Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and with offices in Boston, Massachusetts, and Dublin, Ireland, Ionis has been at work for more than three decades discovering medical breakthroughs that have redefined life for people with serious diseases. We’re pioneers in RNA-targeted medicines, and our platform continues to revolutionize drug discovery and transform lives for patients with unmet needs. With multiple marketed medicines and a leading pipeline in neurology, cardiology and select areas of high patient needs, we continue to drive innovation in RNA therapies in addition to advancing new approaches in gene editing to provide greater value to patients and are well positioned financially to deliver on our strategic goals.

At Ionis, we pride ourselves on cultivating a challenging, motivating and rewarding environment that fosters innovation and scientific excellence. We know that our success is a direct result of the exceptional talents and dedication of our employees.

With an unprecedented opportunity to change the course of human health, we look to add diverse individuals, skill sets and perspectives to our exceptional team. We continue to invest time, money and energy into making our onsite, hybrid and remote work environments a place where solid and lasting relationships are built and where our culture and employees can thrive.

We’re building on our rich history, and we believe our greatest achievements are ahead of us. If you’re passionate about the opportunity to have meaningful impact on patients in need, we invite you to apply and join us. Experience and contribute to our unique culture while you develop and expand your career!

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, PATIENT MARKETING

Summary

This marketing position represents an exciting opportunity to join a high-performing launch team. Olezarsen is a cornerstone asset in the Ionis portfolio and represents a realization of Ionis’s long-term vision to become a fully integrated biotech company, serving patients from rare- to broad-prevalence indications.

Severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG) is a common condition categorized by triglyceride levels of 500 mg/dL and above, which puts more than three million Americans at risk of potentially life-threatening acute pancreatitis (AP) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). People with sHTG whose triglyceride levels are more than 880 mg/dL, including those with familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS), face a clinically significant risk of AP.

Olezarsen, formerly known as IONIS-APOCIII-LRx and AKCEA-APOCIII-LRx, is an investigational RNA-targeted medicine being evaluated for people at risk of disease due to elevated triglyceride levels, including those with severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG). Olezarsen is designed to lower the body’s production of apoC-III, a protein produced in the liver that regulates triglyceride metabolism in the blood.

Olezarsen is currently approved in the U.S. for the treatment of adults with familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) adjunct to diet under the brand name TRYNGOLZA™ (olezarsen).

The Associate Director, Patient Marketing will specifically be responsible for patient marketing strategy and execution and will play an integral role in the launch of olezarsen in future indications.

Reporting to the Patient Marketing Lead, the ideal candidate will bring: biotech/pharma commercial launch experience, demonstrated strategic and tactical execution, a commitment to collaboration, and a drive to deliver a successful launch and beyond.

This is a highly visible, high-growth role that requires strong strategic thinking, superior cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to operate at all levels of the organization. This is an unique opportunity to participate in an exciting launch of an approved rare disease product for a potential broader-based indication.

Ionis is at the forefront of innovative science, defining and executing innovative and patient-centric solutions to deliver a transformational RNA Technology to patients with serious and fatal diseases.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

Launch Planning & Execution: Collaborate with the Patient Marketing Lead to plan and execute key elements of the launch strategy for the Consumer/Patient audience. Ensure timely delivery and adherence to budget.
Patient Activation: Identify unmet educational needs within the Consumer/Patient audience. Develop initiatives to enhance awareness and create community for those diagnosed with sHTG. Partner with cross-functional teams to create branded content that drives brand choice.
Digital Ecosystem: Innovate and evolve patient-focused non-personal promotion in collaboration with Omnichannel partners, including websites, media drivers, emails, etc.,
Paid & Social Media: Execute and manage patient-facing media plans and content strategies across all unbranded and branded media channels. Drive patient awareness, education, and engagement through traditional, digital, and social media channels. Collaborate with the omnichannel team to optimize media targeting and content for effective reach and engagement.
Content/Program Development: Develop and optimize marketing resources, content and programming solutions in a cross-functional environment based on insight generation and customer marketplace knowledge.
Patient Advocacy and Engagement: Work with Patient Advocacy and anticipated field-based teams, along with other internal cross-functional teams, to compliantly implement and support advocacy-related and patient-facing initiatives at local and national engagements.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with internal stakeholders to deepen organizational understanding of Consumer and Patient needs, ensuring they are equipped with necessary resources and tools.
Development of Marketing Materials for Launch: Oversee the internal prioritization and review process of materials, projects, and resources through the Promotional Review Committee.
Agency/Budget Management: Collaborate with external creative and strategic agencies to manage assigned tactics and budget responsibly. Ensure effective inter-agency coordination as needed.
Ongoing Strategic Planning & Counsel: Support the integrated strategic planning process (ISPP), including brand planning, tactical planning, and budget development.

Requirements

B.A. or B.S. required; MBA preferred.
8+ years of experience in pharma/biotech marketing with a Bachelor’s degree OR 6+ years of experience in pharma/biotech marketing with a Master’s/advanced degree.
4+ years of patient-focused marketing preferred.
Product launch experience is strongly preferred.
Experience in Cardiology/Endocrinology preferred.
Ability to deliver results in a fast-paced environment – through consistent effort, determination, teamwork, and ability to influence colleagues.
Strategic thinking, including being creative in addressing key challenges, applying innovative ideas, and taking measured risks.
Strong organizational skills with excellent attention to detail.
Ability to thrive independently and in ambiguity, with an entrepreneurial mindset and a track record of exploring new ways of working, driving new opportunities, and catalyzing others to build creative solutions.
Field sales experience or experience working collaboratively with field sales teams.
Ability to work effectively in a team-based organization, collaborate cross-functionally, and exercise influence at all levels.
Ability to build consensus and achieve agreement on key priorities, by conducting effective meetings, seeking broad input and feedback, and employing frequent and effective follow-up.
Skilled at developing and delivering concise, relevant, and well-supported presentations or briefings.
Strong analytical skills, demonstrated by the ability to identify and interpret complex issues and provide appropriate recommendations to senior management and across functional areas.
Ability to travel (10-25%).