Apellis Pharmaceuticals · 2 months ago
Director, Medical Communications
Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
7+ years expApellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on developing life-changing therapies for challenging diseases. The Director of Medical Communications for Rare Disease will lead the medical communications strategy and execution, ensuring alignment with Medical Affairs and corporate objectives while managing a team dedicated to Rare Disease programs.
BiotechnologyHealth CarePharmaceuticalTherapeutics
Responsibilities
Develop and execute the Medical Communications strategy for the Rare Disease therapeutic area, ensuring alignment with broader Medical Affairs and corporate objectives
Lead and mentor a team of individual contributors within the Rare Disease medical communications function, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture
Identify communication needs and opportunities across Rare Disease programs, developing clear, evidence-based resources and innovative communication solutions
Drive the development, review, and approval of scientific publications, congress materials, and core communication resources for cross-functional stakeholders
Collaborate with Medical Directors, Field Medical, Commercial, and Regulatory partners to ensure timely delivery of launch and core communication materials
Support planning and execution of advisory boards and other key scientific exchange initiatives to inform communication strategy
Partner with the Medical Information team to ensure alignment of core content and consistency of scientific messaging across Rare Disease assets
Qualification
Required
Advanced degree required (MD, PhD or Pharm D degree or equivalent)
Minimum of 7 years of experience in a relevant Medical Affairs or Medical Communications role within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry
Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with the ability to guide individual contributors and collaborate effectively across functions
Proficiency with standard communication and collaboration tools (Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, etc.)
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to clearly articulate scientific concepts, deliver compelling presentations, and facilitate productive discussions
Demonstrated ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Strong organizational and project management skills, with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively
Willingness and ability to travel up to 20% to support scientific congresses and cross-functional collaboration
Preferred
Experience in nephrology or rare disease is strongly preferred
Benefits
401(k) plan with company match
Inclusive family building benefits
Flexible time off
Summer and winter shutdowns
Paid family leave
Disability and life insurance
Company
Apellis Pharmaceuticals
Apellis Pharmaceuticals focuses on developing novel therapeutics and drug delivery technologies to address chronic inflammatory diseases.
501-1000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$919.6MKey Investors
Swedish Orphan BiovitrumSixth StreetNorthern Star Partners
2025-06-01Post Ipo Debt· $275M
2024-05-14Post Ipo Debt· $475M
2022-04-14Post Ipo Equity· $1.07M
Leadership Team
Cedric Francois
Co-Founder and CEO
Caroline Baumal
Chief Medical Officer
Recent News
2026-01-18
Investor's Business Daily
2026-01-13
Company data provided by crunchbase