Senior Director, Medical Communications and Operations

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Pliant Therapeutics is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapies for fibrotic diseases. Founded by Third Rock Ventures with world-renowned academic thought leaders, Pliant is raising the bar to meet the unmet medical needs of physicians, patients and families impacted by fibrotic diseases. As the leader in the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of fibrotic diseases, Pliant is developing small molecule drug candidates specifically designed to impact the fibrotic process.

The Company’s lead product candidate, bexotegrast (PLN-74809), is an oral small molecule, selective inhibitor of the αvβ1 and αvβ6 integrins that play a key role in multiple fibrotic pathways. Bexotegrast has received Fast Track Designation and Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for both idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and Orphan Drug Designation from the European Medicines Agency in IPF and PSC. Pliant is currently conducting BEACON-IPF, a Phase 2b/3 trial of bexotegrast for the treatment of IPF. 

Pliant is conducting a Phase 1 study for its third clinical program, PLN-101095, a small molecule, dual-selective inhibitor of αvß8 and αvß1 integrins, that is being developed for the treatment of solid tumors. The Company also has discovery and development programs in oncology and muscular dystrophies.

Description

The Senior Director of Medical Communications and Medical Affairs Operations is a key role within Plaint’s Medical Affairs team. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Director to lead the areas of medical communications strategy, along with medical affairs operations and processes development. This includes oversight of scientific publications and building out the medical information function.  

This individual will be responsible for ensuring alignment with company objectives, supporting the pre-launch and launch activities of our pulmonology portfolio. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of pulmonology & lung fibrosis, strong leadership skills, and a track record of successful collaboration with cross-functional teams. This role reports to the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs.

This is a hybrid position, requiring 3 days/week at Pliant in South San Francisco.

Responsibilities

  • This role is responsible for cultivating partnerships with cross-functional senior and executive leaders in medical affairs, clinical, program management, corporate communications, legal, regulatory, patient advocacy, and commercial to drive a data communication strategy and advance the awareness/understanding of Bexotegrast.
  • Leads the development and execution of annual and long-range publication & scientific communication strategies, budget allocation and tactics to support the Pliant portfolio.
  • Lead strategic scientific communication planning, including the development and ongoing evolution of scientific narratives & messages, lexicons, FAQs & backgrounders, and advisory board content, in collaboration with the Medical Strategy leads.
  • Provide strategic oversight and input into processes for the development & review of publications, scientific communication materials, congress materials, and future omnichannel amplification activities.
  • Participate in Medica/Legal/Regulatory (MLR) review.
  • Build and maintain collaborative relationships with senior leadership to ensure alignment of medical communications and publications with corporate strategy and business objectives
  • Ensure medical affairs scientific communications are aligned with cross-functional stakeholders to create consistency in scientific messages and narratives
  • Ensure consistent adherence to good publication and authorship practices.
  • Creates and deliver onboarding, periodic training, and communications related to Medical Affairs Operations, to ensure effective understanding and use of all processes and tools
  • Provide strategic input into and oversight for the medical information function, including the implementation of a medical information system and other resources to support Plaint Medical Information needs through pre-launch and launch of Bexotegrast.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, abilities, and prior experience required.

  • Prior biopharmaceutical industry experience is required (10+ years of experience preferred) in medical affairs and therapeutic publication development
  • Advanced degree in health-related field (PhD or PharmD preferred)
  • Strong leadership skills with track-record of building and managing effective teams
  • Successful track-record of developing peer-reviewed publications is required
  • Advanced understanding of the opportunities and challenges in publications, medical communications, and medical information
  • Ability to think strategically and develop scientific publication and communication strategies
  • Ability to navigate and succeed in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with a high degree of collaboration and teamwork
  • Open, engaging, and transparent with the ability resolve conflict
  • Global perspective with ability to work with stakeholders from various cultures and geographies
  • Strong business acumen with the ability to prioritize
  • Ability to effectively manage scientific communication, publication, and medical information vendors
  • Proficiency in clinical data review and interpretation with the ability to simplify scientific messages
  • Excellent interpersonal communication skills, written and verbal, and customer-focused approach
  • Experience developing and delivering presentations, utilizing PowerPoint slides
  • Knowledge of U.S. and ex-U.S. guidelines pertaining to data dissemination and HCP interactions
  • Regular business travel to conferences and meetings required (~20 -30%)

Pliant requires all new hires to be fully vaccinated prior to the first date of employment (subject to any legally required exemptions).

The annual base salary for this role is $275K – $290K. Individual pay may vary based on additional factors, including, and without limitation job-related skills, experience, work location and relevant education or training. Pliant’s compensation package also includes benefits, equity, and annual target bonus for fulltime positions.

 

To understand how Pliant complies with and manages your personal information with respect to the California Consumer Privacy Act, please visit https://pliantrx.com/ccpa-applicant-and-staff-privacy-notice/. 

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