Director, Portfolio Communications & Advocacy Relations

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

Job summary

Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals Inc. is seeking a Director of Portfolio Communications & Advocacy Relations in Cambridge, MA. This senior role shapes and drives integrated communications across Ipsen’s portfolio, influencing senior leaders and cross-functional teams to align strategic priorities with patient-centered outcomes.

The leader will oversee high-profile initiatives, partner with external stakeholders, and ensure launch readiness and reputation management across the North American market.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in biopharmaceutical, healthcare or healthcare communications environments.
• Experience leading product communications, advocacy relations and launch communications.
• Proven ability to partner with senior executives and influence strategic decisions.
• Deep understanding of North American healthcare landscape and patient advocacy environment.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and major product launches in a matrixed organization.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for Corporate Affairs across multiple therapeutic areas, in-market brands and future launches.
• Serve as trusted advisor to executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Lead development and execution of integrated communications and advocacy strategies with measurable outcomes.
• Shape launch readiness and commercialization by embedding Corporate Affairs into planning and stakeholder engagement.
• Drive enterprise-wide alignment across Corporate Affairs, Commercial, Medical Affairs, and other teams.

Skills

Biopharmaceutical communications

Advocacy relations

Launch communications

Executive influence

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Title:

Director, Portfolio Communications & Advocacy Relations

Company:

Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals Inc.

About Ipsen:

Ipsen is a mid-sized global biopharmaceutical company with a focus on transformative medicines in three therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Disease and Neuroscience. Supported by nearly 100 years of development experience, with global hubs in the U.S., France and the U.K, we tackle areas of high unmet medical need through research and innovation.

Our passionate teams in more than 40 countries are focused on what matters and endeavor every day to bring medicines to patients in 88 countries. We build a workplace that champions human-centric leadership and fosters a culture of collaboration, excellence and impact. At Ipsen, every individual is empowered to be their true selves, grow and thrive alongside the company’s success. Join us on our journey towards sustainable growth, creating real impact on patients and society!

For more information, visit us at https://www.ipsen.com/ and follow our latest news on LinkedIn and Instagram.

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

Language(s) (essential):

• English

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.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels heard, valued, and supported; where we embrace "The Real Us". The value we place on different perspectives and experiences drives our commitment to inclusion and equal opportunities. When we include diverse ways of thinking, we make more thoughtful decisions and discover more innovative solutions. Together we strive to better understand the communities we serve. This means we also want to help you perform at your best when applying for a role with us. If you require any adjustments or support during the application process, please let the recruitment team know. This information will be handled with care and will not affect the outcome of your application. Ipsen is an equal opportunity employer that strictly prohibits unlawful discrimination. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to an individual’s race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin/ancestry, age, mental/physical disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.