Associate Director, Patient and Community Liaison

Band

Level 5

 

Job Description Summary

This position can be based remotely anywhere in the U.S. (there may be some restrictions based on legal entity). Please note that this role would not provide relocation as a result. The expectation of working hours and travel (domestic and/or international) will be defined by the hiring manager. This position will require up to 70% travel.

Job description summary:
The Patient and Community Liaison (PCL) is an important patient and caregiver facing role within the SMA team, who engages with the Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) community at live events. The PCL is primarily responsible for engaging with patients, caregivers and local community advocacy partners, while delivering education about SMA, Gene Therapy and branded education. The education will be provided using approved materials, resources and talking points. Another key aspect to this role is building relationships with the local advocacy chapter leads. Key learnings from these stakeholders will be shared back with the advocacy, marketing strategy and product strategy teams, to support program development, material development and enhancements in our market strategy approach and activities.

 

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver accurate and empathetic information about disease progression, symptoms, and unmet needs for patients and caregivers.

• Empower patients and caregivers with knowledge and tools to navigate their SMA journey.

• Educate patients and caregivers about the benefits, proper use, and potential side effects of the brand product(s), ensuring adherence to company-approved materials and guidelines. Provide resources and education on treatment expectations.

• There are several local chapters throughout the country. The PCL will also develop relationships with local advocacy chapter leads.

• The PCL will attend events throughout the country by hosting the Novartis table, meeting with SMA families, answering questions and will deliver branded presentations. Majority of live events are held on weekends.

• Provide insights/learnings to Advocacy, Marketing, NPS and Market Access teams to help support development of educational materials, presentations, and resources to support patient and caregiver understanding. Identify gaps in patient and caregiver knowledge and provide recommendations for improving educational content.

• Adhere to all regulatory and compliance standards related to patient and product education, inclusive of Adverse Events training and reporting. Document interactions and feedback from patients and caregivers to improve the education program and support outcomes tracking.

• Contribute and participate in required internal and business reviews; may include preparation of meeting materials. Contribute and participate in functional planning (e.g. tactical plan, budget, etc.)

• Maintain working knowledge of required platforms and processes (e.g. Concur, Centris, FUSE, etc.). Maintain high scientific and current knowledge about responsible products and therapeutic area. Ensure compliance with all NVS policies and guidance including Code of Conduct and all applicable laws and regulations.

• Contribute to the onboarding and mentoring of new team members.

Essential Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in healthcare (i.e. social work, genetic counseling) education, or a related field

• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in patient education, pharmaceutical, or healthcare support roles

• Ability to travel 70% of time, with weekend travel required

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to connect with diverse populations. Ability to present complex information in an empathetic, clear, and engaging manner. Experience delivering presentations in front of a live audience.

• Experience working within regulatory and compliance guidelines in the healthcare or pharmaceutical industries.

• Proficiency in using virtual tools for education (e.g., video conferencing, webinars). Ability to think creatively and conceptually

• Ability to lead, motivate, develop, and influence others. Strong teamwork and collaborative skills and mindset. Proven ability to work effectively in a matrixed environment.

• Financial/budgetary experience

Desirable Requirements:

• Bilingual (Spanish/English)

• Experience in gene therapy and rare disease

Legal Disclaimer/Country specific legal requirement:

The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $145,600 and $270,400/year; how