Assoc Director, Medical Communications

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Position Summary

Illumina is hiring an Associate Director of Medical Communications to lead our scientific and medical communications group within the Global Medical Affairs team. This is a leadership role for scientific writing and editing, supporting Illumina’s clinical genomics research to align with the company’s business directions and elevating the medical affairs voice within the company and among customers around the globe. The ideal candidate will be able to succeed in a fast-paced environment, pulling together integrated publication plans and working cross-functionally to deliver on scientific and business objectives. Excellent skills related to team building, cross-functional collaboration, and attention to detail are critical. The ability to lead peer-reviewed research and publications in the somatic oncology, hereditary disease, reproductive genetics, rare disease, population screening, DNA sequencing technology, multi-omics applied in the clinical setting, patient advocacy, and policy in clinical genomics, are central areas of focus for this leader. This role is responsible for working closely with the Senior Director of strategic clinical translational research collaborations, the clinical data analysis team, and Illumina’s medical affairs directors in the US and abroad. The output from the medical communications group may include peer-reviewed scientific publications, slides and other collateral for medical affairs team members, educational materials on Illumina’s website, and scientific materials for commercial teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of scientific writers and editors to develop manuscripts for peer-reviewed research, spanning diverse clinical areas including somatic oncology, hereditary cancer, reproductive genetics, child neurology, cardiogenetics, congenital syndromes, and rare disease.
• Develop team expertise in describing how DNA sequencing technology innovations are translated into clinical use and its impact
• Organize and guide the team to develop strong manuscripts stemming from clinical research, research related to pharma companion diagnostics, research to demonstrate clinical validity and utility of genomics and other omics
• Develop dossiers and materials for market access and commercial teams to support broader adoption of genomics in healthcare
• Establish and maintain strong mechanisms to provide cross-functional support from the medical communications team to others at Illumina (marketing, sales, business development, government affairs, market affairs, and product management)
• Provide appropriate guidance for the medical communications team to work closely and professionally with external scientific and medical collaborators
• Involve Illumina’s clinical advisory panel in key research publications
• Establish close functional working relationship with Illumina’s clinical data analysis team in medical affairs, which is responsible for aggregating and analyzing research data from multiple sources
• Prepare reports, summary documents, and other materials that may be submitted to global organizations for publication and/or presentation
• Prepare scientific manuscripts, abstracts, and posters for national and international conferences
• Stay abreast of professional information and technology through conferences, and with science writing standards
• Train and mentor a team of science writers and editors. Lead the development of formats and guidelines for science writing documentation

Requirements

• Ph.D. or M.D. degree in human genetics or genomics, and a minimum of 5 years previous experience in a scientific / medical communications role.
• Requires deep understanding of clinical genomics for screening and diagnostics.
• More than 5 years in the clinical genomics industry, preferably in clinical laboratory settings.
• Previous experience in medical affairs in a clinical genomics organization is required
• In addition to the above, the following professional qualifications and personal attributes are sought:
  • Impeccable research and publication skills and experience in a clinical genomics organization
  • Excellence in quickly developing structured content and concepts for clear, concise, and compelling research manuscripts
  • Motivated self-starter with a “roll-up your sleeves” get it done mentality who is able to take both guidance and initiative to bring a project over the finish line
  • Proven ability to create and manage a high volume of research initiatives simultaneously in a complex and fast-paced environment while remaining committed to details and deadlines
  • Ability to provide clear strategic vision to the medical communications team is necessary.
  • Annually develop and execute a realistic publications roadmap with timely deliverables.
  • Demonstrated ability to work with commercial, product, and/or market access teams
  • Strong emotional intelligence and ability to manage multiple executive stakeholders
  • Creative and strategic problem solver with strong project management skills

Experience/Education

• Requires a Ph.D. or M.D. degree in human genetics or genomics.
• Broad knowledge of all areas within particular corporate sub-function or a function within an operation.  
• Typically has depth of technical knowledge in function derived from experience in non-management and middle management roles. 

The estimated base salary range for the Assoc Director, Medical Communications role based in the United States of America is: $167,200 - $250,800. Should the level or location of the role change during the hiring process, the applicable base pay range may be updated accordingly. Compensation decisions are dependent on several factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s qualifications, location where the role is to be performed, internal equity, and alignment with market data. Additionally, all employees are eligible for one of our variable cash programs (bonus or commission) and eligible roles may receive equity as part of the compensation package. We offer a wide range of benefits as innovative as our work, including access to genomics sequencing, family planning, health/dental/vision, retirement benefits, and paid time off.

At Illumina, we strive to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace by cultivating an environment in which everyone contributes to our mission. Built on a strong foundation, Illumina has always been rooted in openness, collaboration, and seeking alternative views and perspectives to propel innovation in genomics. We are proud to confirm a zero-net gap in pay, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or race. We also have several Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that deliver career development experiences, increase cultural awareness, and demonstrate our collective commitment to diversity and inclusion in the communities we live and work. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, citizenship status, and genetic information. Illumina conducts background checks on applicants for whom a conditional offer of employment has been made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. Background check results may potentially result in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. The background check process and any decisions made as a result shall be made in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. If you require accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact accommodations@illumina.com. To learn more, visit: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf. The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected or the requisition has a sufficient number of qualified applicants. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.