Head of Media Relations & Issues Communications

Scorpion Therapeutics; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Takeda seeks a Senior Director to lead global media relations, issues management, and crisis communications strategies from its Cambridge, MA base. You will serve as the primary spokesperson and guide cross‑functional teams across regions.

This role requires building relationships with journalists worldwide, shaping policy‑level messaging, and partnering with Legal, Public Affairs, and Investor Relations to protect and enhance corporate reputation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing, or related field.
• 15+ years in enterprise communications, with significant biopharma/healthcare experience.
• Proven success in global media relations, issues/crisis management, and building organizational capabilities.
• Strong executive presence, influencing senior leaders and managing sensitive situations.
• Exceptional communication, strategic thinking, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute proactive media engagement plans to enhance corporate reputation and serve as primary spokesperson.
• Oversee enterprise issues and crisis frameworks, ensuring rapid response and stakeholder management.
• Establish and lead Centers of Excellence for media and issues communications, standardizing processes and measurement.
• Lead and develop a global communications team across regions to align messaging and strategies.

Skills

Media relations

Crisis management

Executive presence

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing, or related field

Job description

Role:

Senior Director leading Takeda's global media relations, issues management, and crisis communications strategies.

Responsibilities:

• develop and execute proactive media engagement plans to enhance corporate reputation, build relationships with key journalists and media outlets worldwide, and serve as primary spokesperson;
• oversee enterprise issues and crisis frameworks, ensuring rapid response and stakeholder management;
• establish and lead Centers of Excellence for media and issues communications, standardizing processes, measurement, and best practices;
• lead and develop a global communications team, collaborating across functions and regions to align messaging and strategies.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing, or related field;
• 15+ years in enterprise communications, with significant experience in biopharma or healthcare industries;
• proven success in global media relations, issues/crisis management, and building organizational capabilities;
• strong executive presence, influencing senior leaders and managing sensitive situations;
• exceptional communication, strategic thinking, and stakeholder management skills.

HighValue:

global corporate reputation, media relations, issues/crisis management in biopharma, experience with policy and regulatory environments, cross-functional collaboration with Legal, Public Affairs, Investor Relations, senior leadership, and experience across multiple regions.

WorkSetup:

based in Cambridge, MA, Washington, DC, or NYC; full-time, hybrid, with international stakeholder engagement.