Director, Global Scientific Communications, Hematology

AstraZeneca • Boston, MA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease is seeking a Director, Global Scientific Communications, Hematology to lead global scientific communications strategy, publication planning, and medical education for a high-impact Hematology portfolio across key lifecycle stages in Boston, one of the world’s most competitive life sciences markets. This role combines the scale and scientific credibility of a global biopharmaceutical organization with the urgency, focus, and patient proximity of rare disease. The successful candidate will help shape how Alexion/AstraZeneca communicates complex science, clinical value, and patient impact to healthcare professionals, external experts, and the broader medical community. The Director will chair the Hematology Global Publication Team and serve as a senior scientific communications partner accountable for driving decisions, aligning cross-functional stakeholders, and moving publication and medical education priorities forward. This role requires a self-starter who can operate independently, manage ambiguity, challenge assumptions, push back constructively, and negotiate trade-offs with internal and external partners when needed.

Requirements

• An advanced degree, such as a PhD, PharmD, or MD.
• Seven (7) to ten (10) years of relevant experience in a pharmaceutical company or medical communications agency, or significant independent scientific communications or publications consultancy experience supporting the pharmaceutical industry.
• Strong experience in strategic publication planning, including scientific platform development, tactical publication planning, and implementation.
• Experience planning and developing medical education materials and scientific program
• Working knowledge of AI-enabled tools for scientific communication s responsibly, including literature review, content development, and summarization, with the judgment to evaluate outputs for scientific accuracy, compliance, confidentiality, and company policy alignment.
• The ability to independently develop strategic and tactical publication plans, make sound recommendations, and drive execution without requiring close day-to-day direction.
• Strong writing skills and the ability to critically interpret and contextualize complex scientific and clinical data for physicians, patients, payers, and other audiences.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to influence without direct authority, manage senior stakeholders, push back constructively, and negotiate independently to resolve competing priorities.
• Willingness and ability to travel within the US and internationally, as needed.

Nice To Haves

• PhD in a life science discipline.
• CMPP certification.
• A background in Hematology and rare diseases.
• Experience planning peer-to-peer engagements, advisory boards, or workshops supporting scientific publications or medical education materials.

Responsibilities

• Lead global scientific communications strategy: Develop communications strategies and publication plans for assigned Hematology products and indications, aligned with global medical, brand, and corporate priorities.
• Chair Global Publication Teams: Lead Global Publication Team meetings and activities, drive agenda priorities, facilitate decisions, resolve stakeholder misalignment, and ensure clear ownership of next steps.
• Exercise independent judgment: Make informed recommendations, escalate only when appropriate, and independently negotiate timelines, resources, authorship considerations, agency deliverables, and competing stakeholder priorities while maintaining scientific integrity and compliance.
• Deliver scientific communications: Lead timely development of abstracts, posters, oral presentations, manuscripts, slide decks, and related scientific deliverables.
• Develop medical education initiatives: Plan and implement congress symposia and other scientific programs that communicate important information to medical and scientific audiences.
• Manage cross-functional partnerships: Build strong relationships across Global Medical Communications, Medical Affairs, clinical, biostatistics, product, agency, and other internal teams. Influence without direct authority and constructively challenge partners when scientific, operational, or compliance risks arise.

Benefits

• short-term incentive bonus opportunity
• equity-based long-term incentive program
• retirement contribution
• commission payment eligibility
• qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]
• paid vacation and holidays
• paid leaves
• health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree