Description
Job Title:
Senior Director, Patient Advocacy
Location:
San Diego, CA / Hybrid / Remote
Position type:
FLSA:
Full time
Exempt
Department:
Medical Affairs
Strive to Bring a Profound Difference to our Patients
At Avidity Biosciences, we are passionate about the impact of every employee in realizing our vision of improving people's lives by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics. Avidity is revolutionizing the field of RNA with its proprietary AOCs, which are designed to combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the precision of oligonucleotide therapies to address targets and diseases previously unreachable with existing RNA therapies. If you are a committed, solution-oriented thinker, join us in making a difference and become part of our growing culture that is integrated, collaborative, agile and focused on the needs of patients.
Avidity Biosciences, Inc.'s mission is to profoundly improve people's lives by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics - Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOCs™). Utilizing its proprietary AOC platform, Avidity demonstrated the first-ever successful targeted delivery of RNA into muscle and is leading the field with clinical development programs for three rare muscle diseases: myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) which is entering a phase III trial, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Avidity is broadening the reach of AOCs with its advancing and expanding pipeline, including programs in cardiology and immunology through internal discovery efforts and key partnerships. Avidity is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information about our AOC platform, clinical development pipeline, and people, please visit www.aviditybiosciences.com and engage with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
The Opportunity
Avidity Biosciences is seeking a Senior Director of Patient Advocacy to build out our global advocacy function with the goal of making a meaningful impact in the lives of patients. This role will engage with patients, patient advocacy groups, and community thought leaders within the therapeutic areas that Avidity is currently working on. This role will internally champion the patient voice, gather critical insights into the patient journey, and partner closely with key cross functional partners to develop a comprehensive Advocacy Engagement strategy. This position will lead collaborations with patient advocacy groups and thought leaders in patient communities, serve as subject-matter-expert as an active participant of cross-functional working teams, ensure diversity equity and inclusion in clinical trials, and develop innovative solutions and programs to meet the needs of the patient community.
What You Will Contribute

• Build and lead the successful execution of the global Advocacy Engagement strategy from clinical stage to post-market
• Develop and enhance relationships with the patient community (national and global Patient Advocacy Groups (PAGs). This includes mapping key patient groups/thought leaders and building relationships that enable progressing critical business objectives that improve patient care
• Ensure clinical trial diversity within all Avidity programs by partnering closely with key internal cross functional teams
• Identify and oversee strategic advocacy initiatives and partnerships related to ensuring the patient perspective into research, informing the design and execution of clinical trials, delivering community education, and supporting access to appropriate care
• Capture patient insights and feedback on the study plan from Focus Groups to ensure patient-friendly studies
• Engage and connect employees to the patient journey. Collaborate with HR and Communications on the development and execution of patient- centered materials and company-wide initiatives including disease awareness campaigns and events. Represent the patient voice internally to ensure that patient perspectives are integrated into the corporate decision-making process
• Develop and execute Community Advisory Boards, Patient Advisory Panels, and other forums in support of critical objectives pertaining to better understanding the true unmet need, gathering insights, and amplifying the patient voice
• Establish compliant unsolicited educational grants system and awards, establish Grants Review Committee, and process, track, and deliver awards
• Represent Avidity at key patient advocacy and scientific congresses in order to progress better patient care
• Align internally and collaborate with cross-functional internal teams including Clinical Development, Medical Affairs, Corporate Communications, Human Resources, and Market Access among others
• Manage the Advocacy Engagement budget and supervise the management of any external or agency partners

What We Seek

• Advanced degree preferred (Master's, PhD, PharmD, MD). Bachelor's Degree in related field required

• 10 years' experience in relevant patient advocacy, communications, commercial, medical/clinical, or related experience in the biopharmaceutical industry
• Rare disease experience preferred
• Success leading patient advocacy and engagement strategy and initiatives in the biopharmaceutical industry
• Strong desire to represent the patient voice in the development of therapeutics
• Passion for making a positive impact in people's lives
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills including strong presentation skills
• Demonstrated understanding of the Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance environment, including a strong understanding of guidelines and best practices for patient advocacy engagement

What We will Provide to You:

• The base salary range for this role is $267,000 - $296,000. The final compensation will be commensurate with such factors as relevant experience, skillset, internal equity and market factors.
• Avidity offers competitive compensation and benefits which includes the opportunity for annual and spot bonuses, stock options and RSUs, as well as a 401(k) with an employer match. In addition, the comprehensive wellness program includes coverage for medical, dental, vision, and LTD, and four weeks of time off.
• A commitment to learning and development which includes a variety of programming internally developed by and for Avidity employees, opportunities for job-specific training offered by industry, and an education reimbursement program.

Avidity Biosciences
10578 Science Center Dr. Suite 125
San Diego, CA
92121
O: 858-401-7900
F: 858-401-7901