Alcon

Associate Director, Therapeutic Area Communications

Alcon$126K — $234K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required
  • 7+ years in communications, with strong brand communications experience
  • Experience managing agency partners and budgets
  • Crisis and issues management expertise
  • Pharmaceutical experience preferred

Responsibilities

  • Support development of integrated communications strategy based on market dynamics
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to align communications with brand strategy
  • Integrate media relations, digital marketing, and advocacy for communications milestones
  • Lead storytelling efforts for brand and disease narratives
  • Manage brand reputation and associated risks
  • Evaluate communications impact against business objectives
  • Ensure execution excellence amidst regulatory compliance

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health, life, and disability benefits
  • 401(k) with company contribution and match
  • Generous time off package including vacation and personal days
  • Eligibility for performance-based cash incentives
  • Potential for annual equity awards
Full Job Description
Job Description Summary
Location: East Hanover NJ, US or Basel Switzerland. This role will follow a hybrid working model.

LI-#hybrid

The Associate Director, TA Communications will support the development and execution of high-impact product and portfolio communications strategies across Novartis' Cardiovascular & Metabolic (CVM) Therapeutic Area in both the U.S. and global markets.

The Associate Director will support communications strategy across a dynamic portfolio of mid-stage development assets, priority growth brands, and launch-stage programs advancing the next generation of cardiovascular innovation. Working across Global and US Communications, this individual will help shape the product stories behind priority brands tackling some of cardiology's most significant unmet needs, including ASCVD, thrombosis, and emerging risk factors such as Lp(a). They will support key development and launch milestones, craft compelling product and disease narratives, and help position breakthrough science in ways that resonate with stakeholders. This is a high-visibility opportunity to influence how future cardiovascular innovations are understood, differentiated, and ultimately brought to patients.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities
  • Support the development and execution of integrated communications strategies informed by market dynamics, stakeholder insights, and evolving communications trends.
  • Partner closely with cross-functional development and commercial teams to identify opportunities where communications can most effectively advance brand and therapeutic area objectives.
  • Collaborate across Communications functions, including media relations, digital communications, executive and internal communications, patient advocacy, issues management, and analytics, to deliver coordinated and impactful campaigns.
  • Lead the development of compelling brand and disease-state narratives, leveraging modern content strategies and optimizing for AI-enabled and search-driven information environments.
  • Protect and strengthen the reputation of Novartis and the CVM portfolio through proactive issues identification, risk assessment, and strategic communications planning.
  • Develop and maintain reporting frameworks that measure communications effectiveness and demonstrate impact against business objectives.
  • Ensure flawless execution while maintaining compliance with all legal, regulatory, and company requirements.
  • Manage communications agency partnerships and budgets effectively and efficiently.


Essential Requirements
  • Contribution of CVM communications strategies to Novartis' reputation, leadership positioning, and therapeutic area objectives.
  • Strength, consistency, and differentiation of CVM storytelling across audiences and channels.
  • Alignment of communications priorities and strategies across the therapeutic area.
  • Audience engagement and narrative adoption, including visibility within AI-powered and search-based information environments.
  • Effective use of OGSM planning principles to drive measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.
  • Successful management of issues and reputation risks across CVM brands and pipeline assets.
  • Feedback from internal and external stakeholders regarding collaboration, strategic partnership, and communications expertise.
  • Demonstrated ownership of individual development objectives and continuous professional growth.


Desirable Requirements:
  • Bachelor's degree required
  • 7+ years of experience in communications with significant prior experience in brand communications disciplines, including data and regulatory milestones
  • Management of agency partners and budget
  • Crisis and issues management
  • Pharmaceutical experience preferred


Benefits & Rewards

The salary for this position is expected to range between $126,000 and $234,000 per year. The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors. Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards. US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

Salary Range
$126,000.00 - $234,000.00

Skills Desired
Business Communications, Collaboration, Communication Medium (Inactive), Curious Mindset, Employee Engagement, Internal Communications (Ic) (Inactive), Marketing, Media Relations, Multimedia (Inactive), Photography, Social Media, Strategic Communication Planning, W3 (Inactive)

About Alcon

Alcon is a global medical company specializing in eye care products and services. The company's products include surgical equipment, contact lenses, and eye drops. Alcon was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland. The company operates in over 70 countries and has over 20,000 employees. In 2019, Alcon became an independent publicly traded company after being spun off from Novartis.
Learn more about Alcon
Size
24,389 employees
Market Cap
$33.3 billion
Industry
Founded
1945
NASDAQ

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