Executive Director, Head of Scientific Communications

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical

77d • $284,400 - $351,300

About The Position

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.

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%).

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.

Benefits

• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees