Director, Product & Launch Communications

Ipsen; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 177,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company contributions

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Life and disability insurance

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Ipsen is seeking a Director of Portfolio Communications and Advocacy Relations to lead strategic corporate affairs across growth brands and future launches. The role advises senior leaders, translates priorities into initiatives, and partners with stakeholders to enhance Ipsen's reputation and patient outcomes.

You will drive integrated communications and advocacy strategies, shape launch readiness, and manage cross-functional alignment to maximize business impact.

Qualifications

• 12-15+ years in biopharmaceutical or healthcare communications.
• Experience leading product communications, advocacy relations and launches.
• Proven ability to influence executive decisions through strategic counsel.
• Strong understanding of North American healthcare landscape and media.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for Corporate Affairs across multiple therapeutic areas and brands.
• Advise executive leadership and cross-functional teams on strategic communications.
• Develop and execute integrated communications and advocacy strategies with measurable outcomes.
• Shape launch readiness and commercialization strategies by embedding Corporate Affairs into planning.
• Proactively address opportunities, risks and marketplace dynamics for reputation management.
• Align Corporate Affairs with Commercial, Medical, Market Access, Regulatory, Legal teams.
• Create multichannel programs to maximize reach and impact.
• Develop relationships with external stakeholders to advance disease education and patient support.
• Collaborate with global Corporate Affairs to tailor execution for North America.
• Lead responses to complex issues and manage reputational challenges.

Skills

Strategic communications

Stakeholder management

Launch communications

Advocacy relations

Cross-functional leadership

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree (preferred)

Job description

The Director, Portfolio Communications and Advocacy Relations is a strategic leader responsible for shaping and driving integrated communications and advocacy strategies across Ipsen's portfolio, including key growth brands and future launches.

Serving as a trusted advisor to senior business leaders, this role translates business priorities into impactful corporate affairs initiatives that enhance Ipsen's reputation, strengthen stakeholder trust, support commercial objectives, and advance patient-centered outcomes. The Director will lead high-profile communications initiatives, influence cross-functional decision-making, and foster strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to maximize business and reputational impact.

WHAT - Main Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for Corporate Affairs across multiple therapeutic areas, in-market brands and future launches, ensuring communications strategies directly support business objectives, growth priorities and corporate reputation goals
• Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, brand teams and cross-functional stakeholders, influencing key business decisions through strategic communications counsel and stakeholder insights
• Lead the development and execution of integrated communications and advocacy strategies that drive awareness, engagement and differentiation across Ipsen's portfolio with clear measurement of business and reputational outcomes
• Shape launch readiness and commercialization strategies by embedding Corporate Affairs into launch planning, market preparation, stakeholder engagement and reputation management activities
• Identify emerging opportunities, risks and marketplace dynamics, proactively developing strategies that protect and strengthen Ipsen's reputation while supporting organizational priorities
• Drive enterprise-wide alignment across Corporate Affairs, Commercial, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Regulatory, Legal and other relevant teams to ensure a unified stakeholder engagement approach
• Create and implement innovative, multichannel communications programs that leverage multiple channels and platforms to maximize reach, engagement and impact
• Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with external stakeholders to advance disease education, patient support and Ipsen's corporate reputation
• Partner closely with global Corporate Affairs to ensure alignment of global priorities while tailoring execution to the North American market
• Anticipate and lead responses to complex issues, sensitive stakeholder situations, and reputational challenges, providing strategic guidance to senior leadership and ensuring preparedness through scenario planning.
• Direct vendor partnerships, setting strategic expectations, evaluating performance, and optimizing investments to deliver measurable results and operational excellence
• Manage communications budgets and resource allocation decisions, ensuring effective prioritization of investments against business objectives and organizational goals
• Act as a visible Corporate Affairs leader and ambassador for Ipsen, representing the organization internally and externally while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and high performance

HOW - Knowledge & Experience

Knowledge & Experience (essential):

• 12-15+ years of progressive experience in biopharmaceutical, healthcare, or healthcare communications environments, including significant experience leading product communications, advocacy relations and launch communications
• Demonstrated success partnering with senior executives and influencing strategic business decisions through communications leadership
• Proven track record developing and leading integrated communications strategies that deliver measurable business, reputational and stakeholder engagement outcomes
• Deep understanding of the North American healthcare landscape, patient advocacy environment, media ecosystem and pharmaceutical company dynamics
• Experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives, major product launches, issues management and reputation-building programs in a highly matrixed organization

Education / Certifications (essential):

• Bachelor's degree required

Education / Certifications (preferred):

• Advanced degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Business, Public Health, or related field preferred

Compensation

The annual base salary range for this position is $177,000 - $245,000

This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentives program. At Ipsen we are proud to offer a comprehensive employee benefits package, including 401(k) with company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, as well as flexible spending accounts. Ipsen also provides parental leave, paid time off, a discretionary winter shutdown, well-being allowance, commuter benefits, and much more.

The pay range displayed above is the range of base pay compensation within which Ipsen expects to pay for this role at the time of this posting. Individual compensation within this range depends on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, prior education and experience, job-related knowledge and demonstrated skills.