DescriptionThe Director, Patient Advocacy, is responsible for the development and execution of the patient advocacy strategy in assigned therapeutic area/geography, ensuring that voice of patients is shaping and generating impact from preclinical research to clinical trials and commercial outputs. The role reports to the Senior Director, Patient Advocacy Lead, Enzyme Therapies.
This individual will develop, lead and drive high-impact, strategic patient advocacy initiatives that enhance business outcomes and strengthen corporate reputation in assigned therapeutic areas and geographies. This role requires deep knowledge in industry-wide healthcare trends, including regulatory requirements for patient-focused drug development and a sophisticated understanding of advocacy relations to effectively support the organization, ensuring the impact of patient insights across the business in the respective therapeutic area and/or geography.
Roles and Responsibilities - Define, lead and implement BioMarin's patient advocacy activities in assigned therapeutic areas and geographies ensuring that patient insights are understood by pipeline/therapeutic area and regional leaders and considered in making key business decisions
- Position BioMarin as the global leader in patient advocacy in assigned therapeutic areas/geography, representing the company and building trust with key advocacy groups
- Lead the development of initiatives, to connect patient communities to the respective Business Unit /International teams and ensure that our work is advancing key priorities
- Develop and nurture open and transparent professional relationships with key PAGS and determine opportunities for developing strong partnerships, including co-created/collaborative programs in alignment with business priorities
- Implement community outreach to advocacy groups in assigned therapeutic areas/geography from preclinical development through commercialization to help inform activities such as clinical trial design and to understand patient need; ensure feedback is promptly delivered to community
- Coordinate interactions with Patient Advocacy groups in assigned therapeutic areas/geographies across BioMarin's internal functions (including Commercial, R&D and Medical Affairs), to ensure that we are presenting a single and unified vision to the community
- Ensure Patient Advocacy engagement and activations align to the business priorities in assigned therapeutic area/geography
- Support Patient Advocacy Therapeutic Area/Geography Lead and represent Patient Advocacy for assigned areas of responsibility in key cross-functional governance forums
- Act as a point of contact in assigned therapeutic area/geography for incoming enquiries from patient groups including Grants and Sponsorships, providing compliant guidance and support as required
- Develop strategic patient advocacy plan for the assigned therapeutic area/geography aligned with other functional areas; ensuring that the right level of resources is invested at the right time
- For assigned areas of responsibility: manage budget, accurately forecasting spend and adjusting as needed to align with business priorities
- Support Patient Advocacy Therapeutic Area/Geography Lead in creating opportunities for BioMarin employees to experience and understand the lived experiences of patients and families impacted by genetically defined conditions in the assigned therapeutic area
- Travel - approx. 30%
Qualifications - 10+ years of patient advocacy experience in the healthcare/biopharma setting. Rare disease experience is preferred.
- A proven track record in patient engagement / advocacy with demonstrated impact on business outcomes from preclinical research to clinical trials and commercial outputs
- Sound judgment and the ability to work seamlessly with colleagues in assigned therapeutic area and externally
- Ability to influence cross-functional teams and build consensus across the assigned therapeutic area/geography
- Demonstrated knowledge of regulations governing patient advocacy and deep understanding of the regulatory/healthcare environment in assigned therapeutic area/geography
- Collaborative working style and working as part of a growing team
- BS/BA in science, business or liberal arts; advanced degree preferred
Workstyle- Role may be conducted remotely with the following notation. If you live within 100 miles of our corporate headquarters in San Rafael, CA (zip: 94901) the role reverts to hybrid requiring being on site 2x on a weekly basis.
- Strong preference for the candidate to be based in our San Rafael office enabling face to face meetings.
Note: This description is not intended to be all-inclusive, or a limitation of the duties of the position. It is intended to describe the general nature of the job that may include other duties as assumed or assigned.
