Executive Director, Head of Corporate Communications

Kyowa Kirin is a fast-growing global specialty pharmaceutical company that applies state-of-the-art biotechnologies to discover and deliver novel medicines in four disease areas: bone and mineral; intractable hematologic; hematology oncology; and rare disease.  A Japan-based company, our goal is to translate science into smiles by delivering therapies where no adequate treatments currently exist, working from drug discovery to product development and commercialization. In North America, we are headquartered in Princeton, NJ, with offices in California, North Carolina, and Mississauga, Ontario.

Summary of Job:

The Executive Director, Corporate Communications leads the development, implementation and management of Kyowa Kirin’s North American product, therapeutic and corporate communications strategies in support of the company’s business priorities. This includes shaping and stewarding our brand voice and enhancing our leadership position among internal and external stakeholders in the U.S and Canada.  This includes internal and external communications, digital communications, product and therapeutic communications and investor relations.

Essential Functions:

• Develops and executes integrated communication strategies that promote KKNA’s purpose, drive business priorities (corporate, portfolio and pipeline), strengthen reputation, and build employee pride.
• Partners with senior executives to shape messaging, support thought leadership, and amplify voices across internal and external platforms, including social media, conferences, employee events and media / external engagements.
• Defines and oversees corporate brand marketing, including paid media, sponsorships, events, and thought leadership to raise visibility and support growth. Shapes KKNA’s presence at marquee events and identify.
• Leads the development and stewardship of the North American brand narrative, including messaging, collateral, and brand guidelines and visual identity.
• Leads KKNA’s crisis communications team, ensuring preparedness, rapid response, and clear, coordinated messaging across all stakeholder groups.
• Develops and implements new internal communications processes, best practice, and tools to foster an inclusive, high performing, and engaged employee culture.
• Oversees the strategy, development, and integration of content across all-employee facing internal channels (e.g., KKNA portal, Leadership mailboxes, newsletters) and KKNA-owed external channels—including website and SM handles.
• Leads the development and execution of CSR initiatives, coordinating employee involvement, events, and associated budgets to align with company values and community impact goals.
• Manages corporate memberships, industry association participation, and related activities to elevate the company’s external standing.
• Develops and leads a high-performing Communications. Champion operational excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement across the function.
• Oversee Communications budget and ensure operational efficiency.
• Lead, mentor, coach and train team members
• Act as both a player and a coach as being hands on directly involved in high impact work as well as leadership of the team.

Experience

At least 15 years of progressive experience in communications, with at least 8 years in a leadership role; Extensive experience in product and therapeutic communications; Experience running communications at a healthcare company is preferred; Proven track record of leading through transformation—building from the ground up, optimizing workflows, and scaling communications infrastructure to support business growth; Proven experience executing and or collaborating with global communications teams delivering large-scale communications initiatives and crisis communications for a publicly traded company; Experience running cross functional communications and marketing programs at scale; Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills; agency management; Ability to lead and influence in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment with sound judgment and discretion.

 Skills and Competencies

Thorough knowledge of, and demonstrated success, in managing communications programs in the healthcare or heavily regulated industry; Demonstrated ability to work under pressure, to meet tight deadlines and to handle multiple projects simultaneously and autonomously; Strong writing, editing and proofreading skills, along with extraordinary attention to detail while delivering against deadlines; Excellent project and time management skills with ability to lead and manage multiple projects from conception to completion, execute projects to set goals and gather metrics to measure success; Experience working with external/comp