Director, Patient Affairs, Community Scientific Engagement
Sarepta Therapeutics
Summary
The Director, Patient Affairs, Community Scientific Engagement professional supports the development of patient-centered communications and engagement initiatives that help make scientific and clinical information more accessible, understandable, and relevant for patients, caregivers, and advocacy communities. Reporting to the Executive Director of Scientific Engagement and Strategy, this role partners closely with Patient Affairs, Medical Affairs, and other cross-functional teams to help translate approved scientific information into clear, meaningful communications that reflect patient needs, perspectives, and priorities. The position also supports the collection, synthesis, and communication of patient and stakeholder insights to help inform Patient Affairs strategies, programs, and engagement activities.
Job description
The Importance of the Role
The Director, Patient Affairs, Community Scientific Engagement professional supports the development of patient-centered communications and engagement initiatives that help make scientific and clinical information more accessible, understandable, and relevant for patients, caregivers, and advocacy communities. Reporting to the Executive Director of Scientific Engagement and Strategy, this role partners closely with Patient Affairs, Medical Affairs, and other cross-functional teams to help translate approved scientific information into clear, meaningful communications that reflect patient needs, perspectives, and priorities. The position also supports the collection, synthesis, and communication of patient and stakeholder insights to help inform Patient Affairs strategies, programs, and engagement activities.
Patient Communication & Engagement
- Translate approved scientific and clinical information into clear, accessible, and patient-friendly language across a variety of formats, including educational resources, patient-facing materials, digital content, and engagement tools.
- Support the development of communications that help patients and caregivers better understand disease, treatment, and research-related information.
- Collaborate with patient stakeholders, advocacy organizations, and internal partners to help ensure communications are relevant, culturally appropriate, and responsive to patient needs and experiences.
- Contribute to the development of patient-centered communication strategies that support engagement, education, and advocacy objectives.
Scientific Content Translation
- Lead the development and execution of community-friendly plain language scientific summaries, translating complex scientific and clinical data into accurate, accessible, and meaningful communications for patient and advocacy audiences.
- Review scientific publications, congress presentations, and emerging clinical data to identify information that may be meaningful to patient stakeholders.
- Develop patient-friendly summaries, educational resources, and communication materials based on approved scientific content.
- Partner with Medical Affairs and other subject matter experts to help ensure patient-facing communications accurately reflect scientific information while remaining understandable to non-scientific audiences.
- Support the adaptation of scientific content into formats that are meaningful and accessible for patient communities.
Patient Insights & Strategy Support
- Gather, synthesize, and communicate insights from patients, caregivers, advocacy organizations, advisory boards, and other stakeholders.
- Identify themes, unmet needs, and perspectives that may help inform Patient Affairs priorities and engagement strategies.
- Partner with the Executive Director and cross-functional teams to integrate patient insights into communication planning and stakeholder engagement activities.
- Develop summaries and reports that effectively communicate patient and stakeholder perspectives to internal audiences.
Advisory Boards & Stakeholder Engagement
- Support the planning and execution of patient advisory boards and stakeholder engagement activities.
- Assist with agenda development, meeting materials, facilitation support, and synthesis of insights and recommendations.
- Help ensure patient perspectives are appropriately reflected in Patient Affairs programs, communications, and engagement initiatives.
- Build collaborative relationships with patient stakeholders and advocacy partners to support ongoing dialogue and engagement.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work collaboratively with Patient Affairs, Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Corporate Affairs, and other functions to support patient-focused initiatives.
- Serve as a Patient Affairs communications resource by helping connect scientific information, patient insights, and stakeholder needs.
- Support cross-functional efforts that aim to incorporate the patient voice into communication and engagement activities.
Execution Excellence
- Manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously while maintaining high-quality deliverables.
- Demonstrate flexibility and responsiveness in a dynamic environment with evolving business and patient stakeholder needs.
- Contribute to the successful execution of Patient Affairs communication and engagement initiatives within established timelines.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree required
- Advanced degree (PhD, PharmD, DNP, MPH, or related discipline) preferred
- Experience in patient communications, patient engagement, scientific communications translation, health education, advocacy engagement, or related functions
- Demonstrated ability to translate complex scientific and clinical information into clear, accessible communications for patient and stakeholder audiences
- Experience gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing stakeholder insights to support strategic decision-making
- Experience supporting advisory boards, patient engagement programs, advocacy partnerships, or related stakeholder activities
- Strong written, verbal, and visual communication skills
- Ability to work effectively across functions and build collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders
- Strong organizational skills with demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Commitment to patient-centricity and incorporating the patient voice into communications and engagement activities
- Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S.
Benefits
- Physical and Emotional Wellness
- Financial Wellness
- Support for Caregivers
Company overview
Sarepta Therapeutics is a global biotechnology company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing precision genetic medicines for rare diseases. Founded in 1980, the company has evolved into a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical leader with a specialized focus on RNA-based therapeutics and gene therapies. Sarepta's primary mission centers on treating devastating rare genetic disorders, particularly Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a progressive muscle-wasting disease affecting children. The company has developed multiple FDA-approved treatments including Exondys 51, Amondys 45, Vyondys 53, and the groundbreaking gene therapy ELEVIDYS. Sarepta employs approximately 1,300-1,400 professionals and maintains research facilities across multiple locations. The company's scientific platform leverages Morpholino oligomer technology for exon-skipping therapies and advanced adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for gene therapy delivery. With a market capitalization exceeding $2 billion, Sarepta continues to expand its pipeline to address additional rare diseases while building the world's largest gene therapy manufacturing capacity to accelerate patient access to transformative treatments.