ensure timely execution of the publication plan through high quality writing, reviewing, editing, revising, and placing impactful scientific and clinical abstracts, posters, oral presentations, manuscripts, and congress symposia. In this role the AD will participate in the analysis and interpretation of scientific and clinical data, as well as in the identification of appropriate publication and presentation forums for the data. The AD will also assist in the development of medical education plans, congress plans, literature summaries and maintain the repository of collateral publication materials including slide decks. The AD will conduct literature searches as well interpret scientific literature, and provide assessments of competitor papers, posters, and other materials. The AD will also participate in the supervision of consultants and medical communication agencies. This position reports to the Senior Director, Global Scientific Communications for the neurology TA.

You will be responsible for:

• Participating in the development and implementation of strategic publication plans for the assigned products and disease indications
• Ensuring timely execution of the publications to produce high quality, accurate and impactful deliverables including abstracts, posters, oral presentations, manuscripts and slide decks
• Participating in the planning, development and implementation of the medical educational plan including congress symposia, and other scientific programs that communicate important information to the medical and scientific community
• Managing and track the publication tactics to ensure its timely execution
• Establishing strong collaborative relationships and work in close partnership with other members of Global Medical Communications (Medical Information/Medical Review, Training, and Med Comms Excellence), Global Medical Affairs (HEOR, MSLs) and key stakeholders internally (product teams, clinical teams, biostats) and externally (e.g., external authors, investigators and thought leaders, patient advocacy groups, professional societies).
• Participating in the analysis and, interpretation of scientific and clinical data, as well as the identification of appropriate publication and presentation forums for the data
• Conducting routine literature searches and interpret scientific literature for internal stakeholders, including competitor assessments
• Ensuring compliance with Alexion’s Publication policies, standards, and guidelines

You will need to have:

• Advanced degree: PhD, PharmD, or MD
• 5-7 years of relevant experience in a pharmaceutical company or Medical Communications agency
• Experience in strategic publication planning (including scientific platforms), tactical publication planning and implementation, and the planning and development of medical educational materials
• Ability to interpret and organize highly complex scientific data, including experience reviewing clinical trial data and output from statistical analysis programs
• Must be skilled writer with demonstrated ability to write / review / edit scientific articles, abstracts, posters
• Strong working knowledge of current good publication practices and guidelines
• Understanding of the clinical development process, especially clinical study, and global health outcomes data
• Ability to collaborate with medical publications agencies, to plan, write and develop abstracts, posters, oral presentations, manuscripts, slide decks and content for scientific and educational programs
• Experience in working closely with thought leaders and authors
• Demonstrated ability to work independently
• Demonstrated experience in use and oversight of industry-standard publication management system(s) (eg Datavision, iEnvision)
• Demonstrated experience managing competing priorities and tight deadlines
• Experience with managing budgets
• The duties of this role are generally conducted in an office environment.  As is typical of an office-based role, employees must be able, with or without an accommodation to use a computer; engage in communications via phone, video, and electronic messaging; engage in problem solving and non-linear thought, analysis, and dialogue; collaborate with others; maintain general availability during standard business hours.

We would prefer for you to have:

• Advance life sciences degree: PhD, PharmD, MD in Neurology, Neuroscience, or other Life Science, CMPP certification
• Background or prior experience in neurology and/or rare diseases
• Experience in the planning and implementation of symposia and in the development of medical education materials (eg workshops for the development of the scientific communication platform)

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.