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 North America Head of Scientific Communications is a senior leadership role within NA Medical Affairs responsible for setting the strategic direction, oversight, and governance of scientific communications across the regional portfolio. This role ensures the delivery of high-quality, compliant, and impactful scientific communications that support evidence dissemination, medical education, and scientific exchange throughout the product lifecycle. The role provides leadership for regional publication strategy and execution, field medical resources, medical education content, digital scientific communications, congress activities, and regional medical review processes.

The role leads and develops a high-performing scientific communications team and serves as a key strategic partner to Medical Affairs therapeutic area leaders, commercial team and cross-functional stakeholders. As a catalyst for innovation, the NA Head of Scientific Communications continuously evaluates emerging digital channels, data-driven insights, and evolving stakeholder engagement preferences to ensure Medical Affairs remains at the forefront of scientific exchange. This includes leveraging modern communication platforms and formats—including social media, podcasts, and other digital channels—to meet the evolving information needs of healthcare professionals, scientific experts, and key opinion leaders.

Essential Functions: Future Pipeline Expansion Capability Building Proactively prepare NA Scientific Communications to support future pipeline expansion, including new therapeutic areas, indications, modalities, and lifecycle stages. Anticipate scientific communications needs associated with pipeline progress and evolving portfolio complexity, including early asset planning, launch readiness, and post-launch evidence dissemination. Design scalable scientific communications approaches, processes, and resourcing models that can flex with portfolio expansion.

Partner with Global Medical Affairs and Clinical Development to ensure early alignment of scientific narratives, data generation plans, and publication strategy for pipeline assets. Identify capability gaps and lead continuous improvement initiatives across scientific communications, including talent development, vendor partnerships, and operational excellence. Strategic Leadership Governance Develop and own the regional scientific communications strategy across multiple products, aligned with global medical strategy, portfolio priorities, and North America Medical Affairs objectives.

Establish and maintain regional governance frameworks, standards, and best practices for scientific communications across channels and formats. Serve as a senior scientific communications advisor to North America Medical Affairs leadership and therapeutic area leads.

Requirements

Publications Evidence Dissemination Oversee regional publication planning and execution, including abstracts, manuscripts, posters, oral presentations, and plain language summaries. Ensure timely, high-quality execution of regional publication plans in collaboration with global partners, investigators, and external authors.