Senior Director, Patient Advocacy

Position Summary

The Senior Director, Patient Advocacy is responsible for leading and coordinating all global activities related to patient advocacy organizations and potentially other non-media, environmental-shaping stakeholders. The Senior Director serves as the primary liaison and "face" of the Company to patients, caregivers, and patient-focused policy makers, ensuring engagement with external partners to advance patient-centric initiatives. The Senior Director works cross-functionally to set strategic plans and implement tactics while fostering relationships with organizations that represent the best interests of patients and incorporates best practices of patient-focused drug development throughout the Company's clinical programs in the US and EU/UK. Additionally, the Senior Director is accountable for coordinating activities and communication across the Company as it relates to initiatives such as advisory boards, sponsorships, membership opportunities, etc.

This position is remote with expected travel to partner locations, corporate headquarters in Foster City, CA and Parsippany, NJ. The Senior Director reports to the Executive Director, External Affairs & Operations.

Primary Responsibilities

• As the patient advocacy lead, act as the primary point of contact for patient and consumer organizations while managing engagements internally and externally
• Work across the Company enterprise to develop and implement an integrated global strategic engagement and execution plan to collaborate with patient advocacy organizations by leveraging patient and caregiver insights
• Implement strategies to drive disease awareness, patient engagement, clinical trial awareness, policy improvements, and increasing Company corporate brand equity
• Oversee Company-sponsored patient advocacy events to appropriately engage employees and champion the patient voice and experience to further the patient-centric mindset
• Develop and execute projects to generate insights and analytics to better understand patient and caregiver needs
• Identify government and policy issues; serve as the subject matter expert (SME) on environmental issues of importance to patients
• Meet regularly, in-person and virtually, with leaders of advocacy organizations in the US and globally to build relationships and foster partnerships
• Represent the Company at patient advocacy meetings and events, conferences, and scientific meetings to support partnerships and positive outcomes for patients
• Serve as the SME on industry compliance regulations regarding patient advocacy organizations (e.g., PhRMA interactions, FDA patient engagement requirements, etc.)
• Lead the patient engagement work for the Company's regulatory milestones (e.g., Oncology Drug Advisory Committee preparation, European approvals, and health technology assessments)
• Partner with Legal and Compliance to outline appropriate guardrails related to engaging and influencing the external environment

Competencies

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills required
• Genuine compassion for the disease communities that we work for and learn from
• Strategic thinker with solid understanding of drug development, regulatory, and commercial processes and proven understanding of relevant regulations and guidelines
• Able to work independently with minimal oversight and direction, to anticipate needs from team members and cross-functional departments, and to balance multiple and often diverse priorities to execute projects and deliverables
• Strong understanding of compliance and the legal and regulatory landscape within the US and EU/UK as they relate to patient advocacy group, patient, and consumer interactions

Experience

• Bachelor's degree in science, life science, business, or related major required; advanced degree preferred
• Clinical experience (e.g. practiced as nurse, doctor, pharmacist, etc.) preferred
• At least 12 of experience working in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry; preferred in medical affairs, clinical R&D, and/or patient advocacy groups
• At least 10 years of external relationship management with nonprofit groups and well- established contacts in the overall community, with at least 5 years of direct patient advocacy experience
• Experience in oncology patient advocacy; malignant hematology preferred
• Track record of leading advocacy strategies and campaigns

EEO Statement:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Benefit Statement:

All regular-status, full-time employees of Geron are eligible to participate in the Company's comprehensive benefit program, pursuant to plan terms and conditions. Plan choices include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, disability insurance, supplemental health insurance, a 401(k) retirement savings plan, and an employee stock purchase plan. Geron also provides regular-status, full-time employees with a generous time off program that includes the eligibility to accrue 160 hours of vacation during each full year of employment, 64 hours of sick leave, 9 standard paid holiday days off, and paid leave for certain life events. Geron recognizes that its employees work in many different states and therefore may be affected by different laws. It is Geron's intention to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws that apply to the Company's employees.

Salary Statement:

Offered compensation is determined based on market data, internal equity, and an applicant's relevant skills, experience, and educational background. The salary ranges displayed below are only for those who, if selected for the role, will perform work in the specific locations listed. Please note the employment opportunity is not limited to these locations.

General Salary Range: $260,000 to $280,000