Executive Administrator to the Chief Financial & Business Officer and External Engagement Coordinator

Akebia Therapeutics•Cambridge, MA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position is currently based in our Cambridge, MA office. Please note that our offices will be relocating to Waltham, MA later this year, and this role will transition accordingly. We follow a flexible, “magnet not mandate” approach to in-office work, encouraging collaboration and onsite engagement while supporting hybrid flexibility based on role and business needs. Nearly 37 million Americans are currently affected by Chronic Kidney Disease. 37 million. At Akebia we take that number very seriously and every day we come to work, with the purpose of bettering the lives of each person impacted by kidney disease and the renal community that serves them. Our tenacious, passionate employees’ challenge the status quo and work to develop unique therapeutics that have the potential to set new standards of care for people living with kidney disease. This is life-changing work, and we are all in, are you? Job Summary: Akebia is seeking a highly organized, proactive, and trusted Executive Assistant to support our Chief Finance & Business Officer (CFBO). This role plays a critical part in enabling effective leadership across finance/accounting, corporate communications (including investor relations, public relations and internal communications), corporate development and IT functions, as well as helping to coordinate external engagement activities (including with patient community groups). The Executive Assistant will serve as a strategic administrative partner to the CFBO, ensuring operational excellence, thoughtful prioritization, and seamless coordination across a complex and highly regulated public company environment. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong business acumen, discretion, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in support of corporate, financial, communications, and strategic objectives.

Requirements

7–10+ years of experience supporting senior executives, preferably within biotech, pharmaceutical, healthcare, or other publicly traded companies.
Exceptional organizational and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple high-impact initiatives simultaneously.
Strong attention to detail and business acumen; ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with integrity.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel) and collaboration tools.
Ability to work independently while building strong cross-functional relationships.
Demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment.
Proactive, resourceful, and solutions-oriented.
Calm and adaptable in a dynamic, deadline-driven environment.
Committed to supporting a culture of accountability, collaboration, and patient-focused impact.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting a CFO, CFBO, or senior finance executive strongly preferred.
Familiarity with public company processes, investor relations, corporate communications, and external engagement activities is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Proactively manage the CFBO’s complex and evolving calendar, aligning time and priorities with financial cycles, earnings processes, Board deliverables, investor engagements, media interactions, and strategic initiatives.
Coordinate leadership meetings across CBFO’s functions, ensuring preparation of materials and follow-up on key action items.
Support preparation of documents, presentations, and reports for Executive Leadership Team (ELT), Board of Directors, investor and public relations-related activities.
Anticipate executive needs and resolve scheduling and logistical conflicts with professionalism and sound judgment.
Coordinate detailed domestic and international travel and manage expense reporting in compliance with company policy.
Track key financial calendar milestones (budget cycles, forecasting timelines, SEC filing dates) to ensure alignment and readiness.
Assist in preparation and distribution of earnings materials, and press releases
Assist in preparation of corporate announcements and presentations, and investor-facing presentations.
Support internal communications and corporate events.
Maintain strict confidentiality regarding potential transactions, partnerships, and strategic evaluations.
Support coordination of activities with patient groups, including community events, disease awareness campaigns, sponsorships, and awareness initiatives aligned with Akebia’s mission.
Help track commitments and follow-up related to patient group partnerships and community initiatives.