Director, Leadership Communications

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.; San Rafael (CA); On-site; USD 176,000 - 241,000; Full time

Job summary

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. seeks a Director of Leadership Communications to shape and deliver integrated executive communications for senior leaders, reporting to the VP of Corporate Communications.

The role spans internal and external channels, investor and media engagements, and cross-functional collaboration to advance BioMarin’s scientific and business priorities.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in executive or corporate communications in pharma/biotech or related industry.
• Exceptional writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex science and business concepts into clear narratives.
• Strong executive presence and judgment to influence senior leaders with discretion.
• Strategic mindset with hands-on execution, able to operate at both high level and detail.
• Drive alignment across complex organizations and balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience supporting major milestones (transactions, integrations, pipeline events) with disciplined communications.
• Strong collaboration skills and trusted relationships across the enterprise.
• At least 10 years in public relations leading corporate or internal communications in biopharma.
• Sound judgment and superior attention to detail.
• Excellent writer and natural storyteller with outstanding verbal communications.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute a comprehensive communications strategy supporting R&D, TOPS and Business Development, spanning executive visibility and internal/external engagement.
• Harmonize messaging with enterprise priorities and ensure clarity across leadership communications.
• Strengthen external profile by positioning executives at industry events and advancing BioMarin’s leadership in rare diseases and scientific innovation.
• Enable leaders to engage organizations through all-hands, internal communications, and team activations.
• Provide strategic counsel on messaging, positioning, and audience engagement to senior leaders.
• Develop clear, concise executive communications materials including speeches, presentations, emails, and social content.
• Support internal and external speaking engagements end-to-end, including content development and feedback.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with cross-functional partners across the enterprise.
• Evolve communications approaches by introducing new ideas, formats, and channels.

Skills

Executive communications

Writing & storytelling

Executive presence

Strategic communications

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Team leadership

Public relations

Influence senior leaders

Education

Bachelor's degree (communications/journalism/liberal arts)

Job description

BioMarin is a global biotechnology company that relentlessly pursues bold science to translate genetic discoveries into new medicines that advance the future of human health.

Since our founding in 1997, we have applied our scientific expertise in understanding the underlying causes of genetic conditions to create transformative medicines, using a number of treatment modalities.

Using our unparalleled expertise in genetics and molecular biology, we develop medicines for patients with significant unmet medical need. We enlist the best of the best – people with the right technical expertise and a relentless drive to solve real problems – and create an environment that empowers our teams to pursue bold, innovative science. With this distinctive approach to drug discovery, we’ve produced a diverse pipeline of commercial, clinical and preclinical candidates that have well-understood biology and provide an opportunity to be first-to-market or offer a substantial benefit over existing therapeutic options.

About Corporate Groups

It takes a village, and at BioMarin our corporate groups are the people behind our success. Groups such as IT, Finance, Legal, Global Compliance & Ethics, and our People Team provide foundational support of all areas of operation at BioMarin.

Director, Leadership Communications

We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic communicator to play a critical role in shaping and delivering integrated executive communications that advance BioMarin’s scientific and business priorities. Reporting to the Vice President, Corporate Communications, the individual will be part of the Corporate Communications team under the Executive Vice President, Chief Corporate Affairs & Patient Advocacy Officer. The Director of Leadership Communications will play a pivotal role in shaping and cultivating both internal and external communications for BioMarin’s Chief R&D Officer, Chief Technical Officer and Chief Business Officer.

Working closely with the broader Corporate Affairs team, and cross-functional partners, including Chiefs of Staff, this role is responsible for developing and executing a long-term, integrated messaging and engagement strategy for BioMarin senior leaders across channels, including investor and media engagements, BioMarin.com, social media and internal forums.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and execute a comprehensive communications strategy supporting R&D, Technical Operations (TOPS) and Business Development, spanning executive visibility, thought leadership, internal communications, and key engagement forums.
• Drive alignment to enterprise strategy by harmonizing functional messaging with enterprise priorities and ensuring clarity and consistency across leadership communications.
• Strengthen BioMarin’s external profile by positioning executives at relevant industry and external events, elevating the company’s leadership in rare diseases and scientific innovation.
• Enable leaders to engage and inspire their organizations through a consistent cadence of all-hands meetings, internal communications, and team activations.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, providing strategic counsel on messaging, positioning, and audience engagement.
• Develop clear, concise, and impactful executive communications materials, including speeches, presentations, emails, and social content.
• Support internal and external speaking engagements end-to-end, including content development, preparation, and feedback aligned to leader objectives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with cross-functional partners across the enterprise.
• Continuously evolve communications approaches by introducing new ideas, formats, and channels to better reach and engage employees and external stakeholders.

A strong candidate for this role will bring:

• Proven experience in executive and/or corporate communications in pharma/biotech or related industry.
• Exceptional writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex scientific and business concepts into clear, compelling narratives.
• Strong executive presence and judgment, with the ability to influence and advise senior leaders with confidence and discretion.
• A strategic mindset paired with a hands-on approach to execution, with the ability to operate at both the 30,000-foot and detail-oriented levels.
• Demonstrated ability to drive alignment across complex, matrixed organizations and balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience supporting major business milestones, such as transactions, integrations, or pipeline events, with thoughtful and disciplined communications.
• Strong collaboration skills and a track record of building trusted relationships.
• At minimum of 10 years in public relations experience leading corporate or internal communications in the biopharmaceutical or pharmaceutical industry.
• Sound judgment and superior attention to detail.
• Excellent writer and natural storyteller with outstanding verbal communications skills.
• Track record of building consensus and influence across a complex organization
• Team-oriented work style.
• Demonstrated ability to drive successful internal communications strategies using various channels and tools.
• Experience in executive communications and change management communications strategy and execution.
• Successful issues/crisis management.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism or liberal arts.

Note: This description is not intended to be all-inclusive, or a limitation of the duties of the position. It is intended to describe the general nature of the job that may include other duties as assumed or assigned.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or apply for a position, email [e-mail] with your request.
This email address is not for general employment inquiries or correspondence. We will only respond to those requests that are related to the accessibility of the online application system due to a disability.

The salary range for this position is: $175,500 to $241,340. BioMarin considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.