What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Director/Director, Patient Marketing (US) position at Scholar Rock?
Scholar Rock is a late-stage global biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing apitegromab for children and adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and other rare, severe, and debilitating neuromuscular diseases. As a global leader in myostatin biology, a field focused on proteins that regulate muscle mass, the Company is named for the visual resemblance of a scholar rock to protein structures. Our commitment to unlock fundamentally different treatment approaches is powered by broad application of a proprietary platform, which has developed novel monoclonal antibodies to modulate protein growth factors with extraordinary selectivity. Scholar Rock works every day to create new possibilities for patients through its highly innovative anti-myostatin program, including opportunities in additional rare neuromuscular diseases. Learn more at ScholarRock.com and follow @ScholarRock on X and on LinkedIn.
Summary of Position:
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and passionate patient marketer to play a critical role in enabling the success of apitegromab, the company’s phase 3 candidate for the treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). The Associate Director/Director of Patient Marketing will be a key member of the marketing team and will have the opportunity to help build a brand and patient strategy as well as shape and execute critical post launch tactics for apitegromab.
The primary responsibility of the Associate Director/Director of Patient Marketing will be to lead the non-personal promotion strategy and execution for patients inclusive of websites, media, and new digital platforms/tactics ensuring a deeply patient-centric approach across education, engagement, and community presence. The role will lead the development of integrated, compliant, multi-channel patient programs designed to support awareness, understanding, and empowerment throughout the patient journey.
Reporting to the Senior Director of Patient Marketing, this individual will develop and execute an innovative multi-channel patient engagement plan working closely with Patient Services, Medical Affairs, Advocacy, Market Access, Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance to ensure a cohesive, high-quality experience for patients and caregivers. This is a high-impact, high-visibility role with the opportunity to help shape how Scholar Rock engages with the SMA community as it brings its first therapy to patients.
\nU.S. Patient Strategy & Execution
- Develop and execute the end-to-end omni-channel strategy identifying business critical tactics to ensure post launch excellence
- Translate strategy into high-quality, compliant patient-facing tactics, owning the execution of all non-personal promotion, inclusive of unbranded and branded websites, media, social media, and CRM
- Optimize digital performance through analytics and audience insights, and maximize ROI across paid, owned and earned digital channels.
- Lead the strategy and execution of new digital platforms, which may include, but is not limited to YouTube, Reddit, Apps, or innovative digital partnerships
- Ensure consistency and excellence across all patient touchpoints while maintaining a strong, authentic patient-centric lens.
Patient Engagement & Community Leadership
- Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships within the SMA patient and caregiver community.
- Partner with Patient Advocacy and the Patient Relationship agency to ensure patient feedback is incorporated and the patient voice is represented and accurately reflected in patient materials
- Champion innovation in patient engagement, continuously evolving approaches to improve the patient experience across the journey.
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Serve as a core member of the U.S. Marketing Team, partnering closely with Patient Services, Medical Affairs, Advocacy, Market Access, Regulatory, Legal, and Compliance.
- Ensure strong alignment between patient marketing initiatives and patient support programs, including development of branded patient materials.
- Clearly communicate and champion patient brand strategy with internal stakeholders and external partners.
Agency, Budget & Operational Excellence
- Partner with agency-of-record and media agency to deliver high impact patient marketing initiatives, driving strategic value, innovation, and executional excellence.
- Lead the development of patient-facing assets, event kits, and materials to support consistent execution across the field.
- Ability to prioritize post launch critical tactics and optimization of the budget, demonstrating strong fiscal discipline and accountability.
- Support post launch readiness, participate in promotional review processes, and ongoing optimization of patient tactics.
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
- 6 years of experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology marketing, with significant experience in U.S. patient/consumer marketing.
- 6 years of experience leading the development and execution of integrated digital marketing strategies creating compliant, data-driven campaigns that increased patient engagement
- Demonstrated success leading patient marketing strategy and execution in specialty or rare disease environments.
- Experience in neurology, neuromuscular disease, or rare disease strongly preferred.
- Deep commitment to patient centricity with the ability to translate insight into impactful, compliant engagement.
- Strong understanding of regulatory, legal, and compliance requirements for patient-facing communications.
- Proven ability to lead agencies, manage budgets, and operate effectively in a matrixed organization.
- Excellent communication, influence, and stakeholder-management skills.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with comfort operating in a first-launch, high-growth environment.
- Willingness to travel as needed (anticipated up to ~30%).
Scholar Rock is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.