Senior Director, Corporate Communications

General Scope and Summary

Sage is seeking an enterprise-wide thinker and communicator to build reputation and thought leadership that drives business impact. A highly visible role, the Senior Director, Corporate Communications will report into the Vice President, Corporate Communications and partner closely with colleagues and executives across the organization.

Primary focus in 2023 will be elevating and differentiating Sage in preparation for the potential launch of zuranolone a new treatment currently under FDA review for people with major depressive disorder and postpartum depression.

Roles and Responsibilities

Corporate & Executive Visibility:

• Lead development and activation of a proactive corporate reputation and executive visibility plan that is aligned to business priorities.

• Advise and prepare senior leaders for external communications engagements, including media interviews, conference speaking, and thought leadership opportunities.

• Partner closely with Investor Relations to craft external messaging for quarterly earnings announcements and other high visibility IR-driven events, such as the annual JP Morgan healthcare conference.

• Build relationships and partner with senior leadership and functional heads to identify communications needs, make recommendations, and align on communications approach.

• Serve as a corporate spokesperson, promptly responding to and managing corporate media queries. Build and maintain positive professional relationships with reporters covering the biotech and pharmaceutical industry.

• Leverage corporate narrative and messaging to drive consistent storytelling approach across the organization.

• Set meaningful metrics to evaluate impact of corporate communications initiatives and socialize results regularly.

• Direct the work of external agencies and resources, including managing budgets.

Issues Preparedness & Management:

• Partner with the Vice President, Corporate Communications and cross-functional leaders to establish tools and processes to identify and monitor a full range of issues with the potential to impact the companys reputation and brand.

• Help develop a crisis-ready and crisis-resilient mindset across the enterprise through training and the development of proactive scenario plans.

• Provide counsel on and align external communication strategies, approaches, and messaging; anticipate issues and mitigate risks that may become issues.

• Lead cross-functional discussions of issues, driving consensus and alignment on the path forward.

• Develop and distribute company positioning on key industry issues and trends.

Experience, Education and Specialized Knowledge and Skills

Must thrive working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment that requires taking initiative, adapting as needed, and creative problem-solving. Applies exceptional collaboration skills within Corporate Communications, across External Affairs, and when working with cross-functional leaders. Skilled at managing groups with multiple perspectives, mitigating risks, and resolving conflicts. Knows and follows the key issues impacting the biotech/pharma industry and the media landscape. Aware of regulations governing the pharmaceutical industrys engagement with external stakeholders before and after launch of a pharmaceutical drug.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelors degree required.

• 10+ years of experience in corporate communications; 3+ years of experience in-house at a biotech and/or pharmaceutical company.

Preferred Qualifications

• Must be able to travel ~25% of the time, primarily to Cambridge HQ.

• 12+ years of experience in corporate communications; 3+ years of experience in-house at a biotech and/or pharmaceutical company.

• Has built relationships with biotech/pharma industry reporters.

• Experience preparing senior leaders for external engagements.

• Experience building and activating corporate communications strategies that advanced corporate reputation.

• Experience developing crisis communications plans, programs, and policies that protected corporate reputation.

• Adept at aligning communications focus areas to business priorities.

• Demonstrated self-starter.

• Adept at influencing without authority to achieve positive outcomes.

• Role model for strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Not afraid to challenge the status quo and discover ways to do things more effectively, while staying attentive to dynamic business environments and recognizing when to push and when to pull back.

• Pharmaceutical drug launch experience.

• Neuroscience experience.

• Range of in-house communications experience across small, mid-size, and large companies.

• PR/corporate communications agency-side experience working with pharma/biotech clients.

• Embrace our Core Values: Put People First, Improve Lives, Cultivate Curiosity, Do Right, and Forge New Pathways.

• Excitement about the vision and mission of Sage.

• The actual salary offered within the range is dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, qualifications, education, skills, and performance.
• This position is eligible to participate in the Companys annual bonus plan; the bonus varies based on performance and is subject to the standard terms and conditions of the incentive program.
• To support your well-being, we offer a comprehensive benefits and wellness package, which includes medical, dental, and vision coverage upon hire. More information can be found in our Benefits Guide.