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/company spokespeople and patient advocates/groups; media training.

Physical Demands: Normal office environment with prolonged sitting and extensive computer work.

Working Conditions: Requires up to 10-20% domestic and or international travel

The anticipated salary for this position will be $256,000 to $280,000.  The actual salary offered for this role at commencement of employment may vary based on several factors including but not limited to relevant experience, skill set, qualifications, education (including applicable licenses and certifications, job-based knowledge, location, and other business and organizational needs.

The listed salary is just one component of the overall compensation package. At Kyowa Kirin North America we provide a comprehensive range of benefits including:

• 401K with company matching
• Discretionary Profit Sharing
• Annual Bonus Program (Sales Bonus for Sales Jobs)
• Generous PTO and Holiday Schedule which includes Summer and Winter Shut-Downs, Sick Days and, Volunteer Days
• Healthcare Benefits (Medical, Dental, Prescription Drugs and Vision)
• HSA & FSA Programs
• Well-Being and Work/Life Programs
• Long-Term Incentives
• Life & Disability Insurance
• Concierge Service
• Pet Insurance
• Tuition Assistance
• Employee Referral Awards

The compensation and benefits information set forth in this posting applies to candidates hired in the United States. Candidates hired outside the United States will be eligible for compensation and benefits in accordance with their local market.

KKNA and all of its employees have an obligation to act in accordance with the law and with integrity in all our operations and interactions

It is the policy of Kyowa Kirin North America, Inc. to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, religion, creed, color, pregnancy, sex, age, national origin, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation or affection preference or citizenship status or any other category protected by law.

When you apply to a job on this site, the personal data contained in your application will be collected and stored by Kyowa Kirin, Inc. (“Controller”), which is located at 510 Carnegie Center Dr. Princeton, NJ 08540 USA and can be contacted by emailing kkus.talentacquisition.8h@kyowakirin.com. Controller’s data protection officer can be contacted at usprivacyoffice@kyowakirin.com. Your personal data will be processed for the purposes of managing Controller’s recruitment related activities, which include setting up and conducting interviews and tests for applicants, evaluating and assessing the results thereto, and as is otherwise needed in the recruitment and hiring processes. Such processing is legally permissible under Art. 6(1)(f) of General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (“GDPR”) as necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the Controller, which are the solicitation, evaluation, and selection of applicants for employment. 

Your personal data will be shared with Greenhouse Software, Inc., a cloud services provider located in the United States of America and engaged by Controller to help manage its recruitment and hiring process on Controller’s behalf. Accordingly, if you are located outside of the United States, your personal data will be transferred to the United States once you submit it through this site. The transfer will be made using appropriate additional safeguards under the standard contractual clauses approved by regulators for transfers of personal data outside the European Union.

Your personal data will be retained by Controller as long as Controller determines it is necessary to evaluate your application for employment.  Under the GDPR, if you are located in the European Union, you have the right to request access to your personal data, to request that your personal data be rectified or erased, and to request that processing of your personal data be restricted. You also have the right to data portability, and to lodge a complaint with an EU supervisory authority. If you have any questions about our use of your data, you may contact us by email at usprivacyoffice@kyowakirin.com.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies

Kyowa Kirin does not accept agency resumes unless contacted directly by internal Kyowa Kirin Talent Acquisition. Please do not forward resumes to Kyowa Kirin employees or any other company location; Kyowa Kirin is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

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