Director, Global Scientific Communications, Hematology

AstraZeneca plc; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 230,000 - 261,000; Full time

Job summary

Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease is seeking a Director of Global Scientific Communications, Hematology to lead strategy, publication planning, and medical education for a Hematology portfolio in Boston. The role requires collaboration across Global Medical Communications, Medical Affairs, and cross-functional teams, with substantial leadership responsibilities.

The candidate will shape how complex science and clinical value are communicated to healthcare professionals and the broader medical

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a life science (PhD/MD/PharmD) with substantial scientific publication experience.
• Seven to ten years experience in pharma communications or medical publications.
• Experience in strategic publication planning and medical education material development.
• Ability to develop strategic/tactical publication plans and drive execution.

Responsibilities

• Lead global scientific communications strategy for Hematology products and indications.
• Chair Global Publication Team meetings, set priorities, and align stakeholders.
• Exercise independent judgment on timelines, resources, authorship, and agency deliverables.
• Deliver abstracts, posters, oral presentations, manuscripts, slide decks, and related deliverables.
• Develop medical education initiatives and congress programs.

Skills

Advanced degree

Publication planning

Strategic leadership

Scientific writing

AI-enabled tools

Independent judgment

Cross-functional collaboration

Travel flexibility

Education

PhD/MD/PharmD

Tools

Publication planning tools

AI literature tools

Job description

Director, Global Scientific Communications, Hematology

Location: Boston, MA (Seaport) onsite. This role follows AstraZeneca’s in-office expectation, averaging a minimum of three days per week onsite. Fully remote work is not offered.

Reports to: Senior Director, Global Medical Communications, Hematology, Nephrology & Transplant

Organization: Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease

About the Role

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.

Why Boston, Why Alexion

Boston offers deep access to academic medicine, clinical research, biotech innovation, and specialized scientific talent. In a market where candidates have many choices, this opportunity stands out for leaders who want more than proximity to innovation. It offers the chance to influence global evidence communication for rare disease patients, partner across a scaled R&D and medical organization and help define how meaningful science reaches clinicians and communities worldwide.

Unlike many smaller biotech environments where communications leaders may be limited by a single asset, narrow funding horizon, or build-from-scratch infrastructure, this role offers strategic ownership, enterprise resources, global reach, mature publication governance, and the opportunity to contribute across an established rare disease platform.

Key Accountabilities

In this role, you will:

• 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, elevate 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.

Why This Role Matters

This is an opportunity to influence the global scientific narrative for a Hematology portfolio addressing significant unmet patient needs. You will connect publication and medical education plans to medical objectives, evolving data, competitive dynamics, and clinical practice across global markets. Success requires proactive ownership, sound judgment, and the ability to make decisions in a complex matrix environment rather than waiting for direction.

For candidates evaluating opportunities across Boston’s biotech landscape, this role offers a distinctive combination of strategic influence, scientific depth, global exposure, and patient-centered purpose. Through high-quality scientific communications and meaningful exchange, you will help advance understanding of rare diseases and support responsible communication of evidence that may contribute to improved patient care.

Essential/Minnimum Qualifications

You have:

• 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 communications 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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.

Our Commitment to Patients

At Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, we are focused on accelerating the development and delivery of life-changing medicines for people living with rare diseases. Our scientific communications teams help ensure evidence is communicated accurately, responsibly, and in ways that support meaningful scientific exchange.

Join us in helping advance the science and understanding of rare diseases across the global Hematology community.

Pay Transparency/ On-Site Office policy

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $230,870 - $260,678 USD Annual. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles). Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans. Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace, and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

At AstraZeneca's Alexion division, you'll find a unique opportunity where work transcends ordinary boundaries. Our commitment to patients drives everything we do; it's about knowing them by name and understanding their journeys. With a rapidly expanding portfolio in rare diseases, you'll thrive in an entrepreneurial environment that encourages innovation. Here, you'll be part of a team that values diversity and inclusiveness while making a tangible impact on patients' lives. Your career path will be supported by tailored development programs that align your growth with our mission.

Date Posted

19-Aug-2026

Closing Date

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.