Executive Director, Head of Scientific Communications at Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical

, , United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

20 Jan, 26

Salary

351300.0

Posted On

22 Oct, 25

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Scientific Communications, Medical Communications, Publication Planning, Data Presentation, Evidence Dissemination, Team Development, Budget Management, Process Optimization, Clinical Data Interpretation, Narrative Development, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Operational Excellence, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Planning, Leadership, Communication Skills

Industry

Biotechnology Research

Description

Why Join Us? Be a hero for our rare disease patients At Ultragenyx, we fundamentally believe that taking real impactful action to care for the needs of patients and our people is always the right thing to do. To achieve this goal, our vision is to lead the future of rare disease medicine. For us, this means going where other biopharma companies won’t go – challenging the status quo and creating a new model that advances our field so more patients and caregivers can benefit from life-changing treatments. We do this by following the science, applying a novel rapid development approach, making innovative medicines at fair and reasonable prices, and creating a collaborative ecosystem to reach patients in ways that are most meaningful for them. Our commitment and care for patients extends to our people, so culture is an essential cornerstone for Ultragenyx. We remain continuously focused on creating a supportive and inclusive environment of profound learning and growth – so employees can thrive in all areas of their lives, in and outside of work. Ultimately, we want to be an organization where we would be proud for our family, friends and children to work. If you want to have a meaningful impact, do the best work of your career, and grow a lot, both professionally and personally, come join our team. Position Summary: The Executive Director, Head of Scientific Communications, will lead the strategy and execution of Ultragenyx’s global scientific communications to ensure scientific and clinical data are translated into clear, credible, and impactful narratives, enabling stakeholders to make the best evidence-based decisions possible to improve outcomes for patients with rare diseases. This leader will directly manage the Medical Communications and Medical Information functions and provide strategic oversight of Publication Planning through a dotted-line reporting relationship to ensure a unified, end-to-end approach to evidence dissemination. Working closely with Global Medical Leads, regional teams, HEOR, and other medical and cross-functional partners, this role ensures scientific alignment, message consistency, and operational excellence across all communication channels and audiences. ultrainnovative – Tackle rare and dynamic challenges Work Model: Remote: Officially documented as working full-time from home, with travel to Ultragenyx's offices or other locations on occasion as needed. Responsibilities: Lead the global scientific communications strategy across all therapeutic areas and lifecycle stages, aligning with the company’s scientific platform, integrated evidence plans (IEPs), and launch readiness priorities. Supervise and direct the creation of medical communications strategies and publication plans led by the indication Medical Communications, Publication Planning, and Med Information leads in accordance with annual medical and brand plans. Oversee Medical Communications and Medical Information functions, including congress strategy, core scientific narrative development, FAQs, data decks, and field training materials. Provide strategic oversight of the Publications team (dotted line) to ensure integration of publication strategy, evidence dissemination, and alignment with medical narrative and IEPs. Elevate Ultragenyx’s scientific storytelling, translate complex data into compelling, credible narratives tailored for HCP, payer, and patient audiences. Drive global consistency of scientific messages across functions, regions, and programs throughout pre-, peri-, and post-launch phases. Implement standards, tools, and metrics to improve content quality, review efficiency, and traceability (in collaboration with Medical Operations & Excellence). Serve as a scientific communications thought partner to Global Medical Leads and other partners on data presentation, communication strategy, and insight integration. Ensure alignment across global, regional, and local medical publication plans. Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing team that embodies excellence, collaboration, and scientific rigor. Supervise or review publications, slide presentations, and other scientific materials for content and positioning. Accountable for the overall management of medical communications agencies and for oversight of financial and contractual aspects of all projects. Participate in updates to relevant Ultragenyx SOPs guidance documents, and work instruction Requirements: Advanced degree (PhD, PharmD, or MD) or equivalent relevant experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry. 12+ years of experience in scientific or medical communications, publications, or related Medical Affairs roles; experience in rare diseases strongly preferred. Proven track record of developing and implementing global scientific communications strategies that support multiple product launches. Deep experience in strategic publication planning, scientific platform development, and cross-functional evidence dissemination. Expertise in interpreting and synthesizing complex clinical and real-world data; fluency in reviewing statistical outputs and translating them into clear narratives. Demonstrated leadership and team development skills, with ability to manage through both direct and dotted-line structures. Strong operational acumen, including vendor oversight, budget management, and process optimization. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a record of producing high-quality, compliant scientific materials. Ability to travel domestically and internationally (~10%). #LI-CS1 #LI-Remote The typical annual salary range for this full-time position is listed below. This range reflects the characteristics of the job, such as required skills and qualifications and is based on the office location noted in this job posting. The range may also be adjusted based on applicant's geographic location. This position is eligible for annual bonus and equity incentives. Actual individual pay is determined by demonstrated experience and internal equity alignment. Pay Range $284,400—$351,300 USD Full Time employees across the globe enjoy a range of benefits, including, but not limited to: · Generous vacation time and public holidays observed by the company · Volunteer days · Long term incentive and Employee stock purchase plans or equivalent offerings · Employee wellbeing benefits · Fitness reimbursement · Tuition sponsoring · Professional development plans * Benefits vary by region and country Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin/ancestry, age, disability, marital and veteran status, and any other status or classification protected by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws. Reasonable accommodation will be provided for all protected statuses or classifications protected by applicable law, including individuals with disabilities, disabled veterans, for pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, and based on sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants can request an accommodation prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, you may contact Talent Acquisition by emailing us at talentacquisition@ultragenyx.com. See our CCPA Employee and Applicant Privacy Notice. See our Privacy Policy. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Note to External Recruiters: All candidate activity and open positions are managed strictly through our Human Resources Department. Our Human Resources Department kindly requests that recruiters not contact employees/hiring managers directly in an attempt to solicit business and present candidates. Please note that failure to comply with this request will be a factor in determining a professional relationship with our organization. Submission of unsolicited resumes prior to an agreement set in place between the Human Resources Department and the recruiting agency will not create any implied obligation. Inquiries on developing a recruiting relationship with us, may be directed to: talentacquisition@ultragenyx.com.

Responsibilities

Lead the global scientific communications strategy and oversee the Medical Communications and Medical Information functions. Ensure scientific alignment and message consistency across all communication channels and audiences.