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Agios Pharmaceuticals

Director, Global Scientific Communications & Publications

Agios Pharmaceuticals, CAMBRIDGE, MA


Director, Global Scientific Communications and Publications

Who we are:

Agios is a biopharmaceutical company that is fueled by connections. We thrive in a supportive, fun, and flexible environment full of people empowered to bring their whole selves to work. We care deeply about our work, each other, and the patients who count on us. Our teams cultivate strong bonds with patient communities, healthcare professionals, partners and colleagues, which helps us discover, develop and deliver therapies for rare diseases - and make a bigger difference in their lives. In the U.S., Agios markets a first-in-class pyruvate kinase (PK) activator for the treatment of hemolytic anemia in adults with PK deficiency. Building on the company's leadership in the field of cellular metabolism, Agios is advancing a robust clinical pipeline of investigational medicines with active and planned programs in alpha- and beta-thalassemia, sickle cell disease, pediatric PK deficiency and MDS-associated anemia.

The impact you will make:

Agios Pharmaceuticals is searching for a dynamic Director, Global Scientific Communications and Publications to join our growing Global Medical Affairs team. We want someone who cares about this important work, and who's driven to connect to our mission of helping these patient communities. The Director, Global Scientific Communications and Publications will be responsible for the development and execution of global publication and scientific communication strategic plans and tactics, including but not limited to manuscripts, congress presentations, scientific platforms, medical booth content and materials, MSL tools for external use, MSL training materials, and company organized global symposia. In this central role, the Associate Director/Director will engage with multiple internal and external stakeholders such as Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Patient Advocacy, Translational Research, Biology Research, HEOR, Biostatistics, Training, external authors, investigators, publishers, and medical communications agencies.

What you will do:

Scientific Communication Responsibilities:
  • Manage and execute development of global scientific communication tactics (e.g., social media content, scientific platforms, MSL materials [field use and internal training], microsite materials, etc.)
  • Contribute to the development of the scientific communications plan in alignment with the overall Medical Affairs Strategy
  • Identify and engage internal and external subject matter experts, when appropriate, for participation in scientific communication tactics and content development
  • Manage and execute the development of medical content for congress scientific communication activities (e.g., congress medical booth materials, logistics, and planning)
  • Drive the agenda development, content creation, speaker training, and execution for company organized symposia and other meetings
  • Facilitate review and approval of scientific communication materials and/or concepts through medical/legal review
  • Support scientific communications/publications TA lead in activities as needed
  • Manage scientific communication vendor(s) in all aspects of working relationship


Publications Responsibilities:
  • Responsible for execution and delivery of global publication tactics according to Agios policies and procedures and industry guidelines (GPP, ICMJE, etc.)
  • Drive and contribute to the development of the global strategic publication plan in alignment with the overall Medical Affairs Strategy for assigned TA
  • Review tactics for messaging/lexicon alignment, scientific accuracy, appropriateness for audience, quality, and provide direction to medical communication agencies during development, etc.
  • Identify and engage internal and external subject matter experts, when appropriate, for participation in publication tactics and content development and lead speaker training for publication presentations
  • Lead routine publication team meetings to facilitate discussions/decisions related to publication planning and execution
  • Lead discussions to facilitate timely alignment amongst internal and external authors
  • Develop and maintain expertise in disease area by continuously surveying the medical and scientific literature for the identification of relevant publications
  • Implement appropriate publication strategy and provide ideas for generating publications to fill clinical and scientific knowledge gaps
  • Ensure that compliant publication processes are followed, facilitates a transparent publication process, participates in publication discussions at team meetings, contributes to continuing improvement of publication processes/policies
  • Manage Agios publication documentation and published literature repositories
  • Support scientific communications/publications TA lead in activities as needed
  • Manage vendor support of electronic publication management documentation in line with Agios policies and procedures
  • Manage publication vendor(s) in all aspects of working relationship


What you bring:
  • Advanced degree with 7 yrs experience in publications and scientific communications planning, development, and execution in an agency or pharmaceutical environment
  • Experience in rare disease or classical hematology
  • Demonstrated experience interpreting and communicating preclinical, clinical, HEOR, and/or other research results to wide range of audiences
  • Demonstrated strong project management skills and leadership poise a must to negotiate and facilitate alignment amongst internal and external stakeholders (KOLs, authors, internal cross-functional teams)
  • Experience working with internal cross-functional stakeholders, external stakeholders, and/or agencies to develop abstracts, posters, oral presentations, manuscripts, medical slide decks, and content for scientific and educational programs
  • Excellent and effective interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrated educating, persuasion, influencing, and negotiation skills
  • Must be well organized and able to multi-task in a fast-paced deadline driven environment
  • Prior experience interpreting and implementing regulations and guidelines governing publications and scientific communications (e.g., FDA, OIG, GPP, ICJME, MALR)
  • Demonstrated experience managing medical communications vendors and budgets
  • Advanced computer and Internet skills, including knowledge of MS applications (such as Word, PowerPoint, Teams, Excel), Veeva RIM, electronic publication management tools (e.g., PubStrat and Datavision), SharePoint, references databases (e.g., EndNote), PubMed, social media platforms, RightFind, etc
  • Ability to travel (US and International) approximately 20% of time


Work Location:

Location Agnostic: Work location for this role is based on employee's individual preference. This role has the ability to be either remote in the US or hybrid in our Cambridge Headquarters. Hybrid schedules vary but are generally less than 3 days per week onsite and hybrid employees are expected to live within commutable distance to our Cambridge Headquarters. Remote employees work entirely from home except for attending Company sponsored events/ meetings. For employees who choose to work remotely, travel may be required for certain company events commensurate to the above job description.

What we will give you:
  • Deliberate Development. Your professional growth as one of our top priorities.
  • Flexibility. We're all about individual needs. We embrace different perspectives, work styles, health and wellness approaches, care of families and productivity. When you're at your best, we're at our best.
  • Premium benefits package. We invest in the health, wellbeing and security of our people with a premium benefits package that is well-rounded and flexible to help meet the varied personal and professional needs of every member of our team.
  • Competitive performance-based compensation. This includes both short- and long-term incentives that are connected to our business strategy.
    Psychological safety. We support an environment of fearlessness. We want you to share your ideas, speak candidly and take data-informed risks to help push the boundaries.
  • Commitment to diversity. We strive to foster a welcoming workplace where everyone can thrive. We're continuously looking to improve the inclusivity of our workforce.
  • Commitment to community. We're an active participant in the communities that surround us - the communities where we live, and the community of people and their loved ones in need of better treatment options for conditions that are often overlooked.


Interested in learning more about what makes our culture unique? Visit the Inside Agios section of our website.